Professor Gary Robinson
Director, Centre for Child Development and Education
Qualifications:
PhD, University of New South Wales, 1993; Bachelor of Arts (Honours), University of New South Wales, 1984.
Approved level of HDR supervision at Charles Darwin University:
Principal Supervisor for PhD
Location:
Darwin – Charles Darwin University, Casuarina campus
Biography:
He has led the evaluation of health, mental health and educational initiatives in the Northern territory, including the Tiwi Coordinated Care Trial (1997-2004) and the National Accelerated Literacy Program (2004-2009). He has conducted long term ethnographic field research into Aboriginal adolescence, family relationships, parenting, suicide and self harm.
He has been responsible for the development and evaluation of school-based early intervention and prevention programs for Indigenous children and parents in urban and remote communities, with the program 'Ngaripirliga’ajirri' in partnership with the Tiwi Health Board and others, (2000-2004) and the Let’s Start Parent-Child Program (2005-2013).
In 2012, he led consultations to develop a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, and is currently chief investigator of a study of outcomes of admissions for deliberate self harm in Northern Territory hospitals.
- Outcomes of self harm: a study of outcomes of admission for deliberate self harm in NT Hospitals (beyondblue inc and NT Department of Health, 2013-2015)
- Mura Kazil Sagul: a capacity building partnership to support children and parents in the Torres Strait (Torres Strait Regional Authority and Mura Kosker Sorority Inc., 2013-2014)
- The Let’s Start Parent-Child Program (Commonwealth Department of Families and Housing and Indigenous Affairs, 2005-2014)
- The Let’s Start Parent-Child Program (Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, 2011-2013)
- Review and consultations for the development of a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy. Department of Health and Ageing (tendered contract, 2012-2013).
- Robinson, R.W., Tyler, W.B., Silburn, S.R. & Zubrick, S.R. (2012). Gender, Culture and Intervention: Exploring Differences between Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Children’s Responses to an Early Intervention Programme. Children and Society, doi:10.1111/j.1099-0860.2011.00424.x [epub ahead of print]
- Robinson, R.W., Tyler, W.B., Jones, Y., Silburn, S.R. & Zubrick, S.R. (2012). Context, Diversity and Engagement: Early Intervention with Australian Aboriginal Families in Urban and Remote Contexts. Children and Society, 26(5), 343-355.
- Mares, S. & Robinson, G. (2012). Culture, Context and Therapeutic Process: Delivering a parent-child intervention in a remote Aboriginal community. Australasian Psychiatry, 20(2), 102-107.
- Nagel, T., Robinson, R., Condon, J. & Trauer, T. (2009). Approach to treatment of mental illness and substance dependence in remote Indigenous communities: Results of a mixed methods study. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 17(4), 174-182.
- Robinson, G., Eickelkamp, U., Goodenow, J., Katz, I., Eds. (2008). Contexts of child development: Culture, policy and intervention. Darwin: Charles Darwin University Press.
- Robinson, G. & Tyler, W. (2008). Ngaripirliga'ajirri: Implementation of Exploring Together on the Tiwi Islands. Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health (AeJAMH), 7(1), 61-71.
- Bailie, R.S., Robinson, G., Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, S.N., Halpin, S. & Wang, Z.. (2006). Investigating the sustainability of outcomes in a chronic disease treatment programme. Social Science & Medicine, 63(6), 1661-1670.
- Robinson, G. 2005. Anthropology, explanation and intervention: Risk and resilience in a parent-and child-focused program. Anthropological Forum 15(1), 3-25.
- Robinson, G. (2004). Living in sheds: suicide, friendship and research among the Tiwi. In J. Mulcock and L. Hume (Eds), Anthropologists in the Field: Cases in participant observation (pp 153-167). New York: Columbia University Press.
- Robinson, G. (1990). Separation, retaliation and suicide: Mourning and the conflicts of young Tiwi men. Oceania, 60(3), 161-178.
Click here to view more Gary Robinson publications in PubMed.
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MEDIA RELEASE | Impact of intimate partner violence on child health
A new study led by Menzies has uncovered a strong connection between intimate partner violence and poor child health outcomes.
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Building resilience in remote Aboriginal students
The innovative study by researchers at Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) is part of a program in partnership with five NT secondary/middle schools which sought to evaluate the implementation of Skills for Life.
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Study highlights dimensions of resilience among remote Aboriginal middle school students
More than 1000 students and teachers from remote Northern Territory (NT) schools have assisted in implementing the Skills for Life resilience program with results now published in the highly regarded multidisciplinary journal PLOS ONE.
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The Australian | Risk study 'would cut child suicides'
The Northern Territory could lower its shockingly high rates of child and youth suicide by using data from police, justice and child protection agencies to model the individual risk that kids face from primary school onwards, a leading researcher has suggested.
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Strengthening family relationships through play
Local Aboriginal implementation officers are delivering an innovative variation of the Play to Connect parenting program in Wurrumiyanga, Tiwi Islands to support families through learning and play. The Menzies Play to Connect team works with parents and...
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NTG Media Release | Investing in Our Children: MECSH Program Evaluation
The Menzies School of Health Research won the tender to evaluate the Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home-Visiting (MECSH) program.
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Guidelines to improve assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people presenting to hospital with self-harm and suicidal thought
Scimex (the Science Media Exchange) is an online news portal aimed primarily at helping journalists cover science.
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Guidelines to improve assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people presenting to hospital
Life in Mind is a national gateway connecting Australian suicide prevention services to each other and the community.
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New guidelines to improve assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people presenting to hospital with self-harm and suicidal thoughts
The Centre for Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention - Guidelines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people presenting to hospital with self-harm and suicidal thought
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NEW GUIDELINES TO IMPROVE CARE OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLE AT RISK OF SELF-HARM AND SUICIDE
Tanja Hirvonen, Bernard Leckning and Gary Robinson write: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have higher rates of hospitalisation involving self-harm in comparison with non-Indigenous Australians
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At Pioneer FC, suicide does discriminate
Gary Robinson, a suicide researcher at Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin, traces a wave of suicides that hit Western Australia’s Kimberley region in recent years to the arrival of alcohol and cash-based economies, and a breakdown of cultural authority structures
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Urgent response ‘no fix for suicide’
Professor Gary Robinson said to get indigenous suicide rates back under control, Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt would need to “look through” many urgent calls for support
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New app uses real-life stories from Indigenous kids to help others deal with bullying
A group of Northern Territory youth workers, Aboriginal broadcasters and health researchers have launched a new digital resource.
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The Wire | NEW ONLINE TOOL INTRODUCED TO PREVENT BULLYING OF INDIGENOUS YOUTH
Digital Trakz uses interactive cartoon graphics to present real-life scenarios of bullying and teasing that happens in the Indigenous communities and asks youth what they what do in particular situations.
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Digital Trakz - A resource to reduce the impact of teasing in the lives of Aboriginal youth
A new resource has been launched in Darwin today designed to help youths cope with teasing and bullying.
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National Forum on Child Protection | The Stringer
A National Forum on Child Protection to be held in Darwin over three days – from June 26. Professor Gary Robinson will be one of the keynote presenters.
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ABC Radio AM | Belyuen Hip Hop on Mental Health
Teenagers in the Northern Territory Aboriginal community of Belyuen say they hope their hip hop video clip about mental illness will encourage other kids to be open about their problems. Professor Gary Robinson Director, Menzies Centre for Child Development and Education praised their efforts.
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Teenagers make hip hop clip about mental illness
Teenagers in the Northern Territory Aboriginal community of Belyuen say they hope their hip hop video clip about mental illness will encourage other kids to be open about their problems.
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Menzies centre tackles Indigenous youth suicide this World Suicide Prevention Day
A Northern Territory-based research project aimed at curbing high rates of Indigenous youth suicide will expand its critical work following a funding announcement made to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day (Wednesday, 10 September).
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Specialist supports the role of culture in communities to keep kids safe this National ATSI Children’s Day
To mark National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Children's Day 2014 (Monday, 4 August), one of Australia’s leading child development specialists has emphasised the importance of culture in the education and development of Indigenous children.
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Let's Start in the Tiwis
A program for pre-school aged kids with behavioural problems nurtures stronger relationships between parents and children.
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New study to investigate drivers of Indigenous suicide
The Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) will investigate the key drivers of suicide attempts and opportunities for prevention amongst Indigenous Australians in a new study.
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Fighting For Life
Our researchers traverse the country to speak to communities about preventing Indigenous suicide.
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National consultations seek answers to Indigenous suicide
The Menzies School of Health Research will this week embark on a nationwide consultation on the development of Australia’s first national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy.
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Confronting the scourge of Indigenous Suicide
In June this year, the Menzies School of Health Research welcomed the Australian Government’s decision to appoint it to help develop the nation’s first National Indigenous Suicide Prevention Strategy.
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Menzies to lead development of Australia's first National Indigenous Suicide Prevention Strategy
Menzies School of Health Research has welcomed the Australian Government’s decision to appoint it to help develop the nation’s first National Indigenous Suicide Prevention Strategy.