Curriculum Vitae

My arts skills have been recognised and developed through exhibiting as a solo artist and as part of group shows locally (18 exhibitions), nationally (6 exhibitions), and internationally (New York Contemporary Jewellery Week 2023).

I won the Tidal'20 Art Award and was awarded a Rosamond McCulloch Studio Residency in Paris for 2026 and the Marie Edwards Visual Arts Travelling Scholarship by the University of Tasmania.

Qualifications and professional development

Master of Fine Arts (Research) University of Tasmania (2025)

introducing Climate Psychology: facing the climate crisis, Open University, United Kingdom (2025)

The Climate Shift: University of Tasmania (2026)

Korean Inlay: five-day workshop with Sungho Cho, Atelier Rudee, Bangkok (2019)

Digital Ready Online Mentorship Department of Economic Development, Tasmania (2014)

Alchimia Contemporary Jewellery School, Florence, Italy: Intensive Course (2014)

University of Tasmania: Body Adornment/Contemporary Art Jewellery (2014)

Lucrative Arts Business Course, Salamanca Arts Centre, Tasmania (2009)

TAFE Tasmania Diploma of Art, Craft and Design Course (Jewellery): selected subjects (1991-92)

Bachelor of Social Administration, Flinders University, South Australia (1982)

Bachelor of Arts, University of Tasmania (1980)

Solo exhibitions

Paper towns and abandoned places: contemporary jewellery and object responses to what we take, what we cast off and what might have been,

Plimsoll Gallery, Hobart (2024)

This place: Handmark Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania (2024)

Time and Tide: Handmark Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania (2019)

Head in the Clouds: Handmark Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania (2017)

The Flower Lady- ten decades, Old Distillery Gallery, Art Farm, Tasmania (2017)

Physis+Nature=Essence: Handmark Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania (2014)

Made on Deal Island, Off Centre Gallery, Salamanca Place, Hobart, Tasmania (2010)

Selected Group Exhibitions

Nature as Artifice, Narryna Museum, Hobart (2026)

Contemporary Wearables: Toowoomba Galleries finalist (2025)

Sculpture Prize, Art Farm Birchs Bay (2025)

Handmark Gallery: Jewellery showcase (2025)

Zooplankton, The Bond Store, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart (2024)

Puncturing the mask of civility, Runneymede House, Hobart (2024)

Truth or Dare, Adornaxis, New York Contemporary Jewellery Week (2023)

Compass: an exploration of place, space and belonging, No Vacancy/Artaviso, Melbourne (2023)

Precious: excellence in contemporary jewellery, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (2023)

Difficult Terrain, Rosny Farm, Hobart, Australia (2023)

Women’s Art Prize Tasmania, finalist (2022)

Profile 22, Australian Design Centre (2022)

The Language of Textiles: unravelling ornament, Hadley’s Orient Hotel Hobart (2021)

Tidal.20, Devonport, Tasmania, finalist (2020)

Women’s Art Prize Tasmania, RANT Arts, finalist (2020)

Hidden Histories-Narryna, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart (2020)

Profile’19 – The Australian Design Centre, Sydney (2019)

Gilded Encounters- Hadley’s Orient Hotel, Hobart (2018)

Material Memories- Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston (2018)

Inscription and Place-Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (2017)

Serial Exchange, Loop Project Art Space, Melbourne, Radiant Pavilion, Melbourne (2015)

Contemporary Wearables, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, Queensland, Australia, finalist (2015)

Australian Contemporary Silver and Metalwork Award exhibition, Castlemaine Art Gallery (2015)

Exquisite, The Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hobart (2015)

Pushing the Boundaries, Rosny Schoolhouse Gallery, Hobart (2013)

Designed Made, Tasmanian Design, Mawson Pavilion, Hobart, Ten Days on the Island (2013)

Residencies

Rosamond McCulloch Studio, Le Cité Internationale des Artes, Paris (2026)

Bundanon Trust Residency, NSW (2021)

Dombrovskis Parks and Wildlife Residency, Maria Island, Arts Tasmania (2018)

Muong studio, North Vietnam (2016)

Awards and grants

Rosamond McCulloch Studio Residency, Paris, UTAS (2026)

Marie Edwards Visual Arts Travelling Scholarship UTAS (2026).

Winner Tidal.20 art prize, Devonport Regional Gallery, Tasmania (2020)

Dombrovskis Parks and Wildlife Residency, Maria Island, Arts Tasmania (2018)

Arts Tasmania, Individual Artists Grant (2015)

An artwork selected by the Premier as a gift for the Duchess of Cornwall from the people of Tasmania (2012).

Art Publications

Paper towns and abandoned places: contemporary jewellery and object responses to what we take, what we cast off and what might have been, MFA Thesis, University of Tasmania 2025

Oggetti Soievoli - Sociable Objects The season of household objects | The season of home objects

Garland magazine: 2022 Wrapping the present within the past | Garland Magazine

Workshops (1992-2026)

Devonport Regional Gallery (2026): participatory art workshop about climate change.

AWEAR: making wearable gestures of hope about climate change, Art Farm, Birchs Bay (2025)

Participate, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Introduction to Contemporary Jewellery (2022)

Climate for Change- community conversations about climate change (2026)

As part of Community Focus Consultancy, I conducted workshops (health, environmental, arts, legal, educational and community services personnel) on topics ranging from management skills, community engagement strategies, groupwork, dealing with stress, grief, service planning, evaluation skills and teamwork.

Accredited training programs have been developed (e.g. Supported Accommodation Assistance Program, Working for Women’s Health) and I have trained whole workforces (e.g. Australian Bureau of Statistics Interviewers Australia-wide, Glenorchy City Council, customer service skills, Glenorchy City Council, community engagement skills training, Tasmania Together, Community Leaders Group, resources and training in communityengagement strategies, Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, Training and Induction Manual).

Community engagement

Over a career spanning over thirty years, I have run over one hundred public meetings or forums (e.g. Development of Marine Protected Areas, Tasman Peninsula Health and Aged Care Services re-development, Huon Valley Health Needs, Devonport Bus Services, King George V Redevelopment Project, Pirates Bay Master Plan, Parks and Wildlife Service, Cradle Mountain Infrastructure Project, Re-development of Risdon Prison). Some community engagement has taken the form of focus groups (e.g. Bushwalking and Track Review project, Western Arthurs, Information technology plan for NGO’s, Young People and Pregnancy project, re-development of Brighton and Southern Midlands schools), while others have involved extensive interviews (Under 18’s Homelessness Project, Clarendon Vale residential redevelopment). I have also undertaken extensive survey work (e.g. Glenorchy City Council Social Plan, Home and Community Care Services, services for families of people with mental illness).

Evaluations

I have completed over forty program evaluations in areas as diverse as health programs (e.g. Home and Care Services, The Corner Youth and Pulse Youth Health Services, Rural Alive and Well, Move Well Eat Well), social support programs (Tasman Community project, Flexible Pilot, Disability Services, lungtalanana youth offenders program, Hobart City Council Youth Program), arts projects (e.g. The Happiness Project, Kickstart Arts for the Australia Council), and education programs (e.g. National School Drug Education Program).

Research and writing

From 1983- 2014 I conducted research as part of a consultancy business which I owned and operated (Community Focus). Research projects focused on public infrastructure (e.g. walking trails, design of parks and recreation spaces), health and community services (e.g. aged care models, health services, youth programs, literacy services, women’s shelters, crime prevention programs, legal services, mental health services, health promotion strategies and programs within Aboriginal and Migrant communities). My clients include the Australian Government, State Government Departments, Non-Government Organisations and many Local Governments around the State.

Published work

Combes, S J, 2025 Master of Fine Arts (Research) Thesis entitled Paper Towns and Abandoned Places: contemporary jewellery and object responses to what we take, what we cast off and what might have been.

https://doi.org/10.25959/31131154

Kingborough Positive Ageing Plan, 2008, research, community consultation, writing of the Plan by Janine Combes of Community Focus. Positive_Ageing_Plan_2008_-_WebFile.pdf

Combes, J and Winter, R 2014, Glenorchy on the Go, research report, and evaluation of a healthy population program.

Combes, J (Community Focus Consultancy), 1997, Report to the Tasmanian House of Assembly on a Health Promotion Body for Tasmania (1997) Book; Government publication.

2005 Combes, J. and T. Hinton. Making Choices. Young People and Pregnancy in Tasmania, Hobart, Department of Health and Family Services.

Combes J and Winter, R, 2012, Evaluation report, The Happiness Project, Kickstart Arts, for the Australia Council.

Combes, J, 2014 Circular Head Community Literacy Plan.

Combes, J, Positive Ageing Strategy, Huon Valley Council, 2012

Combes, Janine, 1997-1998, Feasibility Study for a Multi-Purpose Service for the Tasman Peninsula, Tasman Council in conjunction with the Department of Health and Community Services and the Department of Health and Family Services.

Combes, Janine, 1997, Mara House, Colony 47 Inc Hobart: development of new service model in conjunction with a reference group.

Combes, Janine, 1997-1998, Connect Program, Colony 47 Inc: external consultant on an Action Research project seeking to link young people at risk of homelessness with their families.

Combes, Janine, 1993, Office of the Status of Women, Tasmanian Women's Consultative Council: Women in the Built Environment Project.

Combes, J, Hughes, R and MacDonald, D, 1993-1994, Department of Community and Health Services, Child Protection Board: Research and training project on the prevention of child abuse in Tasmania.

Combes, Janine, 1993-1994, Department of Community and Health Services: Research project on services for people with Acquired Brain Damage.

Combes, Janine, 1995, Glenorchy City Council: Crime Prevention Project: developing and implementing aspects of a crime prevention strategy for the city.

Combes, Janine, 1996, Colony 47 and the Under 18's Working Group: research on the housing needs of under 18's who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in southern Tasmania.

Combes, Janine, 1994, Family Planning Tasmania: project on the development of cervical screening services.

Combes, Janine, 1995, Community Mediation Service Tasmania, planning, developing a service outline and submission for future funding.

Combes, Janine, 1999, Tasmanian Council of Social Service, research to develop a strategic plan for the Non-Government sector in Information Technology.

Combes, Janine, 1999-2000, Department of Health and Human Services, development of the new Youth Community Service Order Scheme.

Combes. Janine, Marsh A, 2001, Bruny Island Health Needs Study: Department of Health and Aged Care and Bruny Island Community Association.

Combes, Janine, 2003, Glenorchy City Council- development of a Social Plan.

Combes, Janine, 2003-2004, Hobart Women’s Shelter – change management program (new service model).

Combes, Janine, 2004, Brighton Early Years service model- Our Kids Bureau.

Combes, Janine, 2005, Tasmanian Council of Social Service, Home and Community Care Program consumer survey.

Combes, Janine, 2005-2006, Development of Huon Valley Council Youth Strategy

Combes, Janine, 2006, Huon Valley Health Needs Study.

Combes, Janine, 2006, Research project on the needs of migrants and refugees in the City of Glenorchy.

Combes, J and Winter, R, 2008, Weetapoona Aboriginal Corporation, Education, training and employment strategy for Murrayfield Farm.

Combes, J, Winter, R, 2008 Scoping Project on the needs of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community in terms of alcohol, tobacco and drug use issues, for the Department of Health and Human Services.

Combes, Janine, 2008-2009, Capacity building project for ARAFMI- support for relatives and friends of people with a mental illness.

Combes, Janine, 2009, Early Years Foundation: focus groups with parents on community perceptions of parenting and how to promote parenting and the early years.

Combes, Janine, 2008, Brighton and Southern Mildlands Educational Renewal Team: Focus groups -educational needs and future educational model.

Combes, Janine, 2008-2009, Accessible Information Products, Clarence City Council, Disability Action Committee.

Combes, Janine, 2007, Positive Ageing Plan, Clarence City Council, working with the Community Development Officer to consult and develop the plan.

Combes, 2007-2008, Positive Ageing Plan, Kingborough Council, working with the Community Development Officer to develop the plan.

Combes, Janine, 2007, Youth Plan, Clarence City Council.

Combes, Janine, 2012, Positive Ageing Plan, Huon Valley Council.

Combes, Janine, 2013, Review of the Clarence City Council Disability Action Plan.

Combes, Janine, 2014, RSL Tasmania, Future Directions Strategy.

Combes, Janine, 2014, Circular Head Learn for Life - Community Literacy Plan.

Combes, Janine, Glenorchy City Council: Youth Strategy and Action Plan.

Jeavons, S, Small, S and Combes, J, 1997, Kingborough Council and Office of Sport and Recreation: development of a Sport, Recreation and Open Space Strategy for Kingborough municipality.

Small, S and Combes, J, 2004, Claremont Foreshore re-development project, Glenorchy City Council.

Combes, Janine, 2002-2005, Prisons Infrastructure Redevelopment Program: internal and external stakeholder consultation project involving many stakeholder groups.

Combes, Janine, 2003-2004, Cradle Mountain Infrastructure Redevelopment Program: community consultation.

Combes, Janine, 2004-2006, Clarendon Vale residential development: community consultation in conjunction with private developer.

Combes, Janine, 2003, Solis development - Orford Tasmania: community needs analysis and community consultation in relation to proposed tourism development.

Combes, Janine, 2004, Sorell Council: facilitation of stakeholder planning session regarding new parks and gardens infrastructure.

Combes, Janine, 2006, Parks and Wildlife Service: Community Consultation (in conjunction with Parks staff) in relation to the development of the Pirates Bay Site Plan.

Combes, Janine, 2008, Department of Education: focus groups on models of schooling/ rebuild of school, Brighton and Southern Midlands.

Combes, Janine, 2007-2009, University of Tasmania: Co-location project (Menzies and Faculty of Health Sciences), project newsletter and stakeholder consultation.

Combes, Janine, 2009-2010, Development of the new Clarence Integrated Care Centre, Department of Health and Human Services, community consultation role.

Combes, Janine, 2011, Department of Justice, Prisons Infrastructure Redevelopment Program stage D workshop and documentation of results.

Combes, Janine, 2012, Department of Justice: workshops in relation to Hobart, Launceston and Burnie Courts infrastructure.

Combes, Janine, 2013, King George V Redevelopment, Glenorchy: workshop with key stakeholders and documentation of results.

Small, S and Combes, J, 2014, Bellerive Beach Park and Bellerive Bluff foreshore master plans.