Dr. Vicki Saunders
Bpych, MPH, PhD
Senior Research Fellow - Yunguru Cluster- Jawun Research Institute
School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences
Centre for Indigenous Health Equity Research, First Nations Academy
- v.saunders@cqu.edu.au
- ORCID: 0000-0002-3122-7430
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About Me
Dr Saunders (BPsych, MPH, PhD) is a Gunggari woman with connections to the Maranoa region of Southern Central Queensland. She is currently senior research fellow with the Jawun Research Centre Central Queensland University and Stronger Together for Stronger Together As Unified Nations for Community-led Health (STAUNCH) project, UCRH, University of Sydney. She brings experience in building Indigenist research capacity, public health research and arts-based, Indigenist and poetic approaches to inquiry. She is also Adjunct Research Associate with the Queensland Conservatorium Research Centre through the Listening to Country project (see www.listeningtocountry.com). She has published in mostly health related journals and 2 book chapters on arts informed research methods. She has previously been part of the Collaborative Research in Empowerment and Wellbeing (CREW) team in Far North Queensland, and the James Cook University led Building Indigenous Research Capacity (BIRC) project. She is currently a member of the Maya Kawayu Indigenous data governance committee (ANU) and the Muliyan research consortium, which is a community of independent academics/educational researchers working with the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives. With an extensive background in social emotional wellbeing, psychology and public health research, she has been involved in a range of creative health and wellbeing research projects with Indigenous and community-based organisations.
General
Universities Studied At
James Cook University
Universities Worked At
James Cook University
Griffith University
University of New England
Awards
JCU College of Health Science - Deans thesis award
Previous teaching
Biostatistics in Tropical Health Public Health
Qualitative research -Indigenous research methodologies module
Indigenous health research
Recent Research Projects
Coming home, making home, valuing home: A health and wellbeing evidence-base for Aboriginal cultural and climate-appropriate community-designed homes (APP2039697)
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 1: Aust Competitive Grant)
Funding Schemes: NHMRC 2024 Targeted Call for Research - Climate-related health impacts and effective interventions to improve health outcomes THROUGH University of Sydney
Total Funding: N/A
Dhandhigu Yimbana: Listening on Country for social-emotional wellbeing (IN250100468)
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 1: Aust Competitive Grant)
Funding Schemes: ARC Discovery Indigenous for funding commencing in 2025
Total Funding: $867,741.00
Stronger Together as Unified Nations for Community-led Health (STAUNCH) (GNT2036067)
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 1: Aust Competitive Grant)
Funding Schemes: National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Synergy Grants 2025 THROUGH University of Sydney
Total Funding: $460,000.00
Truth and Transformation: The Art and Science of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nursing and Midwifery (IN230100003)
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 1: Aust Competitive Grant)
Funding Schemes: ARC Discovery Indigenous for funding commencing in 2023 THROUGH Monash University
Total Funding: $9,600.00
Working together: A collective impact approach to achieve the priority reforms underpinning Closing the Gap targets (MRF2031751)
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 1: Aust Competitive Grant)
Funding Schemes: MRFF 2023 Early to Mid-Career Researchers Grant
Total Funding: $4,988,655.25
Connecting our Way: Improving the Well Being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 5-12 years (MRF2026086)
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 1: Aust Competitive Grant)
Funding Schemes: MRFF 2022 Indigenous Health Research Fund - 2022 Indigenous Health Research - Stream 2 THRU University of Sydney
Total Funding: $38,282.00
Enhancing social and emotional wellbeing healing through arts-based storytelling for Aboriginal communities of Northern Inland NSW bushfire affected areas (MRFF APP1201667)
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 1: Aust Competitive Grant)
Funding Schemes: MRFF 2020 Bushfire Impact Grant through University of New England
Total Funding: $62,360.00
Research Supervision
Accreditation
I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:
- 4504 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing
- 4501 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, language and history
- 4506 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sciences
- 4101 Climate change impacts and adaptation
- 4206 Public health
- 4208 Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine
Current Capacity
Research Interests
Other creative arts and writing - Other creative arts and writing not elsewhere classified
Health services and systems - Mental health services
Health services and systems - Mental health services
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural determinants of health
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health policy
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander public health and wellbeing
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander theory of change models for health
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sciences - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge management methods
