Seeing, Reflecting, Empowering: The Impact of Participatory Indigenous Research on Peer-Researcher

Summary The destination marketing of Muloobinba (also known as Newcastle, Australia) has seen a significant reliance on Indigenous cultures. However, the voices of the Aboriginal traditional owners remain marginalised and silenced in tourism narratives of place. The Hear Our Voices project, led by a Birpai and Worimi woman, aims to reframe the colonial narratives that are pervasive in destination marketing by highlighting local Aboriginal community members’ Stories of Country . The research for this project engaged eight Aboriginal peer-researchers and utilised photovoice , a creative participatory methodology, to visually capture places of personal and cultural significance. Photovoice, when used in community research, can empower participants, increase participant knowledge and drive policy change. In addition to these objectives of photovoice as a methodology, the Hear Our Voices project sought feedback from the peer-researchers on the research process to gain new insights into the peripheral benefits achieved through their involvement in the photovoice study. These insights are the focus of this case study. The creation of a safe space , the ability of the method to foster reflection and connection , and the exploration of identity and empowerment were identified by peer-researchers as key outcomes. These insights inform a framework for Indigenous community consultation valuable to researchers of Indigenous tourism. Information © The Authors 2025