Rebecca Dobbs

Rebecca Dobbs is a Research Fellow at The University of Western Australia's School of Agriculture and Environment, based in Kununurra in the Kimberley region of Northern Australia. With over 15 years of experience working in the Kimberley, she specializes in freshwater ecology research with a focus on integrating Indigenous knowledge systems and Western science approaches.

• Position: Research Fellow, UWA School of Agriculture and Environment
• Location: Based in Kununurra, Western Australia
• Research Focus: Freshwater ecology in tropical and temperate river systems
• Key Collaborations: Works extensively with Indigenous ranger groups across the Kimberley region
• Major Projects: Leads development of Indigenous wetland monitoring toolkit with Environs Kimberley

Rebecca Dobbs' research interests center on freshwater ecology in both tropical and temperate river systems, with particular emphasis on wetland monitoring and health assessment through multiple evidence-based approaches. Her work integrates Indigenous knowledge systems with Western scientific methods to develop culturally appropriate monitoring protocols for freshwater ecosystems. She has extensive experience in using aquatic fauna (macroinvertebrates and fish) as ecological indicators to assess river health and environmental change. Her research addresses critical issues including environmental water requirements, river health assessment in wet/dry tropical systems, and sustainable management of Northern Australian freshwater ecosystems.

Her research program demonstrates significant impact through numerous grants and collaborative projects. Funding sources include Western Australian State NRM funding ($255,513), Caring for our Country Interim funding ($145,000), various TRaCK Knowledge Adoption and Synthesis Projects ($20,000), and multiple other grants totaling over $400,000. She has coordinated the Waterways Education Program in the Kimberley since 2009, developing community skills and knowledge related to science, research, and management, with particular focus on Indigenous communities.

Dobbs leads several major initiatives including the development of an Indigenous wetland monitoring and management toolkit, the Working Together for Wetlands project with Environs Kimberley and Kimberley Indigenous Ranger groups, and the Kimberley Indigenous Saltwater Science Project. Her approach emphasizes co-design with Indigenous communities, ensuring research meets local needs and contexts while contributing to broader-scale management and research frameworks.