Elena Skoko
About
Elena Skoko is a PhD candidate at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Public Health and Social Work. With a strong academic foundation in discourse analysis and experience in international citizen research and social justice, she brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective shaped by her background as a multidisciplinary artist.
Her doctoral research focuses on maternity care in disaster contexts, examining how childbearing women and infants are recognized within global, all-hazard disaster management frameworks. Her case studies span Queensland, Australia, and Indonesia. In an innovative approach to fieldwork, Elena converted a van into a mobile research unit and travelled the Queensland coast, from Brisbane to Mossman, immersing herself in communities affected by seasonal hazards (e.g., cyclones, floods, bushfires, landslides). This experiential method enabled her to conduct in-depth interviews with local stakeholders, including disaster managers, health professionals, and first responders, and explore the short and long-term effects of hazards on the country.
Elena’s research integrates qualitative inquiry, document analysis, and geospatial awareness to generate grounded, context-sensitive insights. Her work aims to inform data-driven, people-centred policies that enhance disaster preparedness and response for vulnerable populations. Her research project is supervised by Dr Yvette Miller, Dr Deb Duthie, Dr Amisha Mehta, and the recently deceased Dr Jo Durham.