Cheryl Kickett-Tucker

Curtin University

https://staffportal.curtin.edu.au/staff/profile/view/cheryl-kickett-tucker-61ab4ed8/

Biographical Abstracts

Cheryl Kickett-Tucker is a highly respected Wadjuk Noongar Traditional Owner, social scientist, community development practitioner, and accomplished children's fiction author. Currently serving as the convenor of First Nations and Educational Research at Curtin University's School of Education in Perth, Western Australia, she holds a Ph.D. in education from Edith Cowan University, complemented by a Master of Science in social psychology of sport & motor control development and learning from the University of Oregon. Her academic journey also includes a Bachelor of Applied Science in sport science from Edith Cowan University and an Associate Diploma of Applied Science.

With over 30 years of experience in basketball, Kickett-Tucker has excelled as a former National Women's Basketball League player and State Basketball League player, captain, and coach. Beyond sports, she chairs the Koya Aboriginal Corporation, an organization dedicated to empowering Aboriginal communities through cultural, educational, and sporting initiatives.

Her groundbreaking research focuses on Aboriginal identity, self-esteem, and sense of self. She has developed culturally appropriate instruments to measure these constructs across different age groups, contributing significantly to understanding and promoting Aboriginal well-being.

Her advocacy and leadership have been recognized with numerous awards, including being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours for her contributions to tertiary education and the Aboriginal community. In 2019, she was honored as the Western Australian Local Hero at the Australian of the Year Awards for her pioneering basketball lifestyle program, "Kaat Koort n Hoops," benefiting Aboriginal and vulnerable youth.

An emerging children's author and co-editor of the acclaimed "Mia Mia Aboriginal Community Development: Fostering Cultural Security," Cheryl continues to inspire Aboriginal youth, fostering resilience and cultural pride. Her multifaceted contributions underscore her commitment to advancing Indigenous rights, education, and community development, shaping a more inclusive future for all Australians.

Areas of Expertise

• Aboriginal identity
• Aboriginal self-esteem
• Aboriginal cultural education
• Aboriginal community development
• Survey development