Rock Art Australia
Science Advisory Council Workshop
27th November 2025
8:15 am- 5:10 pm
Communicating Rock Art Research: Culture, Community & Connection
Rock Art Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country across Australia and recognises their continuing connection to lands, waters and culture. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.
Workshop and Dinner Venue
Workshop: University Club, University of Western Australia, Hackett Entrance, 1 Hackett Dr., Crawley, WA 6009
Accommodation Information
Accomodation A: QUEST Kings Park, 54 Kings Park Rd, West Perth, WA 6005
Accomodation B: QUEST Mounts Bay Road, 130 Mounts Bay Rd, Perth, WA 6000
Accomodation C: Wonil Hotel, 21 Hackett Drive, Perth, 6009
Workshop Program
Morning Session
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8:15-8:45 AM
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8:45- 9:00
Welcome to Country TBC
Ken Wyatt (Chair of the RAA Board)
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9:00-9:10 Helen Green
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Panel Discussion: Communicating Research with Impact
9:15-10:15 AM
Exploring strategies for co-designing research, identifying community priorities, and communicating results in ways that support Ranger programs, enhance school outreach, and engage donors effectively.
Panelists: Ray Tobler, Tristen Jones, Ken Wyatt, Paul Hartley, Amos Smith, Mark Jones, Charmaine Cinnabar
(Image: Bernadette Waina and Pauline Heaney, 2025, Balanggarra Country)
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Lightening Presentations: Research in Progress
10:45-11:30 AM
10 min presentations, 3 mins for questions. Presentations focus on visual storytelling, significance of findings, community relevance and interdisciplinary links.
10:45-11:00: Chris Clarkson (Griffith) and Njanjma Rangers
A new ARC-LP with RAA: Human Responses to Post-Glacial Sea Level Rise at Red Lily, Arnhem Land
11:00-11:15: Hamish McGowan (UQ)
65 thousand years of environmental change in the Kimberley: What we've learned and opportunities to fill our remaining gaps in knowledge.
11:15-11:30: Antonia Papasergio (UniMelb)
Seeing Through Time: Advanced Imaging of Painted Layers at Pundawar Manbur (Kimberley)
(Image: Scott Unghango and Rachel Popelka Filcoff, 2023, Balanggarra Country)
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Breakout Session: "Pitch Your Research" Challenge
11:30-12:30 PM
Researchers (and their teams) deliver an elevator pitch to groups which include: RAA Board, SAC, Indigenous partners, students, and collaborators. A spokesperson from each group shares the key research points with everyone, and the researcher reports back on the most useful feedback received about their pitch.
GROUP A LEADER: Rachel Popelka-Filcoff
GROUP B LEADER: Bastien Llamas
GROUP C LEADER: Faris Ruzain
GROUP D LEADER: Tristen Jones
GROUP E LEADER: Marina Mitsopoulos
GROUP F LEADER: Theresa Dixon
GROUP G LEADER: Michael Petraglia
(Image: Faris Ruzain at East Kimberley College, Kununurra)
Workshop Program
Afternoon Session
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Lightening Presentations: Research in Progress
1:30-2:15 PM
10 min presentations, 3 mins for questions. Presentations highlight visual storytelling, key findings, community impact and interdisciplinary links.
1:30-1:45: Russel Mullett* (GLaWAC)
Waribruk Revisited
1:45-2:00: Belinda Martin (Flinders)
From Microbes to Minerals: Stories Locked in Rock Art Coatings
2:00-2:15: Kasih Norman (Griffith)
Human Response to Dramatic Post-Ice Age Climate Change: survey results from Java and Madura Islands, Indonesia.
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RAA Community Outreach Projects
2:15-2:30 PM
2:15-2:30: Paul Hartley. (Victorian Outdoor Ed School) Kalumburu Women's Cultural Education Engagement Project-Video Summary
2:30-2:45: Amos Smith (BAC) and Donny Imberlong
Healthy Country, Healthy Communities: How rock art research can help community welfare
3:00-3:45: Dr Louise Shewan (UniMelb)
Kimberley Rock Art Virtual Reality Program for immersive learning, research, conservation and engagement.
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Lightening Presentations: Future Research
3:45-4:30 PM
10-minute presentations, followed by 3 minutes for questions. Presentations highlight visual storytelling, key findings, community impact, and interdisciplinary links.
3:45-4:00: Dr Phil Riris (Uni Bournemouth)
Rock art for insights into past ecological diversity
4:00-4:15: Dr Sam Harper (UWA)
Where to next? Big datasets and community priorities
4:15-4:30: Dawn Lewis (Uni Adelaide)
Paleogenomic Perspectives on Indigenous Australian Rock Art and Cultural Landscapes
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5:00-5:10 pm Ken Wyatt (RAA)
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5:30-8:00 pm Sunset drinks and canapés followed by dinner at University Club
Science Advisory Council
Helen Green (Chair)
Richard Fullagar
Jo McDonald
Ray Tobler
Cecilia Myers
Chris Clarkson (Deputy Chair)
Donny Imberlong
Rachel Popelka Filcoff
Annie Carson
Tristen Jones
Introduce your brand
Charmaine Cinnabar
Bastien Llamas
Louise Shewan
Bruno David
Ian McLeod
Sean Ulm