Maya Haviland

Dr. Maya Haviland is a Research Fellow at the Nulungu Research Institute, University of Notre Dame Australia, based at the Broome Campus. Her work integrates research, artistry, and community facilitation with a focus on collaborative and arts-based methodologies. She has extensive experience in Indigenous wellbeing, cross-cultural community development, and program evaluation across Australia (especially the Kimberley), Mexico, the USA, and Vanuatu.

Education:

• Honours Degree in Social Ecology, University of Western Sydney
• PhD from ANU Research School of Humanities and the Arts (focusing on arts-based collaborative ethnography in Indigenous photography projects)

Research Interests: Maya’s expertise spans co-creativity in research, cultural dynamics, and applied projects in sustainable agriculture, youth intervention, and organizational development. She employs visual arts—such as photography and video—as tools for community engagement and knowledge-sharing.

Professional Experience:

• Senior Research Officer, Institute of Family Studies (2002–2004)
• Founder of Side by Side Community Project Consulting (independent consultant, 2004–2015)
• Research Fellow, Nulungu Research Institute (Collaborative Research Network on Indigenous Wellbeing)
• Technical advisor to Live and Learn Vanuatu (environmental NGO)

Labs/Teams: Active in the Nulungu Research Institute and collaborates with global networks, including the Archivo Fotografico Indigena and Chiapas Photography Project in Mexico.