Ms Cara Cross | UNSW Research

My Expertise

Associate Professor Cara Cross is a leading expert in Aboriginal lithotherapeutics, Indigenous history, and Indigenous-led governance in higher education. Her research on traditional Aboriginal mineral medicines has positioned her as a national authority on the scientific sophistication of the Aboriginal pharmacopoeia and its relevance to contemporary health and wellbeing. She is equally recognised for her scholarship in Aboriginal political and cultural history, including deep-time knowledge systems, community governance, and Indigenous self-determination. As the architect of UNSW’s Micro-Treaty, Associate Professor Cross brings specialist insight into treaty-making, institutional reform, and models of Indigenous authority within modern organisations. She is a sought-after commentator on Indigenous knowledge, cultural governance, higher education policy, and community-led transformation. Associate Professor Cara Cross is a Senior Atlantic Fellow.

Associate Professor Cara Cross is UNSW's Executive Director, Indigenous Students.

Biography

Associate Professor Cara Cross

Executive Director, Indigenous Students | Researcher in Aboriginal Pharmacopoeia, Indigenous Governance, and Higher Education Transformation

Associate Professor Cara Cross is a Worimi and Biripai scholar and university leader whose work sits at the intersection of Indigenous research excellence, higher education transformation, and community-led systems change. She serves as UNSW’s inaugural Executive Director, Indigenous Students, providing whole-of-university strategic leadership to strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student access, success, cultural safety, and long-term impact. She is also the architect of UNSW’s landmark Micro-Treaty, a nationally significant innovation that embeds Indigenous self-determination, cultural authority, and community-led accountability into institutional governance, planning, and strategy.

As an Indigenous researcher, Associate Professor Cross’ scholarly contributions span Aboriginal pharmacopoeia, traditional medicines, Indigenous health, cultural governance, and Indigenous-led educational systems. Her doctoral research established Aboriginal mineral medicines as a refined and sophisticated pharmacopeia, demonstrating the deep time scientific traditions of Aboriginal apothecaries and their enduring relevance to contemporary health and wellbeing. This work continues to inform national and international discourse on Indigenous knowledge systems, and her debut book on the subject is forthcoming with Magabala Books.

Associate Professor Cross maintains an active research portfolio across Indigenous health, education, and community-led policy reform, contributing to major MRFF-funded studies, multi-institutional collaborations, and co-designed research with Aboriginal communities. Her publications appear in leading journals including Australian Health Review, The Australian Educational Researcher, Aboriginal History Journal, and the International History Review, with recent work addressing Indigenous perspectives in pharmacy trials, community-based health interventions, and pathways to Indigenous PhD success.

Across her academic career, Associate Professor Cross has held key roles that bridge research, governance, and institutional transformation. Her leadership at UNSW builds on earlier research fellowship and executive appointments, including serving as Deputy CEO of the Djurali Centre for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Research & Education, where she advanced co-designed Indigenous research, strengthened community governance, and expanded national capability in Indigenous health research.

A Senior Atlantic Fellow for Social Equity, she is widely recognised for her strategic clarity, relational leadership, and her capacity to translate Indigenous knowledge systems into institution-wide reform. She contributes to multiple boards, advisory groups, and national networks, and plays a prominent role in shaping Indigenous research futures, cultural safety frameworks, and Indigenous student success ecosystems across the sector.

Associate Professor Cross continues to champion Indigenous-led knowledge, governance, and innovation through research, writing, public scholarship, and sustained partnership with communities. Her work is grounded in respect for Country, guided by cultural authority, and driven by a commitment to creating structures that enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to thrive within and beyond the university. An Adjunct Associate Professor, Indigenous Studies, Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture (UNSW), Associate Professor Cross maintains strong local, national and international networks committed to equity and justice.

A proud Worimi and Biripai woman, Associate Professor Cross currently serves as First Nations General Councillor for the History Council of NSW, where she has consolidated work on First Nations histories and chaired major cultural events. Her broader contributions to Aboriginal education and governance have advanced cultural safety have earned her multiple awards for teaching excellence. She also serves as a voluntary Board Member with the Aboriginal Women's and Children's Crisis Service that assists Aboriginal women and their dependent children in escaping domestic and/or family violence. Associate Professor Cross is also the Chair of the Co-design Health Research and Innovation Consumer Advisory Group.

ORCID ID https://orchid.org/0000-0002-9256-9979

My Grants

LEAP-HEAR: Little Ears – Aboriginal Programs for Hearing and EAR Screening Programs

Award Date: 06/12/22

Team: McMahon, C., Gwynne, K., Holt, L., Parter, C., Rambaldini, B., Halvorsen, L., Cross, C., Monaghan, S., Ward, K., Brown, K., Clapin, M., Murray, D., & Pescud, M.

Workforce Development and Training Research with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (NACCHO)

Award Date: 16/11/22

Team: Gwynne, K., Holt, L., Griew, R., Rollo, S., Rozentale, I., Ackerley, S., Rambaldini, B., Cross, C., & Lyons, M.

IHRF-2019: Improving care pathways for otitis media in Aboriginal children (0-12): A case study approach (MRFF)

Award Date: 01/06/21

Team: McMahon, C, Pellicano, E., Gwynne, K., Holt, L., Rambaldini, B., Cross, C. Orr, N., Harkus, S., Coates, H., Smith, A., Clague, L.

Aboriginal Legal Career Pathways Program

Award date: 27/06/2023

Team: Gwynne K, Holt L, Barry L, McCowen D, Henson C, Cross C.

Cultural Warriors Evaluation

Award date: 10/12/22

Team: Holt L, Rambaldini B, Skinner J, Christie V, Gwynne K, Cross C, Parter C. .

NSW Government Pharmacy Trial: Community Pharmacy Project

Award date: 20/01/23

Team: Gwynne K, Holt L, Cross C, Christie V, Ward K, Dineen-Griffin S, Benrimoj S, McCowen D.

Prioritising Aboriginal Genomics through Education and Skills (PAGES)

Award date: 01/12/24

Team: Gwynne K, Christie V, Cooper S, Smith M, Byrne J, Boughtwood T, Calma T, Nunn J, Holt L, Bronw A, McCowen D, Carey L, Angelo C, Tully B, Henson C, Cross C.

Philanthropic Grants:

Healing Curriculum Initiative (Traditional medicines): Philanthropic donaction $25,000

Award date: April 2025, C. Cross

Indigenous Curriculum Initiative: Philanthropic donation $40,000

Award date: July 2025, C. Cross.

My Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Aboriginal Studies / University of Newcastle.

Master of Indigenous Social Change Leadership, First Class Honours, Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity (AFSE) / University of Melbourne

Bachelor of Theology (Research), Oral Histories, Church History, Exegesis, Cultural & Historical Contexts / Charles Sturt University

AFTRS Masterclass Program / Australian Film Television and Radio School

Advertising Practitioner Diploma Ad School / University of Technology Sydney

Certificate, Selection Panel Procedures for School Teachers - Panel Members Course / NSW Education

An Indigenous Voice to Parliament / Macquarie University

Diploma, Business Management/ St Patrick’s Institute of Education (SPIE)

My Awards

Winner - Academic Staff Awards 2023 - Recognised for outstanding contributions to academic research, Macquarie University Staff Academic Awards – 2023.

Highly Commended - Academic Staff Awards 2023 - Recognised for excellence in academic research, Macquarie University Staff Academic Awards – 2023.

Teaching Excellence Award – 2024 FMHHS Education & Employability Symposium, Macquarie University.

Lighthouse Award for Teamwork – Awarded to Djurali Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research and Education, Macquarie University, for exceptional collaborative efforts.

Recognition of Achievement Award – Honoured by The University of Newcastle and The Wollotuka Institute for the publication "Our Country, Our Healer: Aboriginal Apothecaries of Burning Mountain", ANU Press’ Aboriginal History Journal, December 2021.

NSW Premier’s Awards – Finalist – Macquarie University, MQ Law School, Legal Aid, TAFE & Djurali Centre, 2023.

EURAXESS Falling Walls Lab Sydney – Finalist – 2023.

UNSW’s Vice Chancellor’s Awards – Bush Tucker Trail Project, 2025 - Nomination.

Scholarship Recipient – Sponsored by the University of Newcastle to present at the 9th International Indigenous Research Conference, New Zealand.

Ikara-Flinders Ranges Challenge PhD Indigenous Scholarship – Awarded by the University of Newcastle to support PhD research demonstrating significant potential societal impact

My Research Activities

Publications:

Cross, C., Christie, V., Holt, L., Rambaldini, B., Ward, K., Skinner, J., Henson, C., McCowen, D., Benrimoj, S. (C.), Dineen-Griffin, S., & Gwynne, K. (2025). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' perspectives on community pharmacists prescribing: a co-designed study protocol. Australian Health Review, 49, AH24110. https://doi.org/10.1071/AH24110

Cross, C. (2021). Our Country, Our Healer: Aboriginal Apothecaries of Burning Mountain. Aboriginal History Journal, 45. https://doi.org/10.22459/ah.45.2021.04

Constantinides, F., Orr, N., Nash, K., Evans, J. R., McMahon, C., Gunasekera, H., Harkus, S., Clague, L., Cross, C., Halvorsen, L., et al. (2023). Examining relationships between parent-reported factors and recurring ear symptoms among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Health Promotion Journal of Australia. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.719

Morrow, A., Orr, N., Nash, K., Coates, H., Cross, C., Evans, J. R., Gunasekera, H., Harkus, S., Harrison, L. J., McLeod, S., et al. (2023). Parent perspectives of ear health and the relationship with children’s speech and language in the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children. Children, 10(1), Article 165. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10010165

Hurst, L., Kirwan, M., Christie, V., Cross, C., Baylis, S., White, L., & Gwynne, K. (2024). The effect of community-based exercise on health outcomes for Indigenous Peoples with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH), 21(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21030234

Holt, L., Rambaldini, B., Cross, C., Christie, V., Skinner, J., Gwynne, K., & Parter, C. (2024, February). The Cultural Warriors Evaluation Report. Djurali Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research, Heart Research Institute.

Holt, L., Cross, C., Henson, C., & Worrell, T. (2024). 'I am not alone': Enabling factors for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PhD success. The Australian Educational Researcher.

Cross, C., & de Matos, C. (2025). Becoming the occupier: Power reversals in the Asia-Pacific War and in Australian-occupied Japan. The International History Review, for the special issue 'Role Reversals during and after the Global Second World War'. https://doi.org/10.1080/07075332.2025.2568585

Thompson, A., Kennedy-Williams, E. (Gamilaroi), Skinner, J., Parter, C. (Murri), Cross, C., Luscombe, G., & Saurman, E. (2025, Submitted). Aboriginal community researchers: A short report on the research training program and research experience with the

Virtual Rural Generalist Service Evaluation. Submitted to First Nations Health and Wellbeing – The Lowitja Journal.

Christie, V., Chao, J., Capes-Davis, A., Barry, L., Cross, C., Haslam, J., Henson, C., Burke, A., Wolfenden, E., & Gwynne, K. (2025, Submitted). 'Don’t leave anyone behind': Student perceptions of the Aboriginal Legal Career Pathways Program. Submitted to Social & Legal Studies.

Gwynne, K; Henson, C; Capes-Davis, A; Christie, V; Holt L; Ward,K, McCowen,D^;, Dineen-Griffin, S, Benrimoj, C; Cross, C. (2025, Submitted). Access to oral contraceptives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people under the NSW Pharmacy Trial: a mixed methods review of perspectives and access, chapter in University of Newcastle NSW Pharmacy Trial report to the NSW Ministry of Health.

DOCTORAL THESIS

Cross, C. (2023). Our Country, Our Healer: Exploring the Traditional Lithotherapeutics of the Aboriginal Pharmacopoeia [Doctoral dissertation, University of Newcastle]. http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1495280

CONFERENCE PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS

Cross, C. (2023, June). "I am not alone": Success Factors for Indigenous PhD Scholars. Paper presented at the 3rd International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference, Lowitja Institute, Cairns, QLD, Australia.

Cross, C. et. al. (2024, February). Data sovereignty in the AUS-mTBI study: Having Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander control over Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander data. Paper presented at the 2024 ASSBI 47th Annual Brain Impairment Conference.

Cross, C. (2025, July). Walking Together: UNSW’s Micro-Treaty and the Call of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Paper accepted for presentation at the Raising Indigenous Voices in Academia & Society (RIVAS) Conference, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia.

C U R R E N T P R O J E C T S