Dr Barry Morris

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Sydney
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Macquarie University

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Research

Research keywords

• Anthropological research
• Comparative politics of Indigenous rights and race relations
• Contemporary Australian Society
• Social and Cultural Anthropology
• Social change
• Social theory

Research expertise

I have made a significant contribution to the field of social and cultural anthropology through fieldwork based research. This research has involved both academic research projects and consultancy research that have both involved fieldwork research. My PhD research, involved 15 months ethnographic fieldwork in Kempsey, N.S.W., and 12 months archival research at the Mitchell Library, State Archives, Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies and Museum Library (NSW). A number of articles were published through out the 1980s and the research was finally published as a book, Domesticating Resistance (Berg Press). In 1991 I conducted courtroom ethnographic research on the Brewarrina riot trial with Dr Thomas Ernst and Dr Kerry Zubrinich. The research has produced a number of publications in both national and international journals. I co-edited the successful book, Race Matters (1997) (Aboriginal Studies Press) with Dr Gillian Cowlishaw.

Much of my consultancy research has involved producing connection reports and summary reports for native title claims (1995- 2002). I was invited to co-edit a book with Dr Rohan Bastin, Expert Knowledges: First World Peoples, Consultancy, and Anthropology (Berghahn Press), which included critical analyses of anthropology and consultancy from a global perspective in Brazil, USA, Canada, South Africa and the former Yugoslavia. My consultancy research has involved ethnographic fieldwork in a consideration of indigenous peoples mythologised meanings of landscape. I have published connection reports, including the first successful mainland decision regarding the Dhan-gadi Native Title claim at Crescent Head (1995). The research was commissioned by the NSW Aboriginal Land Council Native Title Unit and, more recently, the NSW Native Title Services Ltd. This was followed by a connection report of the Gumbaingirr people at Gumma in Nambucca Heads, NSW and a number of summary reports in the region between 1977 and 2004. I have become familiar with fieldwork-based interview research especially in relation to landscapes and their meaning.

I am a Research Associate of the Wollongong-Newcastle Centre for Asia Pacific Social Transformation Studies (CAPSTRANS). In recent years I have worked to widen CAPSTRANS research foci to include projects that analyse regional Australian issues in the context of wider Asia-Pacific social transformations. I also enjoyed making a contribution to the discipline of Anthropology at a national level as Vice-President of the Australian Anthropology Society (2003-2006). I was invited to participate in a panel session at the American Anthropological Society Conference, New Orleans (2002) [I am a Research Associate of the Wollongong-Newcastle Centre for Asia Pacific Social Transformation Studies (CAPSTRANS). In recent years I have worked to widen CAPSTRANS research foci to include projects that analyse regional Australian issues in the context of wider Asia-Pacific social transformations. I also enjoyed making a contribution to the discipline of Anthropology at a national level as Vice-President of the Australian Anthropology Society (2003-2006). I was invited to participate in a panel session at the American Anthropological Society Conference, New Orleans (2002) on race relations in Australia.

Collaboration

Centre for Asia Pacific Social Transformation Studies - ANZAC Nationalism and secular pilgrimages

The principal focus of this project is a revitalised ANZAC nationalism, its historical values and meanings. The ethnography focuses on the contemporary meanings expressed by those who participate in the organised tours to a number of war memorial sites in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. The force of nationalist sensibility requires a cultural understanding of the relationship between nationalist beginnings, commemorative rites, and the role of war in Australia's relationship with Asia-Pacific and Europe. This project seeks to understand this important dimension of Australian nationalism. The project will strengthen the understanding of Australias historical connections with its Asia-Pacific region and Europe.

Centre for Asia Pacific Social Transformation Studies - Indigenous Affairs in the Enabling State

In this research, I am concerned with the broader process of major change in forms of state governance. These changes in polity reveal new forms of governance that redefine the social and regulatory functions of the state and the relations of citizens to the state. The abolition of ATSIC, the removal of CDEP and more recently, the Northen Territory intervention, signals more than punitive forms of state intervention. Such shifts would appear to reveal major changes from the Keynesian styled welfare state to market driven neo-liberal forms of governance. The research I am interested in would be in carrying out fieldwoprk research to consider the impacts of these new policies and there implementation in one or more regional communities.

Fields of Research

Code	Description	Percentage
160199	Anthropology Not Elsewhere Classified	35
160899	Sociology Not Elsewhere Classified	35
169999	Studies In Human Society Not Elsewhere Classified	30

Centres and Groups

Centre

• Humanities Research Institute

Memberships

Body relevant to professional practice.

• Member - Australian Anthropology Society
• Member - Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
• Member - International Working Group for Indigenous Affairs

Appointments

Vice President Australian Anthropology Society (Australia)

01/09/2004 - 01/01/2007

Awards

Recognition.

2004	Native Title Research NSW Native Title Services Ltd (Australia) 2004 NSW Native Title Services Ltd. Contracted to perform anthropological services.

Invitations

Australian Dictionary of Biography Melbourne University Press. , Australia (Invitation )	2005
Visiting Researcher Bergen University, Norway (Research Visitior Invitation )	2002

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Administrative

Administrative expertise

My administrative expertise has been directed towards research and teaching. After the major structural changes iundertaken by the university, much of my administrative duties have been directed towards new course development and co-ordination of electives and major first year courses. In research, I have continued with my interest in post graduate programs, with my involvement in the now defunct School Research Committee and as Post-Graduate Seminar co-ordinator. I have set up and run, with Professor Lyndall Ryan, the Double Edged Coference at Ourimbah Campus. I have also developed my administrative research skills in running, co-ordinating and completing four major consultancy research projects involved in the development of Summary and Connection Reports associated with Native Title Claims in New South Wales.

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Teaching

Teaching keywords

• Australian nationalist myths and symbols
• Indigenous rights and race relations
• Social and Cultural Anthropology
• Social and cultural change in Indigenous Australian society
• Urban studies

Teaching expertise

Since 1983, I have tutored and lectured in anthropology in Departments and Schools at Adelaide University, Charles Sturt University and Newcastle University. I was employed as a tutor at Adelaide University (1983-1986) before moving to a full-time lectureship in the School of Social Science and Welfare Studies at Charles Sturt University (1987-1991) and then to Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Newcastle University (1992-2004). I was promoted to a Senior Lecturer in 1995. Whilst at Newcastle, I took up a position as senior staff member on newly established Ourimbah Campus, School of Humanities, in 1997 before transferring back to Callaghan Campus, School of Social Sciences, in 2002. At Callaghan, IAndrew Lattas and myself have established new offerings in anthropology in the School to be jointly taught. The new course electives have been a significant success, attracting significant student numbers.

I have taught in a number of courses teaching in social and cultural anthropology. I have demonstrated a capacity to teach and co-ordinate courses with large student numbers and delivering mass lectures as well as to smaller groups associated with more specialised teaching in electives. At Charles Sturt University and Newcastle University, I co-lectured in the large first year courses. At Newcastle, I co-lectured and co-ordinated SOCA1020 Introduction to Social & Cultural Anthropology at the Callaghan Campus and then at Ourimbah Campus every year, except one, since I was appointed there. I also was in charge of establishing, organising and co-ordinating the new multi-disciplinary strand at Ourimbah, Societies and Cultures, and co-ordinating and lecturing in the introductory course, HUMA1160 Foundations of Society and Culture.

Teaching interests

• Social and cultural change in Indigenous Australian society
• Indigenous rights and race relations
• Urban studies
• Australian nationalist myths and symbols