Lorina Barker

Dr. Lorina Barker is a Senior Lecturer at the University of New England (UNE), affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education and the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. She holds qualifications including a PhD from UNE and specializes in oral history, Indigenous Australian history, and colonial studies. Her research emphasizes Aboriginal perspectives, particularly through oral narratives and community histories.

Education:

• BA, M. Litt., GDED (UNE)
• PhD (UNE)

Research Interests: Barker focuses on oral history methodologies, family/community histories, and Indigenous cultural preservation. Her work explores intersections of colonialism, gender, and environmental knowledge systems through collaborative projects with Aboriginal communities. Notable research includes Ngarraka Yaan: A Murdi History of Weilmoringle and studies on Indigenous water rights.

Publication Trends: Her recent publications (2016–2017) highlight interdisciplinary approaches to Indigenous knowledge systems, feminist oral history practices, and decolonizing educational methodologies. She frequently addresses colonial legacies and contemporary Indigenous agency through historical narratives.

Awards & Memberships:

• Recipient of the John Ferry Award (2007) from the History Council of NSW
• UNE Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Fellowship (2013)
• Member of the Indigenous Oral History Network

Media Production: Barker has directed films including My Grandmother’s Country (2015) for NITV and A Shearer’s Life (2008), blending academic research with documentary storytelling to amplify Indigenous voices.