Working with a visiting academic: Dr Debra Dank
It was a privilege to welcome Dr Debra Dank to the College as the inaugural Pymble Institute Fellow. Debra is a Gudanji/Wakaja woman whose Country is in the Barkly Tablelands in the Northern Territory. Her research in semiotics resulted in a dissertation plus her celebrated book, We Come With This Place, which tells stories of her home, her Country. Debra’s scholarship in language, literacy, communication and semiotics brought many opportunities for staff professional development and Pymble benefited from Debra’s teaching through her week with us.
The experience of hosting this very talented educator, writer and scholar has made me think about the many privileges related to education and the privileges of learning in such an intimate and embedded way from a researcher-in-residence. If you are considering an ‘in residence’, fellowship or guest lecturer program, what type of learning will be transformative for your school or organisation? How ready are you (collectively) to be challenged and to grow?
With Dr Dank, we have learnt about alternatives to binary systems which make sense of the Gudanji concept of Mankujba. Mankujba expands the English language dichotomy of yes/no, black/white, and man/woman by encouraging a multilayered and multidimensional approach to understanding the world. The week with Debra afforded us the privilege of intersecting with new ideas and practices on multiple occasions and we deepened our understanding of Debra’s work and her world. You might find a similar matrix of activities works for you if you have the privilege of inviting a researcher, scholar, artist or performer-in-residence to your community. Look for the inter-connections!
Our matrices with Debra included:
- Welcoming yarn with students and staff at the College’s Yarning Circle
- Interview with students at assembly
- Presentation to the Pymble Ethics Committee to discuss Indigenous research methodologies
- Exploration with the English Department of texts by Indigenous authors, Aboriginal English, standard English and other languages
- Discussing Aboriginal Studies projects with Year 12 students
- Visiting Junior School classes to learn together
- Sharing the PhD journey and stories of writing, methodology and Country with the Education Journal Club and Junior School Research Club
- Being guest of honour at the Pymble Staff Book Club to discuss her book, We Come With This Place, which was nominated for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award (Non-Fiction)
- Mentoring Pymble Institute staff in initiating a research project with First Nations ex-students
With Debra’s mentorship, the Pymble Institute is exploring how we can conduct research into the experiences of First Nations ex-students who are now in post-school education and careers. It has been a privilege to meet online and face-to-face with ex-students from all around Australia and overseas to hear of their success in areas including speech pathology, medicine, entrepreneurship, art and design, and education, as well as parenting, community work and maintaining responsibilities to family and Country. On behalf of the Pymble community, we extend sincere thanks to Debra for her generosity, kindness and wisdom. Debra opened many eyes to issues which all educators should strive to improve and to research approaches which can support this.
