Nulungu Publication Series

The Nulungu Publications Series provide an avenue for Aboriginal people and collaborators working in the Kimberley region of Western Australia with an opportunity to publicly inform, discuss and present their activities and research. Publishing original works pertaining to the breadth of issues Aboriginal people face in the region, Nulungu Publications offers academics and the community alike, a place to communicate their endeavours.

As with all research undertaken at the research institute, Nulungu Publications are guided by The Nulungu Way and is based on relationships of trust, openness, respect and recognition of Aboriginal rights, values, culture and governance and upholding values of social justice. It is founded in Kimberley Aboriginal traditions of respect and recognition of ownership of Country, knowledge, continuing cultural practice and well defined cultural governance. The Nulungu Way respects traditions of the past that underpin contemporary community actions to create a better future for the people of the Kimberley and beyond. Nulungu’s mission is to work with; ‘Right People, Right Country, Right Way.’

While an expectation that collaborative research and activities are undertaken adhering to these values, articles submitted to Nulungu Publications will be considered accordingly. Maintaining high editorial standards throughout this process, we support the contributions to this discourse from Aboriginal communities. Respect is provided to authors regarding style. We welcome contributions from Aboriginal authors.

In accordance with The Nulungu Way, Nulungu is committed to open access for research findings. Articles are invited at any time for Nulungu Publications as either peer-reviewed Research Papers or non-peer reviewed Nulungu Insights.

Topics considered will include but not necessarily be limited to:

  • Kimberley Narratives
  • Aboriginal wellbeing
  • Caring for country
  • Environmental change
  • Cultural geography & social ecology
  • Archaeology, anthropology & cultural heritage
  • History
  • Aboriginal languages and linguistics
  • Aboriginal governance
  • Indigenous policy
  • Aboriginal people and the law
  • Aboriginal land tenure and land use
  • Community development
  • Servicing and sustainability of remote Aboriginal communities
  • Aboriginal education
  • Aboriginal health
  • Collaborative community research
  • Multi-disciplinary approaches  incorporating elements of the above

Research Papers
Research Papers of 5000-8000 words are peer-reviewed by one Editorial Board member and two additional reviewers. These typically enable the outcomes of Kimberley-focused research to be disseminated in a timely manner.

All Research Papers are available for free download in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format from the Nulungu Publications page.

Nulungu Insights
Nulungu Insights are authored by communities, local and visiting researchers and can include papers based on Talking Heads presentations, discussion papers, case studies and issues papers that are aimed at audiences within the community, organisations or government networks. Nulungu Insights of 1000-3000 words are not peer-reviewed but are subject to editorial oversight.

All Nulungu Insights are available for free download in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format from the Nulungu Insights page.

Editorial Board
The Editorial Board consists of 12-15 members, both internal and external to Nulungu, whose role is to:

  • Promote Nulungu Publications
  • Assist in guiding editors in future directions of the publication series
  • Encourage people from the community, local and visiting researchers to submit manuscripts
  • Ensure the quality, accessibility and reach of Nulungu Publications
  • Review the submitted Research Papers
  • Where appropriate, provide cultural guidance on the submitted Research Papers
  • To support the editors in other tasks when requested

The current Editorial Board members are as follows:

  • Prof. Anne Poelina (Nyikina, Director of Madjulla Inc and Professor and Co-Chair Indigenous Studies Nulungu Institute of Research, University of Notre Dame Australia)
  • Dr Dave Palmer (Murdoch University)
  • Mr Steve Kinnane (Co-Chair Indigenous Studies Nulungu Institute of Research, University of Notre Dame Australia)
  • Mr Joe Ross (Bunuba)
  • Mrs Edie Wright (Nyikina, teacher and author)
  • Mr Dean Matthews (Yawuru, Nyamba Buru Yawuru)
  • Dr Bill Kruse (Partnership for the Outback)
  • Professor Jeanette Ward (Nulungu Research Institute Adjunct)
  • Professor Juli Coffin (Murdoch university)
  • Prof. Ken Coates (University of Saskatchewan)
  • Assoc. Prof. Gro Birgit Ween (University of Oslo)

Editors
Co-Editors: Dr Melissa Marshall, Dr Kathryn Thorburn, Ms Anna Dwyer and Ms Gillian Kennedy
Advisory Editors: Assoc Prof Sandra Wooltorton