DrGenee Marks

I am by preference a qualitative researcher, and in particular, I take a
socially critical perspective, and draw frequently on action research as a
participatory tool for working in community/communities, and as a basis on
which other participatory research methodologies may be created and
scaffolded. I see considerable ethical value in drawing on principles of co-
research and co-production within research, education and policy development,
and have been invited to universities internationally (such as Trinity College
in Dublin, and Syracuse University in New York State), to present my work to
faculty and postgraduate students there.

New projects currently being developed include:
* Using 'yarning' methodologies in the development of inclusive education and inclusive societies. This project will explore the epistemologies and ontologies of cultures that are disadvantaged by the dominant systems and models may be seen to be transferable to a diversity of disadvantaged children and young people (as well as their parents, community, Elders etc). The paper touches on Australian Aboriginal yarning, Filipino pagtatanong-tanong, Maori Kaupapa Korero, western memory work, and life-story narratives from people with disability, in its exploration of the use of 'yarning' methodologies as a tool in the development of inclusive education and inclusive societies.

Knowledge Areas
Critical dis/ability studies
Dis/ability and diversity
Inclusive education across social diversity, cultural diversity, gender and
dis/ability
STEM in various cultural contexts
Yarning methodologies
Co-research and co-design as inclusivity
Bricolage as methodology
Inclusive policy in education

Projects
A selection of projects includes:

* Voices of GROW- What jobseekers are telling us (2017-2018)
Researching for GROW (G21 Region Opportunities for Work), I asked long-term
job seekers to participate within 'action research', helping to write and
respond to key research questions. The aim was to hear directly from those who
have experienced barriers and to influence the way that employers and
employment services support job seekers in our region. In addition to the
final formal report, GROW incorporated the data into a pamphlet that could
then be used with employers in Geelong, on the website, and as a tool for
attracting funding. Links may be found at: https://grow.g21.com.au/voice/what-
job-seekers-are-telling-us and https://grow.g21.com.au/wp-
content/uploads/pdf/13234-GROW-CASE-STUDIES-6pp_2404_R.pdf. Video interviews
were carried out with a number of participants. These have been posted on the
website at https://grow.g21.com.au/voice/voices-of-colac-job-seekers, along
with a video interview of Dr Genee Marks, as researcher:
https://grow.g21.com.au/voice/dr-genee-marks-learnings-from-job-seekers. The
data gained were used to attract Government funding of $750,000 to support the
work of GROW in enabling employment in the region.
https://grow.g21.com.au/2018/06/750000-state-government-boost-to-grow-
in-g21-region.

* Assistance Dogs for People with Younger Onset Dementia (2016-2019)

Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs, Dementia Australia, and The University of
Melbourne (Dr Genee Marks- Research Fellow; Principal Investigator- Professor
Keith McVilly) collaborated to implement a project to investigate the role and
potential impact of assistance dogs in the support of people with Younger
Onset Dementia (funded by Gandel Philanthropy and State Trustees of Victoria).
The program documented the extent to which the help of trained dementia
assistance dogs, were able to sustain their physical and emotional well-being,
and self-manage the difficulties associated with dementia. Importantly, the
investigation also considered the impact on family carers. The outcomes of
this project have featured extensively in the media, including internet,
television and print media. The attached internet link was an impromptu
interview at a national Alzheimer's conference in 2017, when the program was
officially launched publicly.
https://www.facebook.com/CarePageAU/videos/1090624331041194/. The impact of
this research is particularly wide reaching in that the Australian National
Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has now recognised assistance dogs for
people with younger onset dementia as being National Disability Insurance
Scheme (NDIS) funding.
Higher Education Equity Program (HEEP) grant funding ($21,000) to research
the needs of Deakin University's incarcerated students, and advise the
University of their educational needs, and the barriers to their success,
especially those due to Deakin University policies, procedures and structures
(DUSA).
Federally funded CUTSD staff development grant ($86,000) to research the
need for, and develop a training and mentoring program, for women academics
attempting to establish their international reputations as researchers within
the university system (UNSW).
Transition in VET for people with intellectual disability (Victorian
Department of Human Services- $50,000; SGR LLEN- $12,000)
Partners/collaborators were Corio Bay Innovators Inc. This action research
project established a committee of critical friends with intellectual
disability to research the process of transition from supported employment to
open employment. The project brought about considerable change in
understanding of co-research, and was shortlisted for the Geelong Researcher
of the Year competition.