
Publications by year
PhD (University of Tech., Sydney)
Verena Thomas is Senior Research Fellow in the School of Design, Creative Industries Faculty at Queensland University of Technology. She holds a PhD in Communication from the University of Technology Sydney. Her research interests include communication and social change, communication for development, health communication, arts-based research approaches, visual methodologies and participatory design.
Verena has developed innovative and creative approaches to localising research in cross-cultural contexts. She is the founding Director of the Centre for Social and Creative Media at the University of Goroka, Papua New Guinea, which she led from 2012-2016. Verena has led over 20 projects funded by donor agencies, government and non-government partners. She has extensive experience in research and media capacity building in the Pacific region.
Projects
- Developing communication strategies for social change against sorcery related violence in Papua New Guinea
- Innovative health communication in developing contexts: A participatory action research study targeting non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Pacific
Additional information
- Kauli J, Thomas V, (2019) Media practice and theatre in conversation: Creating narratives for positive social change, ArtsPraxis p225-242
- Eggins J, Papoutsaki E, Thomas V, (2018) Engaging youth in community action research: a visual methods approach to HIV and AIDS awareness, Whanake: The Pacific Journal of Community Development p48-66
- Thomas V, Kauli J, Borrey A, (2018) Harnessing community-led innovations: the role of participatory media in addressing gender-based violence, Development in Practice p345-357
- Kauli J, Thomas V, (2018) Communicating the law: A participatory communication toolkit for human rights defenders in Papua New Guinea
- Inamara A, Thomas V, (2017) Pacific climate change adaptation: The use of participatory media to promote Indigenous knowledge, Pacific Journalism Review p113-132
- Thomas V, Eby M, (2016) Media and public health communication at the grassroots: Village cinemas and HIV education in Papua New Guinea, Health communication in the changing media landscape: Perspectives from developing countries [Global Transformations in Media and Communication Research - A Palgrave and IAMCR Series] p115-133
- Papoutsaki E, Thomas V, Horst H, Tacchi J, Noske-Turner J, Eggins J, (2016) A review of the Pacific media landscape: A baseline study, Asia Pacific Media Educator p270-287
- Eby M, Thomas V, (2016) Haus Piksa: The informal economy of film distribution in Papua New Guinea, Information Technologies and International Development p23-33
- Thomas V, Papoutsaki E, Gouda H, (2016) Integrating ICTs in communication campaigns for noncommunicable diseases in the Pacific, Information Technologies and International Development p35-45
- Thomas V, Eggins J, Papoutsaki E, (2016) Relational accountability in indigenizing visual research for participatory communication, SAGE Open p1-11
- Community-in-the-loop: Micro-narrative as a methodology for participatory design and evaluation of applications of 'AI for social good' in developing contexts
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Associate Professor Markus Rittenbruch - UNDERSTANDING TRANSFORMED PERPETRATORS OF SORCERY VIOLENCE AND THEIR ROLES IN DEVELOPING PREVENTION STRATEGIES IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Dr Christina Spurgeon, Dr Jackie Kauli - Implementing gender education in early childhood learning in Papua New Guinea: Documenting perspectives from teachers
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Dr Jackie Kauli, Dr Oksana Zelenko - Capturing and Sharing Experiences of Settlement Communities in Papua New Guinea - Understanding Migration, Safety and Processes of Mediation
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Adjunct Professor Elinor Buys, Dr Jackie Kauli - Peace Journalism and Conflict Reporting Practices in Myanmar
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Associate Professor Angela Romano - Understanding the impact of arts advocacy on women and girls affected by gender-based violence in Papua New Guinea
PhD, Mentoring Supervisor
Other supervisors: Dr Jackie Kauli - Exploring the potential for storytelling as a way of culturally mapping water resources in the Solomon Islands
Professional Doctorate, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Dr Christina Spurgeon - Sustaining heritage through creative conversation, community engagement, innovative design and enterprise
Professional Doctorate, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Dr Jeremy Neideck - Understanding Financial Management Capacities With Community-based Organisations in Papua New Guinea
MPhil, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Associate Professor Belinda Luke, Dr Jackie Kauli
- BUAI: The musical identity and knowledge system of the Gunantuna people of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea (2018)
- Communicating Climate Change Adaptation from Indigenous Knowledge (2016)