Marlene Longbottom

Dr. Marlene Longbottom is a Yuin woman of the Wodi Wodi and Wandi Wandian clans from Roseby Park Mission (Jerrinja) on the South Coast of New South Wales. She serves as an Associate Professor at the Indigenous Education & Research Centre at James Cook University and has nearly 30 years of experience in human services and academia, working across New South Wales, the Torres Strait, and Far North Queensland.

For over 15 years, Marlene has led and collaborated on community-based research focused on the priorities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in urban, regional, and remote communities. Her work examines service systems and their impacts on Indigenous families, particularly with a focus on trauma, violence, and the intersecting systems that affect the lives of Indigenous women and young people. Her research is informed by community knowledge, truth-telling, and a strong commitment to addressing structural harm.

Marlene has published articles in national and international journals and has gained international recognition, including invitations to be a visiting scholar at several universities in the United States. She has contributed to nationally competitive grants totalling more than $7 million and is an Associate Investigator with the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Marlene is also the lead Chief Investigator on the ARC Indigenous Discovery project, "Navigating the Carceral Interface," a project funded by the Australian Research Council with a total budget of $1.287 million, for which she received the Discovery Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award (DAATSIA).

Marlene is a co-author of the "Holding Hope" report for the New South Wales Ombudsman. In this project, she reviewed 43 cases involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people who died by suicide between 2011 and 2020. The report identifies critical systemic failures and highlights urgent reforms needed to enhance safety, accountability, and the wellbeing of young people and their families.

She is currently finalising her book, "Defiant Resistance," which is set to be released in May 2026. This powerful work serves as a testament to the resilience of Indigenous women and families who refuse to be silenced. "Defiant Resistance" honours the strength and agency of Indigenous women and families affected by violence. Through deeply personal narratives told in their own words, the book centres on their experiences, restores their power, and asserts their right to define their own pathways to safety and self-determination. It breaks the silence surrounding their stories, calls out the systems that have ignored them, and highlights community-led responses grounded in resilience, truth, and collective strength.

Marlene is often consulted by government agencies for expert advice on issues related to violence, trauma, and social justice. She has appeared in major media outlets, including The Conversation, IndigenousX, NITV’s The Point, SBS Insight, and ABC’s The Drum, contributing to national discussions about justice, accountability, and the well-being of Indigenous communities.