Dr Gillian Schroeter

Position: Senior Lecturer Indigenous Studies
Study Area: Indigenous Studies
Location: Mount Helen Campus, Room H248
Phone: 5327 6888
Email: g.schroeter@federation.edu.au

Qualifications

Graduate Certificate of Education – ACU – 2016

Doctor of Philosophy – Victoria University – 2015

Postgraduate Diploma Education Secondary – RMIT – 2001

First class Honours Performance Studies – Victoria University – 1998

Bachelor of Arts Performance Studies – Victoria University – 1997

Teaching

Courses

Bachelor of Arts (Indigenous Studies)

Units

  • Introduction to Australian Indigenous Studies (INDSL1000)
  • Making Sense of the Social World (ATSGC3855)
  • Sociology of Deviance (ATSGC2734/3734)
  • Theory and Practice in Sociology (ATSGC4677)

Biography

Dr Gillian Schroeter is currently Senior Lecturer for Indigenous Studies at Federation University. In her role she devises curriculum, maintains cultural community connections and teaches into the Indigenous Studies Program. Gillian also oversees Higher Degree Research projects and supports the Institute of Education, Arts and Community with cultural advice and professional learning. Gillian has lived and worked in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory and has been taught on Country by some of Australia’s most prominent Elders. Gillian is also an artist and has learnt her style of Indigenous art making from her mother and community artists. Gillian is a member of AITSIS and continues to work to develop research and understanding in the field. Gillian has a PhD in Education and Performance and has dedicated her career to working with people whose voices are rarely listened to. Gillian’s Previous work at ACU included Indigenous Studies in Education and The Arts in Education. During her time with ACU she established a Biannual Education Student Art Exhibition. She completed non-traditional research, including being the only Australian delegate on the International Drama Education Association Land and Home Project, where she co-wrote with students from both ACU and VU an ethnodrama that was performed at La Mama.

Areas of expertise

Gillian has worked within the fields of Drama, Visual Art, Education, and Indigenous Studies. Her work across these fields has been concerned with the enmity of the abject and how we bring about avenues for these authentic voices to be heard. Gillian’s research is informed by how Country shares wisdom and how we listen. Her research is further informed with her lived experiences on Country in Indigenous community.

(1) Connection to Country
Gillian’s Land and Home research developed an understanding of how university students connect to Country and how their ancestors came to either travel to Australia or how they survived colonisation. This research told the stories of a group of students and developed an understanding that we all have connection to Country, Culture and Knowledges.

(2) Country
Gillian’s connection with Country and capacity to hear Country through Dadirri informs her research and the methodologies used in her work. Country calls for non-traditional outputs, which Gillian is dedicated to ensuring in her work. This has required her to listen to the rhythms of Country first and foremost, trusting in what Country will share and how. This is informed by the work of Deborah Bird-Rose and the Elders she has been privileged to walk alongside.

(3) First Nations Communities
Gillian’s connection with and respect for First Nations community informs what can be learnt from First nations ways and being. She feels privileged to be able to learn from community and Country and trusts her work in Country is respectful and considerate of the knowledges shared. Gillian continues to connect with Country and community and to learn and share with permission her findings.

Research interests

  • Indigenous Education cross-curriculum priority
  • Inspirational Literacies
  • Cultural capacity
  • Drama as Storying
  • Dadirri

Supervision

Present doctoral students

Kathryn Whye – “Caroline Parker – A Wayilwan Woman” (Federation University) – Principle Supervisor

Roy McPherson – “Melbourne Water-ways Prior to Colonisation” – Associate Supervisor

Publications

Non-traditional outputs

Land and Home Project – International Drama Education Association – La Mama Theatre 2016

Biannual Peoples’ Choice Education Art Exhibition – ACU Ballarat – 2014 – 2023

Associations

  • AIATSIS 2015 – present
  • Drama Australia 2001 – present
  • Drama Victoria 2001 – present
  • AERO's First Nations Expert Reference Group