Rochelle Spencer

Biography

I’m interested in the relationship between anthropology and development, particularly how development practices shape and influence social and cultural behaviours. My research endeavours embody my commitment to the application of anthropological knowledge to development practice emphasising participatory processes. I draw on my cross-cultural expertise to inform my research with the intention of shaping local development practices. My strengths lie in applying participatory approaches to the design, implementation and evaluation of development projects that help to inform technical expertise, programming and policy. In this way, my research has significant applied real world outcomes by informing the development policy and processes of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the private sector, government, and development agencies to ensure the inclusion of local perspectives in development. Over the past two decades I have worked or researched with a number of NGOs including British Red Cross, Australian Red Cross, Oxfam Australia, Global Exchange, Catholic Relief Services Southern Africa and Nuwul Environmental Services – an Indigenous social enterprise in northeast Arnhem Land, Australia. Currently I lecture undergraduate units in international aid and sustainable development in the School of Business and Governance and postgraduate units in the Masters of Development Studies in the Sir Walter Murdoch School of Public Policy and International Affairs. My teaching concerns the role of agency in development and the structural inequalities that lead to uneven and unequal development. Students learn critical skills in analysing how development discourses and practices shape the everyday lives of marginalised people, that often have unintended consequences, both positive and negative. They learn about power relations and how to bring about change. We explore sustainable development approaches for living within a safe and equitable operating space of the planetary boundaries in the anthropocene. I supervise Masters research theses across a number of Masters programmes and a cohort of PhD projects in various topics pertaining to processes of development.

Research Interest

Capacity Development Research: Indigenous Social Enterprise – this research focuses on endogenous development initiatives of an Indigenous social enterprise Nuwul in north east Arnhem Land in the township of Yirrkala. Funding Body: Murdoch University Small Grant Scheme and School Business and Governance Small Grant Scheme Resourcing Rural Livelihoods Kenya – this is a collaboration between Business 4 Development, Base Resources, Cotton On and Strathmore University. We are coauthoring a case study on the LINC model and in what ways it catalyses and co-creates inclusive business ventures and pro-poor value chains in Kwale Kenya. Through empirical research we explore how partnerships between the private sector, other sector partners and local communities addressing rural poverty, and in what ways such development efforts might create shared value partnerships to advance economic and social conditions of the rural poor. Agroenterprise in Africa – Working with a team of multidisciplinary research partners in Australia and Africa we explore two interrelated approaches to agro-enterprise of the rural poor in southern Africa. Funding Body: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Category One) Social, Economic, Institutional Dimensions Network for Climate Adaptation - A collaboration with five universities (University of Sunshine Coast (project lead), Swinburne University of Technology, University of Adelaide, University of Canberra) to develop a community of practice. The network has collaboratively worked to undertake knowledge transfer, develop uptake and application of information and tools, and increase the capacity of adaptation end-users to use research outputs. Outputs included 4 Peer Learning Events with practitioners across Australia, one Early Career Researcher and Practitioner all-day workshop, and launched the National Adaptation Research Plan at Murdoch University with policy makers, practitioners and researchers working in climate change attending. Funding Body: National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) (Category One) Youth Service Learning - this postdoctoral research explored processes through which youth in low socio-economic communities in NSW and Victoria participated either voluntarily or as part of a school curriculum in service learning. The research explored service-learning as a pedagogy of engagement and as a technology of citizenship – that is, discourses and programs of service-learning that promote participatory education. Through their participation in service learning students acquire important civic qualities not simply through theoretical teaching within the confines of the classroom but also, and more importantly, through experiential programs of immersion that involve them in a direct and personal way with their communities. Funding Body: Australian Research Council (Category One)