Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
OVERVIEW
I am a transdisciplinary social scientist who lectures and researches at the University of Canberra. I am a Sylff Fellow (Ryoichi Sasakwa Young Leaders Fellowship, Tokyo & Nippon Foundation), a research fellow at the Joint Centre for Disaster Research (Massey University, NZ), and an international associate at the Centre for Applied Cross-Cultural Research (Victoria University, NZ). I am the co-founder and former Deputy Chair of the Group of Energy Efficient Researchers (GEER) Australia.
My research interest is human adaptation and transformation. I am specialising employing qualitative research to gain a holistic and in-depth understanding of the individual and contextual/environmental (historical, natural/build, interpersonal, social, cultural, spiritual, economic, political) factors and processes that empower humans and communities effectively managing and even thriving in the face of change, uncertainty, risk and adversity. To this end, I am passionately working in projects that create living in harmony with nature/environment and each other by exploring.
- adaptive capacities (individual and community)
- transformation of mind and behaviour
- transformative education
- leadership, team work and collaboration
- Indigenous knowledges
- spirituality and alternative healing approaches
I am exploring these research foci in the areas of natural extreme events and disasters, migration and Indigenous communities.
For over 15 years, I have been investigating the interaction of psychological and environmental factors that influence risk reduction, preparedness and response for various natural hazards (bushfire, tsunami, earthquakes) and pandemics in different countries (Australia, USA, NZ). In terms of migration, I have been exploring in-depth and longitudinally the interaction of psychological and contextual/environmental factors and processes that facilitate transformation, successful migration, and well-being/health. Recently, I was the principal researcher for the $12.4 million project with six Australian Indigenous Communities in Northern Australia. This project was awarded several awards including the NAIDOC 2016 award for the Best Environmental Project. Currently, I am co-leading a Indigenous participatory action research that is facilitating Indigenous Australian and Taiwanese communities visiting each other and exchanging knowledges, skills and cultural practices using arts healing to strengthen Indigenous peoples/communities and to (re)build living in harmony with nature, self and others. I am also a CI on the NHMRC MRFF "Supporting mental health through building resilience during and after bushfires: Lessons from the 2019-20 bushfires in NSW and the ACT".
I am bringing to my work an inter-disciplinary (natural science, psychology, anthropology, sociology), inter-sectional (academia, business, NGO, government), and international (Germany, New Zealand, Australia) and inter-societal (former East Germany) background.
So far, I authored and co-authored over 70 books, chapters, peer-reviewed papers, state and federal government reports, and national and international conference presentations in the fields of disaster preparedness and risk management, international migration, and collaboration (Scopus h-index: 8). I am serving as an editorial board member of the International Journal of Multiple Research Approaches (since 2006), Disaster Communication (since 2016) and Journal of Psychology (since 2010). Since 2007, I am reviewing academic papers for various international disaster, migration, and research design journals. I have been awarded numerous national and international scholarships and fellowships.
RESEARCH PROJECTS
|
Year |
Research Project, Role & Team |
|
2003 |
Individual and social factors constraining preparation for tsunami hazards
Research Assistant, Washington State Government, USA Research team members: Professor Douglas Paton (UTAS, Australia), Dr David Johnson (GNS, NZ), Dr Kevin Ronan (Massey University, NZ), George Crawford (US National Tsunami Programme) |
|
2004 - 05 |
Risk management for natural hazards - bushfires
Research Assistant, University of Tasmania and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia Research team members: Professor Douglas Paton (University of Tasmania, Australia), Dr Gail Kelly (CSIRO) |
|
2007 - 09 |
Psychosocial factors influencing individual and community preparedness for avian flu pandemic
Principal Researcher, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, New Zealand Research team members: Professor Douglas Paton (University of Tasmania, Australia) and A/Professor David Johnston (Massey University, Centre for Disaster Research) |
|
2011 - 12 |
Community level influence on individual behaviours with respect to bushfire readiness and decision making
Post-doctorial Research Associate, University of Western Australia, Australia and Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre (Bushfire CRC) Research team members: W/Professor David Morrison, W/Professor Carmen Lawrence, Professor Timothy Skinner, Professor Colin McCleod, Dr Lies Notebart, Dr Illy McNeil, and Patrick Dunlop |
|
2012 - 14 |
Housing and neighbourhoods that generate social inclusion, economic opportunities and wellbeing
Researcher, University of Western Australia, Business School, Centre for Social Impact Research Team: Professor Paul Flatau (UWA), A/Professor Paul Maginn (UWA) and A/Professor Val Colic-Peisker (RMIT) |
|
2014 - 16 |
Community understanding of the tsunami risk and warnings systems in Australian communities
Researcher, Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research group members: Professor Douglas Paton (University of Tasmania, Australia), A/Professor David Johnston (Massey University, Centre for Disaster Research), Katelyn Rossiter (University of Tasmania, Australia) |
|
2014 - 16 |
“Dharray manymakkuŋ pawaw ga gapuw*” – Manymak Energy Efficiency Project with Indigenous Communities in East Arnhem Land
Principal Researcher & Evaluator, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Research Team: A/Prof Elaine Lawurrpa Maypilama, Professor Tim Skinner, Julia Becker, A/Professor Simon Moss, A/Prof Anne Lowell, Mirza Baig (CDU) Project Team: Federal Department of Industries, Power and Water Cooperation, Northern Territory Government Department of Housing, Centre for Appropriate Technology, East Arnhem Regional Council |
|
2016 - |
Northern Australian Bushfire and Natural Hazard Training
Researcher & Evaluator, Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC & CDU Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods Research team members: Steve Sudden (CDU, RIEL), Dr Bev Sithole (ARPNet), various Indigenous Researchers from ARPNet, Iolante Sudden |
|
2017-2018 |
Arts Related Disaster Risk Reduction: Australian-Taiwanese Indigenous Artist’s Cultural Knowledge & Skills Exchange and Creations
Principal Investigator – project leader Research team members: Prof Douglas Paton, , A/Prof Elaine Lawurrpa Maypilama, Toni Lee, A/Prof Ioannis Michaloudis, Dr Benxiang Zeng, Dr Michelle Moss, Dr Jelena Zeleskov Doric (all CDU but different disciplines) |
|
2018-2019 |
Using Arts to heal, reduce the risk of disasters and adapt to climate change: Australian-Taiwanese Indigenous Cultural Knowledge and Skills Exchange and Creation
Principal Investigator – project leader International research team members:
|
|
2020 |
Natural disasters, community resilience and wellbeing: Joining the dots
Research team members:
|
|
2020-2021 |
Community Based Disaster Risk Resilience for Sustainable Indigenous Development: A Comparative Study between Remote Indigenous Communities of Northern Australia and Pakistan Project Leader & CI Research team members:
|
|
2020-2021 |
“Regeneration”: Utilizing creative arts to facilitate bushfire recovery
CI Team members:
|
|
2020-2023 |
Supporting mental health through building resilience during and after bushfires: lessons from the 2019-20 bushfires in southern NSW and the ACT
CIC Research Team Members:
|
RESEARCH GRANTS
Total funding: $ 2,27 million
|
Year |
Amount |
Funding scheme |
Title |
Role & Project Team |
|
2020 |
$ 322,235 |
Cat 1 - NHMRC MRFF Bushfire Impact Research Grant |
Supporting mental health through building resilience during and after bushfires: lessons from the 2019-20 bushfires in southern NSW and the ACT |
CIC
Research team members:
|
|
2020 |
$190,000 |
Cat 2 – The Hospital Research Foundation |
“Regeneration”: Utilizing creative arts to facilitate bushfire recovery |
CI
Research team members:
|
|
2020 |
$ 7,514 |
UC Faculty of Health Seed Funding |
Natural disasters, community resilience and wellbeing: Joining the dots
|
Research team member
Research team members:
|
|
2019 |
$ 49,990.08 |
Collaborative Indigenous Research Initiative (CIRI) |
Community Based Disaster Risk Resilience for Sustainable Indigenous Development: A Comparative Study between Remote Indigenous Communities of Northern Australia and Pakistan |
Project Leader & CI
Research team members:
|
|
2019 |
$ 4,860 |
UC Faculty of Health Seed Funding |
Australia-Taiwan Indigenous Exchange Initiative |
Principal Investigator – project leader
|
|
2018 |
$ 75,000 |
CDU Rainmaker Readiness Grant
Aims:
|
Using Arts to heal, reduce the risk of disasters and adapt to climate change: Australian-Taiwanese Indigenous Cultural Knowledge and Skills Exchange and Creation
This is a research program consisting of three interdependent projects |
Principal Investigator – project leader
Research team members:
|
|
2017 - |
unspecified |
READ Panel Tender RFT 70007256 NFA Department of Social Services |
|
Chief Investigator A Variety of CDU researchers
|
|
2017 |
$ 10,000 |
CDU Rainmaker Start-Up Grant |
Arts Related Disaster Risk Reduction: Australian-Taiwanese Indigenous Artist’s Cultural Knowledge & Skills Exchange and Creations |
Principal Investigator – project leader
Research team members: Prof Douglas Paton, A/Prof Ioannis Michaloudis, Dr Benxiang Zeng, Dr Michelle Moss, Dr Jelena Zeleskov Doric (all CDU but different disciplines) |
|
2017 |
$ 50,000 |
Australian Federal Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (DIIS) via Energy Consumers Australia (ECA) |
Power Shift – Developing an Australian Framework to Define and Measure the Co-benefits of Energy Efficiency |
Researcher Principal Researcher: Dr Rowan Bedggood (Swinburne University) Research team member: Nikki Willand (RMIT) |
|
2016 - 2019 |
$ 200,000
|
Australian Federal Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (DIIS) via Energy Consumers Australia (ECA) |
Seed funding for Group of Energy Efficiency Researchers (GEER) Australia
|
Deputy-Chair GEER Dr Rowan Bedggood (Swinburne University), Dr Phillippa Watson (University of Tasmania), Dr Michael Tipps (University of Wollongong) |
|
2016 - |
unspecified |
PMC2015: CERP Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet |
Establish a Collaborative Evaluation, Research and Planning Panel 2015 |
Chief Investigator A Variety of CDU researchers |
|
2013 - 2016 |
$ 1,642,937 |
Australian Commonwealth via the Australian Federal Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (DIIS) |
“Dharray manymakkuŋ pawaw ga gapuw*” – Manymak Energy Efficiency Project with Indigenous Communities in East Arnhem Land |
Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A Indigenous Essential Services Pty Ltd, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory Department of Housing, East Arnhem Shire Council, Centre for Appropriate Technologies/Bushlight |
|
2007 |
$ 30,000 |
Ministry of Health and Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, New Zealand
|
Articulating community beliefs about avian flu and pandemic preparedness
|
Principal Researcher Prof D. Paton (Utas, Tasmania) and Prof D. Johnston (Massey University, NZ) |
|
2007 - 2002 |
$ 267,540 |
Scholarships, fellowships & grants from various sources including the Roichi Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan |
MA & PhD research projects regarding German migration to Australia and New Zealand |
|
HDR SUPERVISION
PhD students
- Katelyn Rossiter - Natural disaster risk reduction using social media: Development of an evidence-based community engagement model (with Prof Douglas Paton)
- Stephen Sutten - Cultural drivers of disaster response behaviour and their cross-cultural applicability: Simeulue Island. (with Prof Douglas Paton, Dr Andrew McWilliam & Dr Saut Sagala)
- Kim Cardile - Professional sport coach development: Experiences, assessment, transformation and leadership (with A/Prof Simon Moss)
- Rachel Tumminello - Deepening the environmental volunteer narrative to increase public and environmental organisations’ collaboration in mitigating climate change (with Prof Douglas Paton)
- Tahir Ali (Pakistan) - Community based disaster risk management for sustainable development: A comparative study between Northern Areas of Pakistan and Australia (with Prof Douglas Paton, Prof James Smith, A/Prof Lawurrpa Maypilama)
- David McKenzie - Strengthening Risk Reduction of Natural Hazard Consequences in the Australian and Indonesian Agricultural Sectors with Community-led Experiential Learning (with Prof Douglas Paton, Dr Saut Salaga)
MA students
- Jenna Richard – Transforming the lived experiences of non-Indigenous healthcare workers working in remote Indigenous communities: A strength-based approach
Completed:
- Linél Franck - Using social and emotional learning to improve wellbeing and protect against suicide in Indigenous Australian secondary boarding school students (with Prof Douglas Paton & Prof Richard Midford)
- Siobhan Evans - Benefits of dance on wellbeing in older adults: A closer look at tango and swing (with Prof Douglas Paton & Dr Jelena Zeleskov Doric)
- Katie Astley - The experiences of healthcare workers delivering FIFO services to rural and remote Indigenous communities (with Prof Douglas Paton)
Completed Honours Supervisions
- Nikki Curtis – Songs of freedom: Popular songs as pathways for healing the past and instilling hope for the future in Australia (with Prof Douglas Paton)
- Belinda Howarth - Gifted university students: A qualitative study of why they choose to use or hide gifted abilities (with Prof Douglas Paton)
- Christiana Powell – Coping in paramedics(with Prof Timophy Skinner)
TEACHING
2018 - Course Coordinator Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours)
Unit coordination & lectures/tutorials/workshops:
- Psy140 Introduction to Psychology A
- Psy209 Social and Cultural Psychology
- Psy355 Applied Psychology
- Psy426 Ethics and Professional Issues
- Psy791 Honours Thesis
- Psy792 Honours Research Project
Calibration documents prepared for: Honours Program, Psy140, Psy209, Psy355
2017 - Course Coordinator Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours)
Unit coordination & lectures/tutorials/workshops:
- Psy140 Introduction to Psychology A
- Psy202 Developmental Psychology
- Psy209 Social and Cultural Psychology
- Psy355 Applied Psychology
- Psy791 Honours Thesis
- Psy792 Honours Research Project
APAC Accreditation documents prepared for: Honours Program & above units
2016 - Course Coordinator Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours) starting Semester 2
Unit coordination & lectures/tutorials/workshops:
- Psy140 Introduction to Psychology A
- Psy141 Introduction to Psychology B (co-coordination)
- Psy202 Developmental Psychology
Lectures:
- Psy355 Applied Psychology
2015 - Unit coordination & lectures/tutorials:
- Psy140 Introduction to Psychology A
- Psy141 Introduction to Psychology B (co-coordination)
- Psy355 Health Psychology
Lectures:
- Psy202 Developmental Psychology
- Psy355 Applied Psychology
2014 - Unit coordination & lectures
- Introduction to Psychology A, 100 level
- Developmental Psychology, 200 level
Lectures:
- Applied Methodology – Qualitative Research, MA level (Clinical Psychology)
- Cultural, Social & Psychological Aspects of Emergency and Disaster Management, Master of Emergency & Disaster Management
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBER
2016 - Disaster Communication
2010 - Journal of Psychology
2006 - International Journal of Multiple Research Approaches
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
2011 - Sylff Fellow - The Royichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund, Nippon Foundation – Tokyo Foundation, International
2010 - Centre for Applied Cross-Cultural Research, Victoria University, NZ
2009 - Joint Centre for Disaster Research, Massey University & GNS Science, NZ
SCHOLARSHIPS
2005 TEC Top Achievers Doctoral Scholarship[1] - $ 58,000 plus fees over a two year period.
2004 Ryoichi Sasakawa Doctoral Young Leaders’ Scholarship - $ 18,000 plus
research expenses and tuition fee over a one year period.
2004 University of Tasmania International Postgraduate Research Scholarship - $ 72,000 plus international PhD fees of $12750 and health cover per year for a four year period.
2003 Massey University PhD Scholarship - $ 54,000 plus fees over three year period.
2002 Ryoichi Sasakawa Masterate Young Leaders’ Scholarship - $ 24,000 plus research expenses and tuition fee over two years period.
2002 Massey University Masterate Scholarship – $ 12,000 over one year period.
FELLOWSHIPS
2007 Claude McCarthy Fellowship - $ 5000.
2007 Visiting Scholar, CAPSTRANS, University of Wollongong, Australia.
2005 Visiting Scholar, CAPSTRANS, University of Wollongong, Australia.
AWARDS & GRANTS
2017 Erasmus Staff Mobility Grant – Euro 2000
2016 Erhard – Jensen Initiative – US$ 2500
2015 CDU Travel Grant - $ 2500
2012 UWA Travel Grant - $ 1850
2007 Australian Population Association Christabel Young Research Grant - $ 2000.
2007 NZ Department of Labour Graduate Research Sponsorship - $ 5000.
2007 New Zealand European Union Centres Network Domestic Fees Scholarship - $ 1940.
2000 Massey University Scholar.
2000 Freemasons Scholarship - $ 5000.
1999 Massey University Extramural Student`s Society Scholarship 1999 valued at $ 500
1998 Evening Standard Prize in Written Communication 1998
[1] Only the top 4% of PhD students in New Zealand are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
Research interests
Member of Climate Change Adaptation Resilience and Recovery Network
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Massey University
… → 2011
Award Date: 12 May 2011
External positions
Member of ANU's Institute for Integrated Research on Disaster Risk Science
2019 → …
Executive Committee Member of the UC Collaborative Indigenous Research Initiative
2019 → …
Steward & Leadership Committee Member of the International Transformative Learning Association (ITLA)
2018 → …
Deputy Chair Group of Energy Efficiency Researchers (GEER) Australia, Group of Energy Efficiency Researchers
2016 → 2019
Editorial Board Member, Journal Disaster Risk Communication
2016 → …
Sylff Fellow , The Royichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund, Nippon Foundation – Tokyo Foundation, International
2011 → …
International Research Associate , Victoria University of Wellington
2009 → …
Editorial Board Member, International Journal of Multiple Research Approaches
2006 → …
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
Projects
- 4 Finished
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Waka Ngurrkanhayngu: Regenerating the existence of life
BUERGELT, P., Paton, D., Bedggood, R., Smith, J. A., Maypilama, L. E., Dhamarrandji, S., Yurrranydjlil, T., Gundjarranbuy, R., Bukulatjpi, Y. D., Ali, T. & Poulson, D.
1/02/22 → 25/02/24
Project: Research
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BR: Bushfire Recovery
WILLIAMS, J., SCHIRMER, J., BUERGELT, P. & MCKENZIE, V.
6/10/20 → 31/12/21
Project: Research
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Supporting mental health through building resilience during and after bushfires: lessons from the 2019-20 bushfires in southern NSW and the ACT
SCHIRMER, J., BUERGELT, P., Paton, D., NIYONSENGA, T., PEEL, D., MYLEK, M., DAVEY, R. & Benham, C.
1/06/20 → 31/05/24
Project: Research
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Waka Ŋurrkanhayngu” Regenerating the existence of life” – Addressing the Causes of Disasters to Reduce the Risk of ‘Natural’ and Social Disasters
Buergelt, P., Maypilama, L., Garrawurra, G. R., Garawirrtja, B. J., Gondurra, G. J., Bukulatjpi, D. E., Gurruwiwi, D. G., Munyarryn, Y. D., Munyarryn, N. B., Bukulatjpi, Y. D. & Paton, D., 2024, p. 1-1. 1 p.Research output: Contribution to conference (non-published works) › Other
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“Waka Ŋurrkanhayngu” Regenerating the existence of life” – A Place-based Approach to Public Policy Making
Maypilama, L., Buergelt, P., Garrawurra, G. R., Garawirrtja, B. J., Gondurra, J. G., Bukulatjpi, D. E., Gurruwiwi, D. G., Munyarryn, Y. D., Munyarryn, N. B., Bukulatjpi, Y. D. & Paton, D., 2024, p. 1-1. 1 p.Research output: Contribution to conference (non-published works) › Other
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Final report – Marymead ‘Regenerate’ program evaluation: Regenerate has great potential; realising this potential requires ongoing adequate funding
Buergelt, P., Watsford, C., Sutherland, S., Cunning, M., Pearson, T. & Williams, A., 2023, 82 p.Research output: Book/Report › Reports
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RegenerART: How community eco-art is facilitating disaster recovery, regeneration and risk reduction through transformative learning
Teunissen, C., Buergelt, P., Bartel, R. & Paton, D., 2023.Research output: Contribution to conference (non-published works) › Other › peer-review
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Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Learnings and Crisis Principles from Aboriginal Elders, Aboriginal Organisations and Aboriginal Communities.
Furlong, A., Ryder, A., Mascall, C., Buergelt, P., Kashyap, S., Dungeon, P. & Milroy, H., 2023, p. 1-1. 1 p.Research output: Contribution to conference (non-published works) › Paper › peer-review
Activities
- 1 Invited talk
-
Research with energy consumers: Pitfalls and successes experienced across LIEEP projects
Petra BUERGELT (Speaker)
10 Oct 2018Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk