HDR Student Presentations
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Presentation Type
Presentation
Start Date
9-3-2022 12:00 PM
Description
As part of a Master’s candidature confirmation, this presentation will discuss a research project for Aboriginal people in the Kimberley. The experience of laying loved ones to rest is an ongoing process – sometimes it seems that funerals are continuous, leaving people emotionally, spiritually, culturally, socially and financially drained. While this is a Kimberley-wide issue, this study is a small research project which will focus on one Aboriginal community in the West Kimberley. The Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community is situated 200km south of Broome and home to the Karajarri, Nyangumarta, Mangala, Yulparija and Juwaliny people. It is the largest Aboriginal community in the Kimberley. This research will look at ‘Voicing the Aboriginal Experiences of Funerals’ in the Bidyadanga Community, particularly around the health and wellbeing of families in the preparation of funerals, and the resulting stress and associated pressures such as the financial, cultural, social and emotional impacts to wellbeing. It is hoped that this research can support changes to policy and practice in remote communities, opening discussions about what the stresses are, but also positive actions that may be taken in Bidyadanga to minimize these burdens during these already difficult times.
Recommended Citation
Dwyer, Anna, "Voicing Aboriginal Experiences of Funerals: Examining the contemporary financial, cultural, social and emotional impacts to wellbeing" (2022). Workshops and Presentations. 2.
https://researchonline.nd.edu.au/nulungu_workshops_presentations/HDR/schedule/2
Voicing Aboriginal Experiences of Funerals: Examining the contemporary financial, cultural, social and emotional impacts to wellbeing
As part of a Master’s candidature confirmation, this presentation will discuss a research project for Aboriginal people in the Kimberley. The experience of laying loved ones to rest is an ongoing process – sometimes it seems that funerals are continuous, leaving people emotionally, spiritually, culturally, socially and financially drained. While this is a Kimberley-wide issue, this study is a small research project which will focus on one Aboriginal community in the West Kimberley. The Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community is situated 200km south of Broome and home to the Karajarri, Nyangumarta, Mangala, Yulparija and Juwaliny people. It is the largest Aboriginal community in the Kimberley. This research will look at ‘Voicing the Aboriginal Experiences of Funerals’ in the Bidyadanga Community, particularly around the health and wellbeing of families in the preparation of funerals, and the resulting stress and associated pressures such as the financial, cultural, social and emotional impacts to wellbeing. It is hoped that this research can support changes to policy and practice in remote communities, opening discussions about what the stresses are, but also positive actions that may be taken in Bidyadanga to minimize these burdens during these already difficult times.
Comments
Anna Dwyer is an award-winning Research Fellow and Associate Lecturer at the Nulungu Research Institute at the University of Notre Dame Australia’s Broome Campus. She is a Karajarri Woman from Karajarri Country, 190kms South of Broome in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia. Anna’s professional background is in Education and Linguistics. Anna has been a Cultural Educator and Researcher with the Nulungu Research Institute for 13 years. She is currently enrolled in a Master’s Degree by Research through the School of Arts & Sciences. As an Associate Lecturer she has taught in the Indigenous Studies and Diploma of Nursing programs, on topics including Relationship to Country, Kinship, Language and Cultural protocols. Anna continues to represent her people through her research on issues of Law and Culture, Health and Climate Change.