Dr Julie Collins

Biography

Julie is a lecturer in Indigenous studies in the School of Humanities at the University of New England (since 2012) and has also worked as a lecturer and researcher in Aboriginal studies at Charles Sturt University in Albury.

Outside of academia, Julie has worked with community arts and development organisations, working on Indigenous programs including:  as a Youth support worker for the Yalari Foundation, a charity providing scholarships for Indigenous children from remote areas; and Beyond Empathy, a community arts organisation producing Arts and Performance projects involving Indigenous children and young people. Julie has also worked extensively as a teacher at TAFE, in the areas of Fitness, Live Production, Outdoor Recreation and Population Health. Julie has also been a Professional Actor in theatre and television (including a credit in Doctor Who!) and in recent years has worked with Innerplay, a theatre company using interactive techniques to resolve conflict. She is also a film-maker and Yoga teacher.

Qualifications

PhD (CSU)

Teaching Areas

Indigenous Studies

Research Interests

Julie’s research interests encompass the Environmental Humanities, with particular interest in: the arts in relation to the well-being of people and their environment; community development; the role of theatre in conflict resolution; and the role of bodily praxis in negotiating inner peace and a sense of belonging. Julie has a special interest in topics relating to Indigenous peoples: especially those relating to the arts and resilience; health and traditional ecological knowledge.