Debra Bennell

Qualifications
Bachelor of Social Science (Indigenous Services), Edith Cowan University, WA.
Master of Arts (Indigenous Social Policy), University of Technology, Sydney. NSW

Short Professional Biography
Debra Bennell is a part-time lecturer in the social work program. She has worked for various Government Departments and community-based organizations in a range of positions such as Aboriginal Liaison Officer, Manager Aboriginal programs, Health Promotions Officer, Senior Policy and Planning Officer, and as a private consultant. This workplace experience was gained through employment with Curtin University, Centrelink, the Western Australian Health Department and the Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service. Debra has extensive experience working in Indigenous health including a short time spent as the Vice President of the Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service in 2000.

Research
Her research interests include Social Policy, Education, Aboriginal Heritage, Cultural inclusion and Cultural Taxation.

Industry Commercial Experience and Industry Links

Past
Voted by peers as the inaugural Indigenous Student Representative for the Bachelor of Social Science (Indigenous Students) Course Advisory Group.
Voted by peers as Chairperson, Oordalkalla Aboriginal Student Association (Edith Cowan University), 2001/2002
Represented Edith Cowan University at the Governor's College Student Leadership Program - Ferris University - Michigan USA (2002).
Ministerial appointment to the Australian National Council on AIDS and Related Diseases (ANCARD), Indigenous Australians' Sexual Health Working Party, including the Sub Committee on Research and Ethics, 1995-1999.
Committee Member, South West Women's Refuge Group, 1989-1991.
Private Consultant, Facilitator, Bunbury Family Violence and Intervention Project, Community Workshop, Bunbury, 1993.
Inaugural member of Women's Legal Service of WA, Indigenous Women's Project, Steering Committee member, 2000.
She has also been an inaugural  coach and mentor with the Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination for six Aboriginal women leaders in Western Australia.

Present
Debra has been living in regional Western Australia since 2003 and has been employed by Edith Cowan University since arriving back in Bunbury, her birthplace.

Debra is currently a Board member of the following organisations: South West Regional College of TAFE., South West Aboriginal Medical Service, Goomburrup Aboriginal Corporation and is Chair of the South West Aboriginal Education, Employment and Training Committee.

Publications, Conferences and Awards
Researched and co-authored the report for WA AIDS Council, Rural Access for HIV+ people living in Western Australia, 1996
Recipient of the Edith Cowan University, Aboriginal Consultative Committee Prize for academic excellence and contribution to student life at ECU in 2002.

Wooltorton, S. Bennell, D. (2007) Ecological Literacy:Nyoongar Way in Every Child magazine – Building collaborative communities – vol. 13 no. 4, 2007, pp. 30-31