Rate My Professor Dawn Bessarab

Bessarab is renowned for pioneering the yarning methodology and developing the clinical yarning framework, an Indigenous conversational approach now widely used in Australian and international Aboriginal health research. Her research specializations encompass Indigenous research methodologies, participatory action research, qualitative methods, holistic psycho-social approaches to Aboriginal health, and application of Indigenous knowledge systems. Key publications include 'Yarning About Yarning as a Legitimate Method in Indigenous Research' (2010), 'Trauma, Grief and Loss: The Vulnerability of Aboriginal Families in the Child Protection System' (2013), 'Decolonising Qualitative Research with Respectful, Reciprocal, and Responsible Research Practice: A Narrative Review of the Application of Yarning Method' (2022), 'A Comprehensive Review of the Kimberley Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (KICA)' (2025), and 'Detection of Cognitive Impairment, Dementia and Associated Risk Factors Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' (2025). She received the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Collaborative Indigenous Research Partnerships in 2023 and was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences in 2024. Her work has significantly influenced Aboriginal health policy, practice translation, and research capacity building.