Cheryl Kickett-Tucker

Professor Cheryl Kickett-Tucker is an Aboriginal Western Australian who is a Wadjuk traditional owner. She has traditional ties to her grandparents’ Balladong and Yued country.  Cheryl was born in Subiaco, Western Australia and has lived most of her life in Perth.  She is a dedicated wife (23 years) and mother of three children.  Cheryl was educated in both Australia and the United States of America.

In 2000, Cheryl completed her PhD which explored the sense of self, identity and self-esteem of urban Aboriginal children in the school sport setting.  Cheryl developed a series of 5 culturally appropriate instruments for racial identity and self-esteem across the lifespan. Other research projects included Aboriginal youth social inclusion; indicators of success, resilience and wellbeing; Aboriginal perinatal mental health, cultural security and audit of health services for Aboriginal families, outdoor education (Bush School) as a form of culturally secure Aboriginal education.

Cheryl’s commitment to community development is important to her and she currently is a voluntary member of the Board of Directors of Koya Aboriginal Corporation, a local not for profit Aboriginal controlled and owned community organisation in Midland, WA.

In 2008, Cheryl founded Pindi Pindi Pty Ltd- Centre for Research Excellence in Aboriginal Wellbeing, an Aboriginal led and inspired community research facility located in Midland and Fremantle WA. Cheryl’s research strength has been the translation of her research to Aboriginal community development programs. She has instrumental and lead in the development of the Too Solid Aboriginal parenting program;  Moorditj Koorlong, an Aboriginal youth cultural, education and  life skills program; Solid Kids Solid School anti-bullying program and an Aboriginal perinatal mental health program (in development).  More recently, she has developed Kaat, Koort and Hoops, a basketball lifestyle program for 4-15 year old children who have potential but limited opportunities to enhance their wellbeing.

Cheryl currently holds the following positions:

• Executive Director, Pindi Pindi Pty Ltd, Centre for Research Excellence in Aboriginal Wellbeing
• Professor, Indigenous Research Leadership, Centre for Aboriginal Studies, Curtin University
• Adjunct Professor, School of Medicine, Notre Dame University
• Adjunct Associate Professor, Centre for Child Health Research,The University of Western Australia
• Honorary Research Fellow, Telethon Kids Institute
• Honorary Consultant, Indigenous Health InfoNet

Read more about Cheryl.