Professor Shawana Andrews

Director

Professor Shawana Andrews is a Palawa Trawlwoolway woman, Director of the Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health and Associate Dean Indigenous in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at The University of Melbourne.

Shawana has over 25 years’ experience working in Aboriginal health. Her career started as a clinical social worker in paediatric health during which time she worked with Victorian Aboriginal communities to enhance access to tertiary health care for Aboriginal children. Shawana completed a Master of Public Health in 2006 and worked in policy and research within the hospital system before moving to higher education.

Shawana’s PhD focused on family violence and cultural practice methodologies and in her current role she leads the Poche Centre in its delivery of Indigenous health leadership advancement. Shawana’s leadership as Associate Dean Indigenous focuses on truth-telling, Indigenous health teaching and learning, and post-doctoral pathways for Indigenous scholars. Her most recent book, Health - Spirit, Country and Culture is part of the First Knowledges series.

Shawana’s research areas include: Aboriginal graduate research candidate experiences and social capital, place and purpose of Aboriginal health leadership, Aboriginal mothering practices and family violence, Aboriginal feminisms and gendered knowledges, and cultural practice-based methodologies.

Dr Emily Munro-Harrison

Academic Lead Indigenous Health Leadership

Dr Emily Munro-Harrison (Wiradjuri) is the Academic Lead Indigenous Health Leadership.

Her research interests include participatory and creative methods and using research as a tool for activism and change, which she has done in a range of settings including in prisons, youth programs and higher education spaces. She has worked for over a decade on a range of research projects focused on First Nations health and wellbeing including connection to place and culture, community and family support, prevention of violence, and working with young people to develop desire-based frameworks for the future.

Associate Professor Joanne Bolton

Academic Lead Educational Programs

Jo is a non-Indigenous registered physiotherapist and health professions educator, with over 25 years of clinical, education, project and community engagement experience.  In her role at Poche, she uses her in-depth knowledge and experience of curriculum development in Indigenous health to lead the development, implementation and evaluation of educational programs for commercialisation.

Jo has previously co-led the development, implementation and evaluation of departmental and faculty wide Indigenous health curriculum.  She was the lead author for the Australian Physiotherapy Council’s Cultural safety Practice for Physiotherapists mandatory online program, and an author contributing to the development of the dental profession’s national cultural safety curriculum framework.  Jo views education as an upstream approach to positively impact on how health is positioned, prioritised and practiced to support more culturally safe and equitable outcomes.

Hiring

Indigenous Graduate Research Program Coordinator

This role in undergoing recruitment.

Magenta Staar Highfield

Indigenous Student (PhD) Pathways Support Officer

Magenta is a proud Yuin woman and the Indigenous Student Support Officer (PhD Pathways), dedicated to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to pursue higher education and research that strengthens communities and creates meaningful change. With a background as a Registered Nurse, she has spent 13 years working across the healthcare system, primarily in acute care and agency nursing. Her experiences in health inspired a strong commitment to cultural safety, health equity, and improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. This passion also led her to teach Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing, where she encouraged critical discussions around culture, health, and systemic change.

Alongside her work in healthcare, Magenta has held student support and project roles across several universities and organisations, contributing to Indigenous education, engagement, and research initiatives. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal Studies and is currently completing her Master of Aboriginal Studies, with a research focus on intergenerational trauma, co-morbidities, and culturally grounded healing approaches. Grounded in her culture and driven by a commitment to community, Magenta is passionate about creating pathways that empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to thrive in education and research

Contact Magenta for enquiries about the Melbourne Poche PhD Familiarisation Program.

Madeleine Jenkins

Centre Manager and Executive Assistant to the Centre Director

Madeleine Jenkins coordinates the administration for the Melbourne Poche Centre, in addition to managing the Leadership Program logistics and providing executive support to the Centre Director, Professor Shawana Andrews.

Madeleine has worked across the University in Faculty and Chancellery roles providing executive support in the Vice-Chancellor’s office and as EA to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (People & Community). She participated in the Jawun program, Lower Murray Region, South Australia in 2024.

Contact Madeleine for general enquiries about the Melbourne Poche Centre.

Associate Professor Odette Mazel

Principal Research Fellow

As Principal Research Fellow at the Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, Odette leads the research and evaluation program to enhance the impact and reach of the Centre’s activities. Odette has published in areas relating to Indigenous human rights and self-determination, Indigenous student access to higher education, and agreement and treaty making with Indigenous communities.

Odette has previously worked as a Senior Research Fellow for the international Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME) Network, contributing to Indigenous health initiatives in medical education; and Research Fellow for the ARC Linkage Project, Agreements, Treaties and Negotiated Settlements (ATNS), examining treaty and agreement making with Indigenous peoples.

Contact Odette for information about our research projects.

Hannah Fagan

Communications and Projects Coordinator

Hannah (non-Indigenous) is a creative storyteller with experience in employee, customer and digital communications. She uses data-driven insights to drive business outcomes, with a strong focus on the needs of the end user and audience.

Contact Hannah to update your details on the website, share a story or to promote an event, job opportunity or publication.