Karen Cheer

Karen is a public health researcher using decolonising and participatory approaches to address health issues in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. A focus of her research is understanding how social, cultural and spiritual factors influence understandings of health and inform health service delivery. Karen actively supports research education and research capacity strengthening activities in all her work. In her role with the Graduate Research School, Karen provides support to higher degree by research (HDR) students, including pastoral care. Karen also provides higher degree research supervision to students at JCU and at UQ, where she is an Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Public Health.

Karen was awarded her PhD cum laude in 2019, where she identified the processes midwifery students in Papua New Guinea use to manage the provision of care to women following stillbirth. Karen’s current research with Australian and international partners the Australian Museum, the Australian National University, Baru Conservation Alliance, Pacific Adventist University, and the Smithsonian Institute involves:

• Culturally situating responses to menstrual health and hygiene for girls in Solomon Islands
• Exploring women's experiences of menopause in Solomon Islands
• Documenting traditional knowledge about climate and food security in Kwaio, Solomon Islands
• Culturally appropriate strategies for tuberculosis prevention, detection and treatment in East Kwaio, Solomon Islands
• Strengthening the role of women leaders in Papua New Guinea for improved sexual health and wellbeing