Dr Judith Rafferty (nee Herrmann) ~ Adjunct Senior Research Fellow

Judith is a Senior Lecturer in the Conflict Management and Resolution program at JCU. Judith has a PhD (JCU), a Master of Conflict and Dispute Resolution (JCU), a Graduate Certificate in Psychology (JCU) and is a Graduate Business Adminstrator (University of Applied Science Gelsenkirchen, Germany). Judith has extensive experience in conflict resolution practice, training and research, including in Australia and in international settings. For her PhD, Judith analysed the experiences of female victim-survivors of conflict-related sexual violence with transitional justice processes, focusing on Rwandan women who survived sexual violence during the genocide against the Tutsi. For her thesis, Judith received the  Dean's Award for Research Higher Degree Excellence 2022 for demonstrated excellence in the completion of the research degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Her thesis can be accessed here. Judith has given a TEDx talk on building resilience through forgiveness, relating to her research in Rwanda, which can be viewed here. She also won the JCU 3-Minute-Thesis competition in 2020 and the People’s Choice Award in 2020. Her presentation can be viewed here.

Judith is also a trained conflict coach with Conflict Coaching International (CCI) and a nationally accredited mediator under the Australian Standards (NMAS), practising as a mediator on the panel of the Cairns Dispute Resolution Centre. Judith has published on conflict-related sexual violence, genocide, conflict management, conflict resolution processes and postgraduate education. Together with her colleague Claire Holland, Judith is currently involved in action research on the topic of “conflict analysis and sustainable conflict engagement for enduring conflict”. A presentation on this research can be viewed here.

Teaching

• LB5515: Workplace Conflict Management (Level 5; TSV)
• LB5520: Professional Project/Internship (Level 5; TSV)
• LB5526: Sustainable Conflict Management (Level 5; TSV)
• LB5530: Conflict Resolution Processes (Level 5; TSV)
• LB5532: Topical Issues in Conflict Management and Resolution - Restorative Justice: Group Conferencing (Level 5; TSV)
• LB5537: Neuroscience, Psychology and Conflict (Level 5; TSV)

Interests

Professional

• Consulting in conflict management and resolution, including conflict coaching, mediation and group facilitation

Research

• Experiences of victim-survivors of sexual violence and domestic violence with justice processes
• Justice needs of victim-survivors of sexual violence and domestic violence
• Transitional Justice dealing with conflict-related sexual violence, in particular the Rwandan gacaca courts
• Genocide Studies, in particular on the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994
• Evaluation of restorative justice programs
• Conflict analysis and strategies for constructive engagement in enduring conflict
• Experiences of people in conflict, including conflict between HDR advisors and HDR students
• Emotions in conflict

Experience

• 2017 to 2023 - Mediator, Dispute Resolution Branch (Cairns)
• 2012 to 2023 - Conflict Resolution Specialist, Private Consultancy (Cairns)
• 2011 - Research and training development in Conflict Resolution, International Rescue Committee (Central African Republic)

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Mo A, Holland C and Rafferty J (2018) Enhancing the student experience through the creation and use of authentic and accessible conflict scenarios. Australian Journal of Clinical Education, 4 (1). pp. 1-17
• Rafferty J (2018) "I wanted them to be punished or at least ask us for forgiveness”: justice interests of female victim-survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and their experiences with gacaca. Genocide Studies and Prevention, 12 (3). pp. 95-118
• Herrmann J and Holland C (2017) Co-creating mediation models: adapting mediation practices when working across cultures. Australasian Dispute Resolution Journal, 28 (1). pp. 43-50
• Herrmann J (2017) Experiences, challenges, and lessons learned; interviewing Rwandan survivors of sexual violence. Griffith Journal of Law & Human Dignity, 5 (1). pp. 165-188
• Herrmann J (2012) A comparison of conflict coaching and mediation as conflict resolution processes in the workplace. Australasian Dispute Resolution Journal, 23 (1). pp. 43-51
• Herrmann J (2012) A critical analysis of the transitional justice measures incorporated by Rwandan gacaca and their effectiveness. James Cook University Law Review, 19. pp. 90-112

Other research outputs

• Herrmann J and Holland C (2016) Co-creating mediation models to meet cultural needs: two trainers' perspectives. Australian Dispute Resolution Research Network Blog, 26 September 2016 . p. 1

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• Building Peace in A Complex Heterogeneous State: A Study of South Sudan?s Conflict Complexities, Peacebuilding Opportunities and Adaptive Practices. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit Research Data Australia.

• Rafferty, J. (2017) Needs and experiences of Rwandan women who raised a case at a gacaca court about sexual violence committed against them during the genocide in Rwanda. James Cook University