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Louise Crabtree-Hayes
Biography :
My mother's country is around Southampton in England and my father's is around Todmorden in northern England. I was born in the south and then my family moved north before migrating to Sydney when I was six. I grew up on Guringai and Darug country in Hornsby and now live on Gadigal land and work mainly on Burramattagal, Darug, Gundungurra, and Wiradjuri lands. I attended an agricultural high school, and I have a first class honours degree in Science and a PhD in Geography. I have been interested in and concerned with the interactions between human and non-human wellbeing since I was a child and carry these concerns in my work on how we can create and manage cities and towns as thriving ecosystems. This rests on an understanding of humans as members and stewards of complex adaptive systems. I am currently a Principal Research Fellow in the Institute for Culture and Society at Western Sydney University. I am aware of the role of universities in colonisation and seek to undertake work that actively repositions research as a tool and avenue for regenerative and appropriate practices and relationships.
Personal Statement :
As a migrant to Australia, since a child I have been confused as to why so much 'mainstream' white Australian culture and practice has wanted to emulate other places rather than embrace, celebrate, and nurture the truly astonishing Australian continent. As more people become aware of the need to care for Country in order to care for ourselves and our communities, it is only logical and right that the continent's First Peoples be front and centre in this.