Kate Senior

Professor Kate Senior is a distinguished medical anthropologist at the University of Newcastle's School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences. With over 20 years of experience working with remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, she has established herself as a leading researcher in Indigenous health, youth wellbeing, and community-led research methodologies. Her work is characterized by deep community engagement and a commitment to amplifying Aboriginal voices in health research and policy development.

Kate Senior's research primarily focuses on two interconnected areas: the health and wellbeing of people in remote Aboriginal communities, and the sexual health of Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people. She has pioneered community-led approaches that reframe discourses about Aboriginal communities from deficit-based to strength-based perspectives. Her work examines how people understand health and wellbeing, the barriers they face in accessing health services, and the social determinants affecting Indigenous youth. Senior has developed innovative arts-based research methods, including body mapping and photovoice, to engage young people in sensitive conversations about sexual health and relationships.

Her research has directly informed national policy on sexual health education and STI prevention, most notably through the development of the 'Life Happens' sexual health game, which is now widely used in schools across Australia. She has also established the Ngukurr News, a community newspaper that has become entirely community-run and serves as a platform for young people's voices.

• 2017 UOW woman of impact
• 2017 Vice Chancellors award for Interdisciplinary research excellence
• 2017 Vice Chancellor's Award for Community Engagement

Senior has received significant research funding, including an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship and ARC Linkage Projects. She has supervised numerous students and mentored young Indigenous researchers through community projects. Her work with the Ngukurr community in South East Arnhem Land spans more than two decades, reflecting her commitment to long-term community partnerships. Through initiatives like the Ngukurr News and arts-based research projects, she has created sustainable platforms for community voice and youth engagement that continue beyond her direct involvement.