Research Interests
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Studies Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander History Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Management Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy Access to Justice Anthropological Genetics Anthropology Applied Ethics Cultural Theory History Life Histories Race and Ethnic RelationsJennifer Caruso
School of Humanities
College of Creative Arts, Design and Humanities
I am an Eastern Arrente woman and a survivor of the Stolen Generations. My research area is multi-disciplinary with a foundation in the Discipline of History. I focus specifically in Australian Aboriginal History which covers 20th century Australia, and expands into investigation of public and social policy which informed the removal of Aboriginal children during the assimilation era. I am currently examining the viability of theories such as epigenetics and its application to social theory and practice around development and delivery of healing services to Aboriginal people by both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal practitioners. I am also interested in investigating the ways in which other disciplines, particularly Anthropology, has and continues to have an impact on social narratives around Aboriginal Australia in order to inform those disciplines around the possible negative impacts of social research.My research interests focus on the Stolen Generations and the ways in which policies around the removal of half-caste children were informed and scaffolded by the notions of the power of 'being white' and the deficits of 'being Aboriginal'. A growing focus is to expand this body of work by engaging in cross-disciplinary conversations around the ingrained eugenicist underpinnings of those policies, expanding my research into the interwar transference of eugenicist ideologies from Europe to Australian policies of half-caste child removal.I welcome inquiries from Masters and PhD candidates interested in: Aboriginal History, the Stolen Generations, Anthropology and Aboriginal Australians
My current projects include:
- Family, Memory and Identity amongst the Stolen Generations
The aim of this project is to collect and disseminate the stories of members of the Stolen Generations in the Murraylands, as part of the process of reparation.
My research is driven by the need for social justice for all, but in particular utilising History to inform both academic and non-academic spaces about the ethics when writing and researching on Aboriginal peoples to ensure that it is informed. While grounded in the discipline of history, due to the characteristics of intersectionality which are anchored in every single aspect of the lives of Aboriginal people, my work is broadening into other discipline areas.
The principles which underlie my teaching are that all Australians should have access to information and the sharing of knowledge on Aboriginal history in this nation. My practice is to share that knowledge in a culturally safe environment where students are able to engage with the topics without fear of being seen as "asking the wrong thing" or being "politically incorrectâ in order to ensure a positive learning experience for students.
My work is expanding into working with staff on the ways in which colonisation continues to inform academic approaches to writing on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and in particular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who are often not only 'first in family' to study at the higher education level, but who are also impacted by the levels of socio-economic and political disadvantage faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. My efforts are directed towards ensuring a culturally and intellectually safe learning and teaching space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, which will also inform pedagogical approaches to content to ensure that students can complete their studies.
Jenni's research interests focus on the Stolen Generations and the ways in which policies around the removal of half-caste children were informed and scaffolded by the notions of the power of 'being white' and the deficits of 'being Aboriginal'. A growing focus is to exand the body of work around the Jenni is also engaging in cross-disciplinary conversations around the ingrained eugenicist underpinnings of those policies, expanding her research into the interwar transferrence of eugenicist ideologies from Europe to Australian policies of half-caste child removal.
While grounded in the discipline of history, due to the characteristics of intersectionality which are anchored in every single aspect of the lives of Aboriginal people, Jenni's work is broadening into other discipline areas.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 - 2018 | Lecturer | University of Adelaide |
| 1999 - ongoing | Lecturer | University of Adelaide |
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Country | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Award | SA NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award | NAIDOC SA | Australia | - |
| 2018 | Distinction | Graduate Deans’ Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence | University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2017 | Award | Gladys Elphick Award – Quiet Achiever | Gladys Elphick | Australia | - |
| 2011 | Award | Vice Chancellor & President Award for Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education and Engagement | University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 - 2018 | University of Adelaide | Australia | PhD |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Caruso, J. L. (2018). The Myth of Saving the Children. In not published. Australian Embassy to Ireland, Dublin. |
| 2018 | Caruso, J. L. (2018). The Myth of Saving the Children: The Impacts of Twentieth Century Half-Caste Child Assimilation. In not published. Adelaide. |
| 2018 | Caruso, J. L. (2018). From the Pacific to the Arafura: transition from mission to Fiji to mission to half-castes. Collaborations between J W Burton and A P Elkin in the establishment of the Methodist Overseas Half-Caste Children’s Mission of Croker Island. In not published. Adelaide. |
| 2018 | Caruso, J. L. (2018). Recognising the Interdependent Relationship Between Reconciliation and Truth Telling. In not published. Adelaide. |
| 2017 | Caruso, J. L. (2017). The National Marketing of The national marketing of assimilation to Methodist Church parishioners by the Methodist Overseas Mission. In not published. Adelaide. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Caruso, J. L. (2018). Stolen Generations Elders, Elder Abuse and Prevention and Positive Aging Summit Keynote Address. Poster session presented at the meeting of not published. Adelaide. |
| 2017 | Caruso, J. L. (2017). National Indigenous Law Conference Panel - Grandmothers against Removal. Poster session presented at the meeting of not published. Adelaide. |
| 2017 | Caruso, J. L. (2017). National Indigenous Law Conference Panel - Grandmothers against Removal. Poster session presented at the meeting of not published. Adelaide. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Authors: N/A. Title: Colonialism and Its Aftermath A History of Aboriginal South Australia. Description: N/A. Extent: N/A. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Caruso, J. L. (2019). 125 Years - Aboriginal Women's Suffrage (No. Of Pieces: 9 images, 1 poetry, + Uluru Statement) [Curated Photographic Exhibition]. University of Adelaide, Barr Smith Library and Hub Central, Adelaide, South Australia: University of Adelaide. |
| Date | Project Name | Investigators | Funding Body | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Course Name | Course Level / Code |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Location | Program | Supervision Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 - 2019 | Principal Supervisor | The Misrepresentation of Tino Rangatiratanga (Self-determination) in Māori Immersion Education An investigation of the factors that underpinned the push for Māori language immersion in New Zealand education and an examination of the reactionary backlash between 1972 and 1992 | University of Adelaide | Honours Hstory | Honours | Full Time | Julian Kusabs |
| Date | Role | Board name | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 - ongoing | Member | Faculty Board | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 - ongoing | Member | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Strategy and Monitoring committee | Universityof Adelaide | Australia |
| 2016 - ongoing | Member | South Australian Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation | South Australian Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation | Australia |
| 2016 - ongoing | Member | Gender Equity | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2015 - ongoing | Member | Indigenous Education and Engagement Committee | Univerity of Adelaide | Australia |
| Date | Topic | Presented at | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 - ongoing | SA Reconciliation AGM | SA Reconciliation AGM | Reconciliation SA | Australia |
| 2018 - ongoing | Adelaide Festival of Ideas | - | Adelaide Festival of Ideas | Australia |
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