Shandell is a Lecturer of Aboriginal Knowledges based at UWA Albany campus. Shandell has worked in many organisations that consistently delivered positive outcomes for Aboriginal communities on the south coast of WA. These roles varied from natural resource management to suicide prevention in vulnerable communities, however they were key to supporting and building community capacity. Shandell’s most recent academic appointment will support aspirations of research and teaching Indigenous units on Albany campus, along with also providing support to the delivery of environment and biodiversity units. From 2020 to 2025 Shandell supported the ‘Walking Together’ team working with Noongar Elders and exploring cultural responses to contemporary biodiversity conservation based at UWA Albany. This significnat project led to the decision to complete her PhD.

The focus area of Shandell’s research will be on Merningar boodja (Menang peoples’ country) looking at:

• Indigenous community driven and led responses to conservation biology;
• marine landscapes/research and the application of TEK (traditional ecological knowledge); and
• 2-way science and collaborative approaches that focus on Indigenous methodologies.