Dr. Jane Pumai Awi


Dr. Jane Pumai Awi


Education

Bachelor of Arts in Literature (UPNG), Diploma in Performing Arts (UPNG), 
Master of Arts in Humanities (Queensland University of Technology) 
Doctor of Philosophy in Creative Industry (PhD), Queensland University of Technology.

Areas of Teaching

Drama, HIV and AIDS Communication, and Postgraduate Social Research Method

Contact

The University of Goroka
P.O Box 1078
GOROKA 441, Eastern Highlands Province
Papua New Guinea
Phone: (+675) 531 1928
Biography

Dr Jane Awi hails from the Simbu Province in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG). She currently teaches Drama to undergraduate students and also teaches social research methods and coordinates the postgraduate program for the School of Humanities at the University of Goroka. She recently completed her PhD in Creative Industry (2013) at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and graduated with a Doctorate in Philosophy in Creative Industry in July 2014. In her PhD study, she pursued a practice-led research, examining the indigenous Papua New Guinea performance elements and genres and harnessing them to create new form of applied theatre for HIV and AIDS education Papua New Guinea. Jane has a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Diploma in Performing Arts from The University of Papua New Guinea (1998-2002). She also has a Master of Arts from The University of Queensland, Brisbane from 2003-2004. She has seven years of experience teaching at the University of Goroka in PNG, mainly conducting lectures on Literature, and HIV and AIDS Education. She is also an awardee of two prestigious leadership awards namely: The Pacific Prime Ministers’ Award (PMPA) and Pacific Island Leadership Award (PILP). With PMPA, she worked with Queensland Clinical Skills Development Learning Center through work placement and with PILP, she undertook a leadership education training in East West Center, Honolulu, USA followed with a field trip in Taiwan.

Research Interest\Background

HIV and AIDS education communication, oral literature and cultural creative economy and community transformation. She is currently leading a research project titled Kongun Bambun, which focuses on community mobilization for peace and development in her local community.

Publications

Awi, J.P. (2004), Moments of Glory, Papua New Guinea Journal of Literature,
Language and Culture, Melanesian and Pacific Studies (MAPS), vol. 5. University of Papua New Guinea.

Awi, J.P. (2013), The East West Pacific Island Leadership Program: Voices of
Generation One, East West Center, Honolulu.

Awi, J.P. (2013), Kumul: A New Folk Opera Form of Applied Theatre for HIV and AIDS Education in Papua New Guinea, PhD Thesis in Creative Industry, Queensland University of Technology, Australia

Awi, J.P. (2006), Determining Reconciliation Knowledge Through Community
Theatre, Conference Proceedings Compiled in PNG Sustainable Development
Program Limited: 5th Huon Seminar, Lae University of Technology.

Awi, J.P. (2007), Seeing Law and Justice Through Johnny's Eyes, A Scripted Play,
Language and Literature Department, University of Goroka.

Conferences Attended

3-6 July 2011, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane
Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies
Conference Theme: Transcultural. Transnational, Transformation: seeing, writing and reading performance across cultures

3-6 July 2012, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane.
Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies
Conference Theme: Compass Points: Locations, Landscapes and Coordinates of Identities

9-12 July 2013, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide
Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies
Staging Changes: Translation as Innovation and Intervention

21st-25 July 2014, University of Goroka, Papua New Guinea
Our Media Conference
Conference Theme: Diverse Communities, Diverse Media

10-12 July 2015, New South Wales
Drama Australia and Drama New Zealand, International Conference
Conference Theme: Game Changer: Innovating Creativity through Creativity and Drama Practice