The Cairns Institute

Susan Gasson

Adjunct Senior Lecturer
susan.gasson@jcu.edu.au

Christopher Rouen

Health Economist, FNQ Connect
christopher.rouen@jcu.edu.au

Rana Dadpour

Adjunct Research Fellow
rana.dadpour@jcu.edu.au

Vanessa Sparke

Principal Research Fellow, Rural and Remote Care Workforce
vanessa.sparke1@jcu.edu.au

Brian Fairman

Senior Research Fellow, Developing Social Enterprise in FNQ
brian.fairman@jcu.edu.au

Adam Voak

Adjunct Associate Professor
adam.voak@jcu.edu.au

Ana Carla Leite de Almeida

Senior Research Officer in Sustainable Finance for Agriculture Systems
ana.leitedealmeida@jcu.edu.au

Melusine Martin

Adjunct Research Fellow
melusine.martin@my.jcu.edu.au

Ben Menadue

Adjunct Research Fellow
ben.menadue@jcu.edu.au

Narayan Gopalkrishnan

Adjunct Senior Research Fellow
narayan.gopalkrishnan@jcu.edu.au

MJDF Scholarship - Developing a physical activity program for Aboriginal families with Machado Joseph Disease (MJD) living in the Top End of Australia. (Old ID 27261)

Ruth Barker

01 May 2021 - 30 Apr 2023

Worldwide, no research has been conducted to investigate the impact of physical activity on individuals with MJD. MJD is 100 times more prevalent in Aboriginal communities in the Top End than anywhere else in the world. This project will develop a physical activity program derived from the voices of the Warnindilyakwa people with MJD, scientific literature and strengthened using a modified Delphi consensus approach. The program is expected to: • Reduce the impact of MJD and keep families ‘stronger for longer’. • Be transferrable to other communities • Build capacity of community research partners • Develop resources for health services to improve care for MJD families in Australia.

Spatially integrated Portfolio Approach to support a portfolio of livelihoods. (Old ID 27105)

Claire Holland

01 Jun 2021 - 30 Jun 2024

The Integrated Livelihoods Approach (ILA) provides an approach to diagnose and help navigate interrelated and cumulative impacts, trade-offs and co-benefits of interacting livelihood activities occurring in spatially defined coastal areas. Participatory and interdisciplinary research, integrated governance, negotiation, trust-building, ongoing conflict management, and cross-sectoral and political engagement are central to the ILA. This project will establish the mechanisms for achieving the strengthened networks, integrated governance and policy, and improved planning required to implement an ILA in Western Province, Solomon Islands, with the potential to scale-up to other locations.

FNQ Connect: Connecting people connecting care

Ruth Barker

01 Nov 2024 - 31 May 2027

FNQ Connect: connecting people, connecting care is a proposed model for disability, rehabilitation and lifestyle services for children, young people, adults and older people in Far North Queensland (FNQ). FNQ Connect will drive a reform agenda to integrate and strengthen existing services in the 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) which make up FNQ. Integration of services will reduce preventable hospitalisations and increase social return on investment. FNQ Connect will provide quality care for FNQ people, in the right place and at the right time.

FNQ Connect: Connecting people connecting care

Ruth Barker

01 Nov 2024 - 31 May 2027

Acuderdo de Conciliacion en Salar de Punta Negra

Rosemary Hill

This project focuses on building a two-way model of the Salar de Punta Negra aquifer, integrating scientific and Peine knowledge.