Dr Emma-Jaye Gavin

Portrain photograph of Dr Gavin

Position: Professor of Indigenous Truth-telling Research

Area: National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice

Biography:

Professor Emma-Jaye Gavin, PhD is a Garrwa Aboriginal woman from Northern Territory, Australia.

Professor Gavin has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree in Political Science and International Relations, and a PhD in Indigenous Knowledges.

Professor Gavin began her academic career at Swinburne University of Technology, as a Lecturer in Indigenous Studies. Professor Gavin was then internally promoted to Senior Lecturer and Academic Director of Indigenous Teaching and Learning. Professor Gavin then took up an Associate Professor and Associate Dean (Indigenous Advancement) position at Monash University.

In February 2024 Professor Gavin took up a position with the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice, as a Professor of Indigenous Truth-telling Research, the first position of its kind in Australia.

Professor Gavin’s research area is primarily with Indigenous communities and Indigenous knowledges. Her research is creative, and community based, and often conducted and published through film and media mediums.

From 2024, Professor Gavin’s research focus is on truth work, with First Nations communities across Australia and globally.

Qualifications:

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Indigenous Knowledges - Swinburne University of Technology
  • Master of International Relations - Monash University
  • Bachelor of Arts - Monash University

Areas of expertise:

  • Truth-telling
  • Decolonisation
  • Film and Media
  • NTRO

Professional Associations:

  • Alliance of Working Class Academics - Leadership Team
  • Co-Ground - Board Director

Selected Research Grants:

  • Gavin, EJ, 2024, ECR Grant, Federation University, $9900.
  • Heckenberg, S., Heckenberg, R., Gilbey, K. and Gunstone, A & Gavin, EJ 2023-25. ‘Empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Girls, Changing Communities’. Australian Research Council Linkage Project. $733,396.
  • Gavin, EJ, 2023, Monash University, Faculty of Education, School of Curriculum, Teaching and Inclusive Education, $4000.
  • Gavin EJ, Reupert A, Berger E, Patrick P, & JM Carter 2023, Beyond Blue (Be You), $147,471.59.

Selected publications:

  • Gavin, EJ 2023, ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Storytelling, Resistance, Reclamation and Education through Film’, Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues, vol. 26, no. 3-4.
  • Gavin EJ & Holt J 2023, ‘Decolonising research and publication methods: Using audio visual literacy to aid decolonisation efforts in education settings’, CILECT 2023: Building Audiovisually Literate Audiences, Rome, Italy, 5-10 November.
  • Gavin EJ & Holt J 2023, WHERE WE STAND [Film], Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM). [IN PRESS].
  • Gavin, EJ 2023, ‘The Voice Referendum: Moving Reconciliation Forward’, Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues, vol. 26, no. 1–2 (2023): 37–40. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.235397605122282
  • Gavin, EJ 2023, “A Collective-Reflective of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Higher Degree Research (HDR) Experiences in so-Called Australia.” Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues, vol. 25, no. 3–4 (2022): 44–57. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.881911494592521.
  • Gavin, EJ 2022, 'Where We Stand: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Researchers within Western Academic Systems", PhD thesis, Swinburne University of Technology.
  • Gunstone, A, Peters, A, Gavin EJ, Heckenberg, S & Hermeston, W 2022, ‘National Reconciliation Centre to Help Lead National Systemic Change’, The Conversation, 2 June 2022, https://theconversation.com/national-reconciliation-centre-to-help-lead-national-systemic-change-183434
  • Dyson, C, Gavin, EJ, Robinson, V & Ikeda R 2021, ‘In Conversation: Impact of Anti-Racist Pedagogy’, Swinburne Adobe Creative Campus: In Conversation Series. https://researchbank.swinburne.edu.au/items/5b543a2f-603b-45e1-afeb-cd9928bf03ce/1/