Vale Emeritus Professor Joseph (Joe) Graffam

Born in 1949 in America, Professor Graffam's journey through academia started at UCLA, where he completed his PhD in 1984, followed by a postdoc at the university's Neuropsychiatric Institute. When he moved to Australia in 1987, he joined Victoria College (which merged with Deakin in 1991) to teach and research in the Disability Studies program.

Professor Graffam worked in higher education in many capacities, including as Deakin's Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research (2018-2019), Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Development and Training) and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic). He was Head of School of Psychology (2005-2009) and Chair in Psychology (2005-2018). During his time at Deakin, he also served on numerous University committees and working groups and was a member of the Academic Board from 2005.

From 2010 to 2011 Professor Graffam served as Chair of Deakin's Academic Board, where his proudest achievement was Board acknowledgement that Indigenous Knowledge systems should have equal primacy with Western knowledge. Between 2012 and 2019, Professor Graffam managed Deakin's successful 2015 and 2018 National Research Quality Assessments. He was a strong advocate for providing additional opportunities and career pathways for postgraduate researchers, championing PhD Xtra - the first of its kind in Australia, as well as the Graduate Research Academy. Professor Graffam received two Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Excellent Contribution: Research - Research Facilitation (2004); and People, Culture and Change (2009).

A published poet, Bob Dylan fan, Collingwood supporter and Woodstock attendee, Professor Graffam was known for treating everybody equally and making time for people, no matter how busy he was. Not only was he busy in his professional life, but also with his many hobbies and interests, and as a loving husband, father to six children and grandfather to two.

One of Professor Graffam's biggest passions and research interests was the reintegration of ex-prisoners, for which he built a significant international reputation. His research also focused on the development and application of an ecological model for the study of community integration of people with disability. In 2004 he founded The Reintegration Puzzle, an annual conference that brings together researchers, policy makers, justice departments and people with lived experience of prison. He was inspired to make positive change in this area when he became aware of how many people in prison had a mental illness, acquired brain injury or intellectual disability, and how little they were supported on release from prison.

Deakin Research Fellow Jenny Crosbie, Professor Graffam's student turned long-time colleague, as well as the person Professor Graffam leaned on to help him start The Reintegration Puzzle, said 'Joe provided me with opportunities I never would have thought I'd have. But it wasn't just me - he did the same for hundreds of people, always seeing their potential and doing what he could to support them. His unique view of the world influenced me and hundreds of Disability Studies students in the 1980s and 1990s.'

Committed to fighting social exclusion, particularly in the employment space, Professor Graffam supported disability service WISE Employment as a voluntary director for over 30 years. Joining in 1992, Professor Graffam was a founding member of WISE Employment's board and became Chair in 2021.

Those who were fortunate to know and work with Professor Graffam remember his compassion, wise leadership, stories and strategic insight. He made them feel listened to, valued and supported.

'The Deakin community has lost one of its most admired, kind, thoughtful and progressive leaders, mentors and scholars and friends,' said David Tucker, Senior Manager, Strategic Workforce Programs.

Peter Miller, Professor of Violence Prevention and Addiction Studies at the School of Psychology, said 'Joe was striving for a better world and his work encouraged so many of us to keep striving as well.'

Outside his extensive career at Deakin, Professor Graffam held many other board appointments and accreditations, including Chair of the Australasian Research Management Society Accreditation Council, a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a registrant of the Psychology Board of Australia, a member of the Australian Psychological Society and Chair of the Geelong Region Local Learning and Employment Network.

To honour the work of Professor Graffam, an equity scholarship announced in his name will be awarded at Deakin for the first time this year. The scholarship is for applicants with lived experience of the justice system who may otherwise not have the means to attend university.​​​​​​​

The Deakin community extends its best wishes and sympathies to Professor Graffam's family and friends.