Dr Nonja Peters

Director, Migration, Ethnicity, Refugees & Citizenship Research Unit

Nonja Peters was appointed Director of the Migration, Ethnicity, Refugees and Citizenship (MERC) Research Unit, based within the Division of Humanities, Curtin University of Technology in 2002. Her work provides a focus on issues relating to all aspects of forced and voluntary migration and continues her past work in this area. Nonja's PhD was on immigrant enterprise in WA (completed in 1999 at the University of Western Australia) and has gained her international recognition. She also initiated heritage studies at Western Australian sites relevant to the migrant presence and is curator of a number of permanent and travelling photographic and archival exhibitions on postwar migration to WA including the permanent displays at the Western Australian Museum and the Northam Visitor Centre.

Nonja has also published widely on issues relating to migration and her book Milk and Honey but no Gold: Postwar Migration to Western Australia from 1945-1964, was short-listed for the WA Premier's 2001 Literary Awards, the Queensland Premier's 2002 Literary (best history) Award for History and the NSW State Records John and Patricia Ward History Prize. She has an entry in the Australian People Vol 1. In addition, she has completed consultancies relating to migrant health, heritage and resettlement for Local, State and Federal Government bodies.