Dr Jacynta Krakouer (she/her) (BSc, MSW, MSP, PhD Melb) is a Minang Noongar woman originally from southern Western Australia who lives and works on Wurundjeri Country in Naarm, and occasionally works on Kaurna Country in Tarndanya.
She is an Aboriginal Enterprise Fellow in the UniSA Justice and Society unit, affiliated with the Australian Centre for Child Protection. An early career researcher with a growing national reputation, Jacynta’s PhD in social work at the University of Melbourne focused on cultural connection for First Nations children and young people in out-of-home care in Victoria. Jacynta's expertise centres around child protection and out-of-home care practices, policies and systems, particularly for First Nations... Read more
About me
Dr Jacynta Krakouer (she/her) (BSc, MSW, MSP, PhD Melb) is a Minang Noongar woman originally from southern Western Australia who lives and works on Wurundjeri Country in Naarm, and occasionally works on Kaurna Country in Tarndanya.
She is an Aboriginal Enterprise Fellow in the UniSA Justice and Society unit, affiliated with the Australian Centre for Child Protection. An early career researcher with a growing national reputation, Jacynta’s PhD in social work at the University of Melbourne focused on cultural connection for First Nations children and young people in out-of-home care in Victoria. Jacynta's expertise centres around child protection and out-of-home care practices, policies and systems, particularly for First Nations children, young people, families and communities. She is passionate about Indigenous self-determination and Indigenous-led research in these contexts.
A social worker by background, Jacynta previously worked as a Research Fellow in the Health and Social Care Unit at Monash University, and as an Associate Lecturer in the Department of Social Work at the University of Melbourne.
Jacynta has a current appointment as an Honorary Senior Fellow in the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health at The University of Melbourne.
About me
About me
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 24/10/2023 |
Child protection services did not provide culturally adequate care to Aboriginal teen before suicide, inquest hears, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-24/inquest-teen-suicide-hears-inadequate-cultural-care/103013688 |
| 26/11/2021 |
First Nations children are still being removed at disproportionate rates. Cultural assumptions about parenting need to change, https://theconversation.com/first-nations-children-are-still-being-removed-at-disproportionate-rates-cultural-assumptions-about-parenting-need-to-change-169090 |
| 14/05/2021 |
First Nations families need support to stay together, before we create another Stolen Generation, https://theconversation.com/first-nations-families-need-support-to-stay-together-before-we-create-another-stolen-generation-159131 |
| 10/06/2020 |
Systemic racism in Australian child protection systems must be addressed, https://nit.com.au/10-06-2020/1185/systemic-racism-in-australian-child-protection-systems-must-be-addressed |
About me
Doctor of Philosophy The University of Melbourne
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Relighting the firesticks: Accelerating diffusion and progressing to sustainability of innovative care to foster a healthy start to life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, MRFF Early to Mid-Career Researchers Grant, 01/03/2024 - 31/10/2029
Wrapped in Our Ways During Pregnancy, Paul Ramsay Foundation, 11/11/2025 - 31/01/2029
Understanding the social and emotional well-being needs of mothers of Aboriginal babies and their support people - PhD Naomi Thornwaite, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, 19/09/2024 - 31/12/2026
Development of a Child Safety Training Package, QLD Dept of Education, 27/10/2025 - 26/10/2026
SNAICC research - Pre-birth notifications and infant removals, SNAICC National Voice for our Children, 27/06/2025 - 31/07/2026
WHRTN – 2023 Indigenous Early and Mid-Career Research Fund, Australian Health Research Alliance, 09/10/2023 - 31/12/2025
Bringing Baby Home (BBH) Program, Department for Education, Children and Young People, 10/02/2025 - 30/06/2025
Literature Review for Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women's Council on Improving Multidisciplinary Responses Project, NPY (Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantatjara Yankuntjatara) Women's Council Aboriginal Corporation, 13/12/2024 - 30/06/2025
Family Group Conferencing Evaluation, SA Dept for Child Protection, 03/07/2023 - 31/07/2024
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
|
| 2023 |
3
|
| 2021 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2025 |
Open access
2
2
3
|
| 2025 |
Open access
4
|
| 2025 |
|
| 2025 |
Open access
1
1
|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2025 |
Open access
1
1
|
| 2023 |
Open access
4
7
|
| 2023 |
Open access
13
11
125
|
| 2023 |
Open access
22
22
|
| 2023 |
Open access
|
| 2022 |
Open access
6
5
|
| 2022 |
36
38
45
|
| 2022 |
Open access
9
8
9
|
| 2022 |
Open access
9
5
67
|
| 2021 |
20
16
3
|
| 2018 |
77
71
15
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Australian College of Midwives | AUSTRALIA |
| Charles Darwin University | AUSTRALIA |
| Curtin University | AUSTRALIA |
| First Peoples' Health and Wellbeing | AUSTRALIA |
| La Trobe University | AUSTRALIA |
| MacKillop Family Services | AUSTRALIA |
| Monash Health | AUSTRALIA |
| Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
| Murdoch University | AUSTRALIA |
| Queen Elizabeth Centre | AUSTRALIA |
| RMIT University | AUSTRALIA |
| The University of Notre Dame Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Maryland | UNITED STATES |
| University of Melbourne | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Tasmania | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Technology Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Warwick | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Western Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Warwick University | UNITED KINGDOM |
| We Al-li Pty Ltd | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Co-editor-in-chiefAustralian Journal of Social Issues |
2025 |
Invited panellistSNAICC – National Voice for Our Children, 11th SNAICC National Conference, Brisbane/Meanjin, Australia, 7-9 October 2025 |
2025 |
Invited panellist: Safeguarding Out of Home Care Settings panelDaniel Morcombe Foundation, Bright Futures National Symposium, Sunshine Coast, Australia, 7-8 August 2025 |
2025 |
Invited speakerAustralian Childhood Foundation - International Trauma Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 17-22 August 2025 |
2025 |
Member of the Child Welfare Inequalities Network (international)Child Welfare Inequalities Network |
2025 |
Member, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group for the Family Matters campaignSNAICC - National Voice for Our Children |
2025 |
Member, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group for the Supporting Aboriginal Families to Stay Together from the StartSAFeST Start Coalition |
2025 |
ARC Discovery Indigenous AwardAustralian Research Council |
2024 |
Associate EditorAustralian Journal of Social Issues |
2024 |
Co-editor-in-chiefAustralian Journal of Social Issues |
2024 |
Coronial Inquest into the Passing of XYCoroners Court of Victoria |
2024 |
Member of the Child Welfare Inequalities Network (international)Child Welfare Inequalities Network |
2024 |
Member, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group for the Family Matters campaignSNAICC - National Voice for Our Children |
2024 |
Member, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group for the Supporting Aboriginal Families to Stay Together from the StartSAFeST Start Coalition |
2024 |
Associate EditorAustralian Journal of Social Issues |
2023 |
Coronial Inquest into the Passing of XYCoroners Court of Victoria |
2023 |
Expert Panel Member of Residential Care Systemic ReviewQueensland Child and Family Commission |
2023 |
Invited speakerEuSARF International Conference 2023, Brighton, England |
2023 |
Invited speaker submission to the Inquiry into the application of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle in the removal and placement of Aboriginal children and young people in South AustraliaCommissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People (South Australia) |
2023 |
Member of the Child Welfare Inequalities Network (international)Child Welfare Inequalities Network |
2023 |
Member, Aboriginal Advisory Group, Cultural Safety Child Safe StandardsCommission for Children and Young People Victoria |
2023 |
Member, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group for the Family Matters campaignSNAICC - National Voice for Our Children |
2023 |
Member, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group for the Supporting Aboriginal Families to Stay Together from the StartSAFeST Start Coalition |
2023 |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group for the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s ChildrenSNAICC and the Department of Social Services |
2022 |
Associate EditorAustralian Journal of Social Issues |
2022 |
Invited national conference keynote: (Keynote title: ‘Cultural Connection’)Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child protection Peak (QATSICPP) Members Conference, 1-2 December 2022, Brisbane, Australia |
2022 |
Invited speaker address: ‘Engaging with Children and Young People in a Safe and Meaningful Way’, OnlineCentre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare Forum, 25 August 2022 |
2022 |
Invited speaker address: Child protection Week, Online (Title: ‘Cultural Connection’)Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) Victoria - Western Division, 5 September 2022 |
2022 |
Invited speaker submissionYoorrook Justice Commission |
2022 |
Member, Aboriginal Advisory Group, Cultural Safety Child Safe StandardsCommission for Children and Young People Victoria |
2022 |
Member, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group for the Family Matters campaignSNAICC - National Voice for Our Children |
2022 |
Member, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group for the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s ChildrenSNAICC & Department of Social Services |
2022 |
Member, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group for the Supporting Aboriginal Families to Stay Together from the StartSAFeST Start Coalition |
2022 |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group for the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s ChildrenSNAICC and the Department of Social Services |
2021 |
Invited keynote: online (‘Culture for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’)NAPCAN National Child Protection Week, 5-11 September 2021 |
2021 |
Member, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group for the Family Matters campaignSNAICC - National Voice for Our Children |
2021 |
Member, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group for the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s ChildrenSNAICC & Department of Social Services |
2021 |
Member, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group for the Supporting Aboriginal Families to Stay Together from the StartSAFeST Start Coalition |
2021 |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group for the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s ChildrenSNAICC and the Department of Social Services |
2020 |
Finalist - 2020 Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare inaugural Media Awards for ‘Best Story about Children or Young People in Out-of-Home Care’Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare |
2020 |
Member, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group for the Family Matters campaignSNAICC - National Voice for Our Children |
2020 |
Member, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group for the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s ChildrenSNAICC & Department of Social Services |
2020 |
Member, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group for the Supporting Aboriginal Families to Stay Together from the StartSAFeST Start Coalition |
2020 |
Member, Home Stretch Campaign leadership group (Victoria)Home Stretch |
2020 |
Member, Home Stretch Campaign leadership group (Victoria)Home Stretch |
2019 |
Nominee - Norma Parker Award, awarded to the author of the best article published in a print edition of Australian Social Work in 2018Australian Social Work |
2018 |
Teaching & student supervision
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| Aboriginal Parenting: Challenging misconceptions and strengthening practice | Current |
| First Contact: How child protection systems contribute to ongoing First Nations overrepresentation in Australia | Current |
| Improving the Process and Long-Term Outcomes of Reunification for Families. Exploring the Barriers and Facilitators for Successful and Safe Reunification. | Current |
| Understanding the social and emotional wellbeing needs of mothers of Aboriginal babies and their support people | Current |
