Yvonne Cadet-James, Head, School of Indigenous Australian Studies, James Cook University

Yvonne is a Gugu Badhun woman from the Valley of Lagoons in north Queensland, . She has an extensive background in health with some twenty-five years experience as a registered nurse and then as an academic. Her position is Head of School of Indigenous Australian Studies at James Cook University . Yvonne's focus is on Indigenous health and education and she is involved in teaching, research and community development activities. She is currently a chief investigator on several research projects examining empowerment as a tool in improving Indigenous health wellbeing.

WORKSHOP: Using a Participatory Action Research Model as a tool for strengthening the capacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, groups and communities in research and community development.

For many years Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been the subject of research with a lack of consideration of meaningful benefits for them. In addition there has been little conscious effort to strengthen the capacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be in control of their own agenda and assist broader community and economic development. A demand for action to address these issues by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has resulted in a change in how research that involves Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and matters is to be conducted. This has an impact on the way researchers engage with groups and communities throughout the research process. For some time researchers from James Cook University and the University of Queensland have been working in partnership with several organisations and communities using a Participatory Action Research Model which allows ordinary people to become the researchers to identify their own issues and solutions. The outcome from the use of this model in strengthening the capacity of people, groups and communities has revealed an increased confidence and ability to set and control their own research agendas which in turn has an impact on community development. This presentation will examine the experience of using a Participatory Action Research Model as a tool from the perspective of an Aboriginal researcher.