Jennifer Caruso

Jennifer Caruso

School of Humanities

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.

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 incorrect” 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 Project Name Investigators Funding Body Amount
         
         

 

Date Course Name Course Level / Code
     
     

 

  • Other Supervision Activities
    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

  • Board Memberships
    Date Role Board name Institution name Country
    2015 - ongoing Member Faculty Board University of Adelaide Australia

  • Committee Memberships
    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

  • Presentation
    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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