Melissa Kennedy

Research Fellow, Participatory Research and Engagement, ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course


Melissa Kennedy is a Tati Tati woman from the Murray River Country in North-West Victoria. As a Research Fellow with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course (the Life Course Centre), Melissa’s focus is on better understanding and documenting the relationship between water (Cultural Flows) and Indigenous wellbeing over the life course, with a view to enabling policy change and empowering local Indigenous stakeholders. Melissa will work with the researchers at the Life Course Centre's Places Program and stakeholders and community members to codesign research on the theme of Indigenous wellbeing and the environment.

Melissa is also co-founder and CEO of Tati Tati Kaiejin, a grass-roots Indigenous owned and operated not-for-profit organisation. Melissa’s aim is to uplift First Nations people and support sustainable environmental practices through the progression, restoration and replenishment of culture and Country.

Melissa also holds the position of Tati Tati Aboriginal Water Officer, which involves working with the community to support river restoration projects, create spaces for traditional knowledge gathering and sharing, and engage with various environmental stakeholders to progress Tati Tati water and landcare objectives.

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