Staff profile

Dr Brooke Wilmsen

Lecturer

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

School of Social Sciences Refugee Research Centre

MB 444, Melbourne (Bundoora)

 

Qualifications

BSc/BA (Hons-Melbourne), PhD Geography (Melbourne).

Membership of professional Associations

Institute of Australian Geographers; International Network on Displacement and Resettlement

Area of study

Anthropology
Asian Studies

Brief Profile

Brooke has a background in Development Studies with a PhD in Geography. She has worked as a resettlement consultant for several international institutions, government affiliates and private consultancies. She has several years of qualitative and quantitative research experience working on issues of development-forced displacement and resettlement with a focus on the Three Gorges Dam in the People's Republic of China. Brooke has also conducted research on refugee resettlement in Australia.

Research interests

Asian History

- Chinese politics and development studies

International Aid and Development

- Development geography

- Development policy and practice

- Sustainable livelihoods

Migration

- Involuntary and forced displacement

- Refugee resettlement

Recent Publications

Journal Articles

  • Duan, Y. and Wilmsen, B. (2012) 'Addressing the Resettlement Challenges at the Three Gorges Project', International Journal of Environmental Studies 69(3): 461-474.
  • Wilmsen, B., Webber, M., and Duan, Y. (2011) 'Involuntary Rural Resettlement: Resources, Strategies and Outcomes at the Three Gorges Dam', Journal of Environment and Development, 20(4): 1-26. http://jed.sagepub.com/content/20/4/355
  • Wilmsen, B. (2011) 'Progress, Problems and Prospects: Involuntary Resettlement Policy and Practice in the People's Republic of China', China Information 25(2): 139-164.
  • Wilmsen, B. (2011) 'Family Separation: The Policies, Procedures, and Consequences for Refugee Background Families'. Refugee Survey Quarterly 30(1): 44-64 http://rsq.oxfordjournals.org/content/30/1/44.abstract
  • Wilmsen, B., Webber, M. & Yuefang, D. (2011) 'Development for Whom? Rural to Urban Resettlement at the Three Gorges Dam, China'. Asian Studies Review 35(1), 21-42. http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a934089652~frm=titlelink
  • McDonald-Wilmsen, B. and Webber, M. (2010) 'Dams and Displacement: Raising the Standards and Broadening the Research Agenda', Water Alternatives 3(2): 154-173. Special Edition Sponsored by UNEP.
  • Atwell, R., Gifford, S.M. and McDonald-Wilmsen, B. (2009) ’Resettled refugee families and their children’s futures: Coherence, hope and support’, Journal of Comparative Family Studies, Vol.40, No.5, 667-697.
  • McDonald-Wilmsen, B. (2009) 'Methodological Approaches to Development-Induced Displacement and Resettlement: Negotiating Fieldwork Complexities at the Three Gorges Dam, China', The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology (10) 4, 283-300.
  • McDonald-Wilmsen, B. (2009) 'Book Review: Can Compensation Prevent Impoverishment? Reforming Resettlement through Investments and Benefit-Sharing', The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology (10) 4, 367-369.
  • McDonald-Wilmsen, B., Gifford S.M., Webster, K., Wiseman J. and Sue Casey (2009) ‘Resettling Refugees in Rural and Regional Australia: Learning from Recent Policy and Program Initiatives’, Australian Journal of Public Administration (68) 1, 97-111.
  • McDonald, B.D., Webber, M., and Duan, Y. (2008) 'Involuntary Resettlement as an Opportunity for Development: The Case of the Urban Resettlers at the Three Gorges Dam in China', Journal of Refugee Studies (21) 1, 82-102.
  • Duan, Y. and McDonald, B.D. (2008) 'From Compensation to Development: The Application and Progress of RwD in China', Ecological Economy (4) 94-104.
  • Webber, M. and McDonald, B.D. (2004) 'Involuntary Resettlement, Production and Income: Evidence from Xiaolangdi, PRC', World Development (32) 4, 673-690.
  • McDonald, B.D. and Webber, M. (2002) 'Involuntary Resettlement in China: A Model of Good Practice?', Forced Migration Review (14), 38-39.

Conference Papers

  • Wilmsen, B. (2012) 'Is development-forced displacement a model for displacement caused by climate change? 2012 Institute of Australian Geographers Conference, July 2-4, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
  • Wilmsen, B. (2011) 'Role of the Family in Effective Settlement' 2011 Refugee Conference, June 14-17, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
  • Wilmsen, B. (2010) 'Progress, Problems and Prospects: Involuntary Resettlement in the People's Republic of China' 15th International Metropolis Conference, October 4-8, The Hague, Netherlands.
  • Duan, Y. and McDonald, B.D. (2010) 'Implementing Involuntary Resettlement as an Opportunity for Development: The Case of Zigui County in China’s Three Gorges Project', Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) Annual Meeting, March 24-27, Merida, Mexico.  
  • McDonald-Wilmsen, and S. Gifford (2009) All in the Family? Family separation, refugee resettlement and new directions for policy change in Australia’s humanitarian programme, Refugee Health Network GP Conference, 12th October, Melbourne, Australia.
  • McDonald-Wilmsen, B. and Casey, S. (2009) Resettling Refugees in Rural and Regional Australia: Policy and Program Initiatives, Ministerial Rural Health Forum 2009, 24 July, Melbourne, Australia.
  • McDonald, B.D. (2008) From Compensation to Development: Involuntary Resettlement in the Peoples Republic of China, 13th International Metropolis Conference, 9 October, Melbourne, Australia.
  • McDonald-Wilmsen, B., Gifford, S., Webster, K., Wiseman, J. and Casey, S. (2007) Resettling Refugees in Rural and Regional Australia: Learning from recent policy and program initiatives. Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria Regional Conference 2007, 5 May, Shepparton, Australia.
  • McDonald, B.D. (2007) 'From Compensation to Development: Involuntary Resettlement in the People’s Republic of China', Fresh and Salt: Water and Border debates in Australia and Asia, May 8-10, University of Technology Sydney.
  • Duan, Y. and McDonald, B.D. (2006) 'From Compensation Based Resettlement to RwD: The Application and Development of RwD in China', International Hydropower Conference, October 23rd - 25th, Kunming, China.
  • McDonald, B.D. (2002) 'Reconstruction of a Chinese Village: Involuntary Resettlement and Culture', Proceedings of International Symposium on Resettlement and Social Development, May 12-24, Nanjing, PRC.

Working Papers

  • McDonald-Wilmsen, B. and S. Gifford (2009) All in the Family? Family Separation, Refugee Resettlement and New Directions for Policy Change in Australia’s Humanitarian Programme UNHCR Research Paper Series, New Issue in Refugee Research, No.178. http://www.unhcr.org/4b167ae59.html
  • McDonald, B.D. and Duan, Y. (2004) 'Involuntary Resettlement as an Opportunity for Development: The Application of “Resettlement with Development” in the People’s Republic of China', School of International Development Melbourne University Private, Working Paper 14. http://www.pasi.unimelb.edu.au/research/papers/SSEE-DEVELOPMENT-papers/pdf/wp14.pdf
  • Webber, M. and McDonald, B.D. (2002) 'Involuntary Resettlement, Production and Income: Evidence From Xiaolangdi, PRC', The Centre for China Urban and Regional Studies, Occasional Paper 15. Hong Kong Baptist University. http://www.hkbu.edu.hk/~curs/No15_Abstract.pdf
  • McDonald, B.D. (2001) 'Global Policy - Local Implication: A Study of the Xiaolangdi Resettlement, China'. School of Anthropology Geography and Environmental Studies, Research Paper No. 6, Parkville, The University of Melbourne.

Consulting Reports

  • McDonald, B.D., and Szwarc, J. (2009) ‘Refugee Families, Separation and Settlement in Australia’ Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, Unpublished.
  • McDonald, B.D., Gifford, S., Webster, K., and Wiseman, J. (2008) 'Refugee Resettlement in Regional and Rural Victoria: Impacts and Policy Issues'. http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/assets/contentFiles/RefugeeResettlement_Web2.pdf
  • McDonald, B.D., and Frere, M. (2007) 'Health Promotion and Refugees Background Communities McCaughey Centre', University of Melbourne, Report commissioned by the Victorian Foundation for the Survivors of Torture. Unpublished.
  • McDonald, B.D. (2006) 'Land Acquisition and Resettlement Handbook – Indonesia'. World Bank Country Office, Jakarta. Unpublished.

Research projects

  • “After the deluge: Revisiting displacement and resettlement at the Three Gorges Dam, China” funded by a Discovery Early Career Researcher Award commencing 2012.
  • “The relationship of family reunion to refugee resettlement and wellbeing”. A joint initiative between La Trobe Refugee Research Centre (LaRRC) and the Victorian Foundation for the Survivors of Torture.
  • “Health Promotion and Refugee Background Communities” for the McCaughey Centre at The University of Melbourne with funding from the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture.
  • “Promoting rural and regional settlement in rural and regional Australia: Issues in policy, services and community capacity building.” A collaborative initiative between VicHealth, LaARC, McCaughey Centre and the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture.