Our Research Team
The Rural Clinical School of WA brings together a passionate team of researchers with multidisciplinary strengths to transfer findings into improved health outcomes for rural and remote communities. We work with health service providers, policy makers, leading research institutions and the community to develop research projects that translate back into best care.
From our team
Introducing Erica 'Roobaanjarn' Spry, a pioneering Bardi Jawi woman making significant strides in Aboriginal health research. Through her commitment to culturally safe practices and groundbreaking programs, Erica is transforming health outcomes for Kimberley communities and beyond, leading the way for a healthier future.Erica 'Roobaanjarn' Spry
Research Fellow, Broome
rESEARCH FELLOW, BUNBURY
Emma Jamieson
Emma is a Future Health Research and Innovation Fund Translational Research Fellow, based in the Southwest region. Her research focuses on improving outcomes for people with diabetes. This includes her PhD on screening for hyperglycaemia in pregnancy in rural and remote communities, and a collaboration with the National Harmonisation Glucose Preanalytical Working Party.
Before joining RCSWA, Emma conducted research on pancreatic islet biology and transplantation research at St Vincent’s Institute (Melbourne) and Harry Perkins Institute (Perth).
What I love about the RCSWA
I love working for RCSWA because I get to see our research translated into practise. I love working with creative people. Necessity is the mother of invention and Australians living in rural and remote settings make the best innovators.
Professor, Broome
Julia Marley
Julia was RCSWA’s first dedicated research staff member and now serves as the Senior Principal Research Fellow. She has played a key role in establishing and maintaining sustainable academic research practice within RCSWA. Over the years, Julia has developed a wide range of collaborative research projects, partnering with over 30 health services and academic institutions.
Rather than specialising in a single area, Julia has taken a life course approach to research, spanning topics from preconception care to end-stage kidney disease. Her commitment to involving end-users as part of the team has been instrumental in translating meaningful changes at the community and service levels, as well as influencing regional and national policy.
What I love about the RCSWA
I love being able to work with diverse Aboriginal communities and health services on the health issues that they feel are most important, translating our research findings into policy and practice to contribute to improved health, and building a rurally based, broadly skilled health researcher workforce.
Research Fellow, Broome
Matt Lelievre
Matt is a proud Nyikina man from Derby and the surrounding areas of the West Kimberley Region. He has a clinical background in Exercise Physiology and Health Leadership and Management, with a primary focus on rural and remote Allied Health Services and Indigenous Health. Matt has gained significant experience in these fields, working to address the unique healthcare challenges faced by communities.
What I love about the RCSWA
The support form the people, the opportunity to work with my community, and the ability to continue progressing my career while working in the bush - just like my metro colleagues - are what I value most.
Senior Lecturer, Kalgoorlie
Christine Jeffries-Stokes
Christine is a paediatrician who has been working in both clinical practice and research in the Goldfields for over 20 years. She has been involved with RCSWA since its inception and holds a PhD and a Masters in Public Health.
Together with senior Wongutha woman Annette Stokes, Christine serves as a Chief Investigator for the Western Desert Kidney Health Project (WDKHP), which has demonstrated new and innovative approaches to community engagement. The project has highlighted environmental contaminants as potentially significant contributors to chronic disease.
Christine has a strong track record of collaborative research with Aboriginal communities and has built enduring community networks that support meaningful and impactful work.
Senior Research Fellow, Broome
Emma Carlin
Emma is an early career researcher with a strong interest in Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing and working with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS), to improve wellbeing of Aboriginal people and communities.
She leads the Wellbeing Informed Care-Kimberley project, which aims to enhance mental health and social and emotional wellbeing care across Kimberley ACCHS. Emma is affiliated with the UWA School of Indigenous Studies through the Transforming Indigenous Mental Health Team, led by Professor Pat Dudgeon. Her work includes evaluating the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia’s Social Emotional Wellbeing Service Model pilot project across five ACCHS, and the Bigiswun SEWB Service in Fitzroy Crossing. Emma also works for the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services, where she is leading the development of the Kimberley alcohol and other drug regional plan.
What I love about the RCSWA
I am grateful for the opportunity provided through RCSWA to be embedded in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Heath Services, working alongside partner services each day helps build rapport and ensure the relevance of our research to the services and communities we work with.
Associate Professor, Urban
Kirsty Freeman
Kirsty is an Associate Professor and the Academic Lead at RCSWA, with over 20 years of experience in healthcare education and qualitative research. She specialises in phenomenology to explore complex human experiences in healthcare education and supervises Masters and PhD students in healthcare simulation and rural healthcare education.
A globally recognised leader in the field, Kirsty contributions to advancement of healthcare simulation through her role as Associate Editor for the International Journal of Healthcare Simulation and as a member of the scientific committee for the Society for Simulation in Europe (SESAM). where she helps shape the future of healthcare simulation research. Her dedication and impact is reflected in numerous keynote presentations, publications, and leadership in interprofessional training across medicine, nursing, allied health, and prehospital environments.
What I love about the RCSWA
I love working alongside passionate educators, researchers, and professional staff who are dedicated to building a strong, supportive community. Together, we are all committed to enhancing rural healthcare and creating rich learning experiences for our students, fostering a culture that prioritises both professional and personal growth.
Our collaborative expertise
Together, we develop projects that address key health priorities and support rural training in general practice, psychiatry, and paediatrics. We thank our research participants, healthcare providers, and partner organisations for their invaluable contributions.
Our key collaborators include:
KAMS
The Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS) is a member-based ACCHO established in 1986 that supports and represents the interests of eight independent Kimberley ACCHOs (member services), plus the wholly owned subsidiary Kimberley Renal Services. RCSWA students attend training placements at KAMS clinics in Balgo, Bidyadanga, and Beagle Bay, plus the Broome AMS (BRAMS), Derby Aboriginal Health Service (DAHS), and Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service (OVAHS) in Kununurra. Students travel on KAMS' chartered flights or drive with KAMS clinicians to remote clinics and have reported overwhelmingly positive experiences on placements. The RCSWA Research team works closely with KAMS and its member organisations to design, deliver and evaluate Aboriginal and community health research projects.
Member Services:
Beagle Bay Community Aboriginal Corporation
Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community (La Grange)
Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service
Derby Aboriginal Health Services
Nirrumbuk Environmental Health & Services
Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Services
Yura Yungi Medical Service
Milliya Rumurra Aboriginal Corporation
Kimberley Renal Services
Find out more: kams.org.au
BDITS
The Bunbury Doctors In Training Society (BDITS) is actively involved in the South West community by organising local health initiatives, engaging in community health education, and collaborating with regional healthcare providers. Through events, outreach, and partnerships, BDITS promotes health awareness and fosters connections between junior doctors and the local community, aiming to improve healthcare outcomes and strengthen community ties. Their involvement not only supports the professional development of doctors but also enhances community well-being. Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation, Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation The Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation (DAC) is a community-driven organisation dedicated to promoting self-determination and sustainable development for the Djarindjin community in the Kimberley. DAC offers various essential services, from environmental management to community health programs. Partnering with the RCSWA research team, DAC helps to facilitate culturally informed research that aligns with community values and needs, strengthening the health outcomes and resilience of Aboriginal people in the region.
Find out more: bdits.clubexpress.com
Reconciliation Australia
Reconciliation Australia is the lead national organisation dedicated to promoting and facilitating reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the broader Australian community. Through education, advocacy, and strategic partnerships, Reconciliation Australia fosters respectful relationships, addresses inequalities, and creates opportunities for Indigenous Australians. Their initiatives, including the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) program, empower organisations and communities across Australia to take meaningful steps towards unity and equity. Reconciliation Australia aims to create a more inclusive and fair society for all Australians by acknowledging past injustices and building pathways for a shared future.
Find out more: reconciliation.org.au
Telethon Kids Institute
The Telethon Kids Institute is committed to inclusive and community-driven research, collaborating closely with co-researchers, including children, young people, families, and Indigenous communities. By engaging co-researchers in every stage of the research process, the Institute ensures that lived experiences, cultural knowledge, and community needs inform studies. This collaborative approach strengthens research's relevance, impact, and cultural sensitivity, fostering outcomes that are directly meaningful to those involved. Telethon Kids Institute's dedication to co-research empowers communities to contribute to child health and well-being advancements
Find out more: thekids.org.au
Monash University
Monash University is one of Australia's leading research-intensive institutions, recognised globally for its impact across health, science, and education. Through its partnership with the RCSWA, Monash University contributes to innovative research projects that address critical health challenges in rural and remote Australia. By collaborating on initiatives that focus on healthcare delivery and public health outcomes, Monash supports RCSWA's mission to improve health equity and access for regional communities
Find out more: monash.edu
UNSW
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is a top-ranking Australian university renowned for its pioneering research and commitment to social impact. Partnering with RCSWA, UNSW brings expertise in rural health, public health policy, and Indigenous health to collaborative projects to enhance healthcare accessibility in Western Australia's remote areas. This partnership enables impactful research that contributes to sustainable, community-led health solutions, strengthening the health workforce and outcomes for regional Australians.
Find out more: unsw.edu.au
ECU
Edith Cowan University (ECU) is a Western Australian institution committed to regional and community health research. As a collaborative partner with the RCSWA, ECU plays a vital role in research that addresses the healthcare needs of rural and remote communities in WA. Through this partnership, ECU and RCSWA collaborate on projects that develop locally relevant health interventions, training opportunities, and strategies for enhancing rural healthcare access and quality.
Find out more: ecu.edu.au
KAHRA
The Kimberley Aboriginal Health Research Alliance (KAHRA) brings together Kimberley health services, Aboriginal communities, and research organisations to fundamentally change how research is designed, conducted, and applied in the Kimberley. The activities of KAHRA are intended to change the state of investigator-driven research so that communities and health services directly drive the research agenda for better health outcomes for Kimberley Aboriginal people. An RCSWA Senior Principal Research Fellow is currently a director on the KAHRA Board. RCSWA employs staff members who work within the school as Medical Educators and have roles within our Partner ACCHO organisations as clinicians and researchers.
Find out more: kahra.org.au
SWAMS
Southwest Aboriginal Medical Service Ltd (SWAMS) is built on principles of self-determination, empowerment, and freedom of choice. It provides best-practice, culturally appropriate holistic health services to the First Nations population in the South West region. Students from our locations in Bunbury, Busselton, Collie, Narrogin, and Warren Blackwood complete training and clinical placements with SWAMS clinicians during their RCSWA year. This experience allows them to work in culturally safe and appropriate clinical settings and is crucial for strengthening our partnership with the local First Nations community.
Find out more: swams.com.au
WACHS
The WA Country Health Service (WACHS) is the largest country health system in Australia and one of the biggest in the world, providing health services to approximately half a million people, including 45,000 Aboriginal people, over a vast two and a half million square kilometre area. The organisation comprises seven regions, with a strong network of public hospitals, health services and health centres located across rural and remote Western Australia. Our core business is the provision of quality, accessible health services to country WA residents and visitors.
Find out more: wacountry.health.wa.gov.au
Diabetes WA
Diabetes WA is a leading organisation dedicated to improving the lives of Western Australians living with or at risk of diabetes. Through education, prevention programs, and advocacy, Diabetes WA empowers individuals and communities to manage their health and reduce the impact of diabetes. As a collaborative partner with the RCSWA research team, Diabetes WA supports research initiatives focused on improving diabetes care and outcomes in rural and remote communities. This partnership drives innovative approaches to tackling diabetes-related health challenges across Western Australia.
Find out more: diabeteswa.com.au
WA Primary Health Alliance
The WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) is a key organisation responsible for planning and commissioning primary healthcare services across Western Australia, covering a diverse and expansive area. Operating through its three Primary Health Networks (PHNs) – Perth North, Perth South, and Country WA – WAPHA works to improve healthcare access and outcomes for all Western Australians, with a focus on reducing health disparities, particularly in rural and remote areas. Partnering with RCSWA, WAPHA supports research and initiatives that strengthen the healthcare system and foster sustainable, community-driven health solutions across the state.
Find out more: wapha.org.au
Neami National
Neami National is a community-based organisation dedicated to providing mental health support services across Australia. With a commitment to recovery-oriented, person-centred care, Neami National works alongside individuals, families, and communities to improve mental health outcomes and well-being. Through a range of services, including outreach, housing support, and clinical partnerships, Neami National empowers people to lead fulfilling lives within their communities. As a partner with the RCSWA research team, Neami National contributes valuable insights and collaborative opportunities to support mental health research and service development, particularly within regional and rural areas.
Find out more: neaminational.org.au
Get in touch
