Niina marni (Hello in Kaurna),
Prior to my current role in the School of Health Sciences I was employed at UniSA as a Research Assistant with the CERM Performance Indicators Project (2002-2010) as well as a sessional tutor/lecturer in the School of Management.
My Research Assistant role included developing and maintaining industry focused survey research that incorporated both service quality performance indicators as well as health-related benefit measures. This research work involved working with local government authorities across Australia and NZ in relation to their community aquatic and recreation facilities.
From 2002 to 2008 I also co-ordinated and managed an ongoing research project that involved undergraduate 2nd Year UniSA Bachelor of Sport and Recreation Management students. This collaborative research project involved Minda Inc. (a not-for-profit organisation for people with intellectual impairments) and focussed on developing an understanding of recreation and leisure services provided by Minda Inc. from people with an intellectual disability.
From 2003 to 2004 I conducted a mixed method honours study exploring the potential of elite athletes with disabilities being involved in the Olympic Games. This study included a comparative analysis of previous Olympic and Paralympic Games results as well as conducting an online Delphi with athletes with disabilities in Australia, USA & England.
Following the successful completion of my honours degree, I embarked on a PhD (2006-2012). My PhD research focused on developing an understanding of community recreation opportunities for people with disabilities. Using a Grounded Theory approach, I have conducted numerous interviews with local government staff as well as analysing relevant publicly available documents, such a local government Disability Action Plans as well as Sport and Recreation Plans and Strategies.
Since 2010 I have been teaching and researching in the Allied Health & Human Performance Academic Unit (formerly known as the School of Health Sciences). I have been involved with a number of community based recreation/sport research projects, including the UniSA Football United sport for development program (2012 – 2017), the City of Port Adelaide Enfield's Street Sport program (2012 – 2014) and a number of studies with the SA Circus School (Cirkidz) (2014 – current). All these projects have focused on providing youth in disadvantaged communities’ opportunities to access sport/recreation/arts. The research embedded within each of these projects has incorporated the use of a number of research methods, both quantitative and qualitative, to assess the effectiveness and sustainability of the projects.
In 2012, as a member of two teams, I was awarded two Chancellor’s UniSA Community Service Award’s, one for Mobile Allied-Health Clinic: Community Projects and another for the Football United-UniSA (Fun-UniSA) for contributions to community engagement and development initiatives.
My research method interests are mainly within the qualitative paradigm, particularly in relation to the use of critical analysis and social interactionist methods such as Grounded Theory, Action Research and Critical Discourse Analysis.
My experiences prior to academia have included working as a volunteer in the community sport and recreation sector, both for local sporting organisations as well as with local government.
Across my academic career I have taught in a number of sociological and health promotion courses as well as co-ordinated final year placement courses. I’m am an Academic Integrity Officer in the Allied Health & Human Performance Academic Unit, a member of the Division of Health Sciences Aboriginal Strategy Group and a Member of the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA).
A core underpinning value I bring to both my teaching and research is the need to be reflective of practice, both our own as well as that of others. I also believe that if we are to develop a fair and just society we need to work with all, listen carefully and find ways to include the voices and views of those who are disadvantaged by the status quo.