Meet Rebecca Hird Fletcher and Michelle Gissara, RMIT's Indigenous Doctoral Fellows

Meet Rebecca Hird Fletcher and Michelle Gissara, RMIT's Indigenous Doctoral Fellows

Rebecca and Michelle join RMIT's Vice-Chancellor's Indigenous Doctoral Fellowship program, contributing to Indigenous research excellence.

The Vice-Chancellor's Indigenous Doctoral Fellowship scheme forms part of RMIT’s commitment to providing Indigenous researchers early career opportunities. 

This year RMIT welcomed two new Vice-Chancellor's Indigenous Doctoral Research Fellows, Rebecca Hird Fletcher and Michelle Gissara. 

 

Rebecca Hird Fletcher 

Rebecca is a proud GuriNgai woman and a descendant of Bungaree (GuriNgai/Garigal) and Matora (Awabakal). 

Located in RMIT’s STEM College, in the School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, her research focuses on understanding the needs of young First Nations peoples who experience detention. 

Lady sitting on a chair in front of Aboriginal art Rebecca Hird Fletcher's research focuses on understanding the needs of young First Nations peoples who experience detention

Rebecca’s research journey started at the University of Sydney where she completed a Graduate Diploma of Indigenous Health Promotion followed by a Master of Public Health.  

During the final year of her Master’s, Rebecca worked with the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use on a project called ‘Cracks in the Ice’. 

“My role was to yarn with First Nations participants who had experienced methamphetamine use or had supported loved ones who used methamphetamines,” she said. 

After completing her Master’s degree, Rebecca was keen to continue down the path of academia and worked as a Research Fellow with the University of Queensland. 

This was where she began researching young First Nations people’s experience with detention. 

“I was inspired by the spirit of our young First Nations peoples who I met at the detention centres and wanted to continue researching with them in a way that allowed for their voices to be heard,” she said. 

This work is what brought her to RMIT University and the Vice-Chancellor’s Indigenous Doctoral Research Fellowship. 

Rebecca said she was looking forward to continuing her research in RMIT’s supportive environment, while also experiencing and learning about academic teaching within the university sector. 

“I’m not sure as yet where this role will take me, but my interests and passion regarding the voices of our young First Nations peoples who experience detention, along with innovations in the field of Indigenous Research Methodologies will keep me focused for a while.” 

 

Michelle Gissara 

Michelle is a proud Kardu Diminin and Kardu Yek Naninh woman and another Vice-Chancellor's Indigenous Doctoral Research Fellow at RMIT University. 

She is situated in the College of Design and Social Context, in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies (GUSS). 

Lady wearing glasses in front of a grey backdrop Michelle Gissara's research explores image-based sexual abuse, specifically the lived experience of Indigenous women and LGBTQIA+ peoples

Her Honours thesis focused on image-based sexual abuse representation in Victorian news media, specifically issues such as victim blaming and stereotyping and how help-seeking resources were or were not part of an article or news segment. 

Her PhD thesis aims to explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and Indigenous LGBTQIA+ people’s lived experiences of image-based sexual abuse in Victoria through Aboriginal Participatory Action Research (APAR) with victim-survivors and relevant stakeholders. 

Michelle is also an alumnus, having completed both a Bachelor of Criminology and Psychology and a Bachelor of Justice and Criminology (Honours) at RMIT. 

Prior to applying for the Fellowship position, she also spent time at an Aboriginal Gathering Place as cultural support for Women’s Business. 

“I really enjoyed being able to foster connections to culture, community, and Country,” she said. 

Michelle was excited to apply for the Fellowship, as it allowed her to gain an entry into academia through her PhD studies. 

“I liked the idea of teaching and engagement with the university while studying.” 

Michelle highlighted how she has found both the School of GUSS and the Ngarara Willum Centre to be extremely supportive, making focusing on her research work easier.

“I also feel well supported though the Indigenous Staff Network, as well as my line manager, my PhD supervisors, and other staff and students that I have engaged with,” she said. 

When looking to the future, Michelle said she sees the Fellowship as a steppingstone for her personal and professional goals. 

"I’ve had some amazing opportunities through the Fellowship already to create video content with Informit, to present at the Indigenous Careers Fair to students, as well as present my story for IDAHOBIT (The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia) in how to be a better ally,” she said. 

“This Fellowship is a great way to be a role model for younger Indigenous mob, as we need more Indigenous people in academia, as well as more women in academic roles.” 

 

Find out more about the Vice-Chancellor's Indigenous Doctoral Fellowship here. 

 

Story by: Sheridan van Gelderen

28 June 2023

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28 June 2023

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RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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