Biography
Dr Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli has gained national and international recognition as a writer, researcher, lecturer and consultant in the issues of cultural diversity, gender diversity, sexual diversity, family diversity, HIV/AIDS, and social diversity in health and education, with a specific focus on adolescence and young people.
In 1999, Maria was honoured with the title of Lifelong Honorary Patron of
PFLAG Victoria.
Maria is also an External Faculty Member of Saybrook University , San Francisco (upon invitation in 2002), teaching and supervising in its postgraduate programs on sexual and gender diversity in health and
education.
In 2003, Maria was invited to become a Founding Member of AGMC (Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council), an umbrella organisation supporting culturally and religiously diverse GLBTIQ communities, services and organisations in Australia, and which has been recognised as a member of FECCA (Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia).
In 2014, Maria was invited to the Board of the National LGBTI Health Alliance, Research and Ethics Standards group, and to the Victoria Police LGBTI Reference Group and the Victoria Police Multicultural Portfolio Reference Group.
Apart from her teaching and supervision (at both undergraduate and
postgraduate level), research and writing, Maria is regularly called upon to act as a consultant in educational, workplace, youth services, health services and community service settings. Maria is also regularly invited to speak at diverse community, educational, organizational and other functions and conferences, and in various media such as television, radio and newspaper.
Career highlights
• A semi-autobiographical book, Someone You Know (Adelaide: Wakefield Press, 1991; new edition 2002) was Australia's first AIDS biography. All royalties donated to Bobby Goldsmith Foundation for People Living With AIDS.
• In 1990-1991, Maria was the first Australian person to undertake empirical research and publish about sexual diversity in relation to ethnicity.
• In 1996-1997, Maria’s research-based papers on ethnicity and gender were included in two Australian educational policy documents: the MCEETYA (Ministerial Council for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs) Gender Equity: A Framework For Australian Schools (1997), and the New South Wales Department of School Education Gender Equity Strategy 1996-2001.
• In 1998, Maria researched, compiled and edited the book Girls’ Talk: Young Women Speak Their Hearts and Minds (Finch Publishing, Sydney), the first Australian book by and for girls and young women that is culturally and sexually inclusive.
• In 1999, Maria’s autobiographical novel, Tapestry (Random House) was shortlisted for the ACT Young Adult Read Award as voted by secondary school students in the ACT. It was also shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Award Ethnic Affairs Commission category for 2000; and the Children’s Book Council Award Non-Fiction Category for 2000.
• In 1999, Maria was honoured with the title of Lifelong Honorary Patron for PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) Victoria, Australia.
• In 2001, Maria’s book Boys’ Stuff: Boys Talking About What Matters (Allen & Unwin), co-researched and co-edited with Dr Wayne Martino from Murdoch University, Perth, was the first Australian book by and for boys and young men that is culturally and sexually inclusive. The book was shortlisted for the Western Australian Premier’s Award; won the Australian Book Design Award in the Educational Texts for Young People Category ; and achieved a Highly Commended in the Australian Award for Excellence in Educational Publishing. It was also nominated for a Human Rights Award. The book has also been listed in the Australian Centre for Youth Literature’s “150 Years,150 Books: Victoria’s Most Treasured Books” list.
• In 2003, Open University Press selected Maria and colleague Wayne Martino’s book, So What’s A Boy? Issues of Masculinity in Education to launch at the American Educational Researchers Association conference in Chicago on April 21st. The book has now been translated into Spanish by Octaedro Publishers.
• In 2003, Maria was nominated for the Deakin University Postgraduate Supervisor Award.
• In 2006, Maria was contacted by the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction, Special Collections, Indiana University to allow her research data, documents, and publications to be held there for future scholars.
• In 2006, Maria’s book When Our Children Come Out, was accepted for translation and publication in Spanish by Equipo Difusor Del Libro, Spain.
• In 2008, Maria published her first novel, Love You Two, which was Australia’s, and internationally, first young adult novel to explore bisexuality and polyamory within a multicultural setting. In 2010, the book won the Bisexual Category of the Lambda Literary Awards.
• In 2010, Maria published Border Sexualities, Border Families in Schools which was Australia’s first academic book on bisexual students and polyamorous families in their negotiations with educational systems. In 2011, the book won the Bisexual Non-fiction Category of the Lambda Literary Awards.
Research interests
Dr Pallotta-Chiarolli's research is primarily concerned with marginal and vulnerable groups in relation to gender diversity, cultural diversity, family diversity and sexual diversity, and the links to social, emotional, mental and sexual health. With a specific focus on youth and women, Dr Pallotta-Chiarolli conducts qualitative ethnographic research which is largely a collaboration with participants in order to produce user-friendly resource texts as well as academic and non-academic publications. She is regularly called upon to act as a consultant in educational, workplace, health services and community service settings. Maria is also regularly invited to speak at diverse community, educational, organizational and other functions and conferences, and in various media such as television, radio and newspaper.
Affiliations
Australian Multicultural GLBTIQ Council
A member upon invitation of Saybrook Graduate Research Centre, San Francisco, as External Faculty Member
Member of the Board of the National LGBTI Health Alliance, Research and Ethics Standards group,
Member of the Victoria Police LGBTI Reference Group
Member of the Victoria Police Multicultural Portfolio Reference Group.
Teaching interests
Unit HSH 313 Contemporary Health Issues
Current PhD students:
Julie Peters: An Autoethnographic Study of Gender Non-Conformists and Cultural Discourses (at the writing stage)
Annemarie Nevill: The Way to Healing – A Return to Home: Exploring the path of older Khmer women genocide survivors ( at the writing stage)
Joy Phillips: Aging Lesbian Women and Aged Care Facilities (at data collection stage)
Petrina Smith: Cross-Cultural Lesbian Relationships (successfully achieved Confirmation of Candidature)
Tricia Ong: “Trafficked into the Sex Industry: Young Nepalese Women and Reproductive Health”, (at Ethics stage)
Rebecca Stockdale: preparing Research Proposal
Tony Romanelli: preparing Research Proposal
Knowledge areas
cultural diversity, gender diversity, sexual diversity, family diversity, HIV/AIDS, and social diversity in health and education
Awards
1991: recognised as writing Australias first AIDS biography, Someone You Know, (Wakefield Press).
1999: honoured with the title of Lifelong Honorary Patron of PFLAG Victoria.
1999, her autobiographical novel, Tapestry (Random House) was shortlisted for the ACT Young Adult Read Award as voted by secondary school students in the ACT. It was also shortlisted for the NSW Premiers Award Ethnic Affairs Commission category for 2000; and the Childrens Book Council Award Non-Fiction Category for 2000.
2001, her book Boys Stuff: Boys Talking About What Matters (Allen & Unwin), co-researched and co-edited with Dr Wayne Martino from Murdoch University, Perth, was shortlisted for the Western Australian Premiers Award; won the Australian Book Design Award in the Educational Texts for Young People Category ; and achieved a Highly Commended in the Australian Award for Excellence in Educational Publishing. It was also nominated for a Human Rights Award. The book has also been listed in the Australian Centre for Youth Literatures 150 Years,150 Books: Victorias Most Treasured Books list.
• In 2008, Maria published her first novel, Love You Two, which was Australia’s, and internationally, first young adult novel to explore bisexuality and polyamory within a multicultural setting. In 2010, the book won the Bisexual Category of the Lambda Literary Awards.
• In 2010, Maria published Border Sexualities, Border Families in Schools which was Australia’s first academic book on bisexual students and polyamorous families in their negotiations with educational systems. In 2011, the book won the Bisexual Non-fiction Category of the Lambda Literary Awards.
Projects
Dr Pallotta-Chiarolli serves on the editorial board of the following journals:
Journal of Bisexuality
Journal of LGBT Youth
Psychology and Sexuality
Her current projects are:
•a)1999- co-Principal Investigator with Ms Sara Lubowitz, Convenor of the Women of Bisexual Partners Network, on a Deakin University funded project entitled, “Women with Bisexual Male Partners: the negotiation of sexual, emotional and social health”. Workshops and interviews with women and with health and relationship services were conducted as well as preparing material for journal articles and book publications. A book contract has been signed with Lexington Books to be published in 2016.
b) “Wogarigines”: life stories and oral histories of indigenous Australians with Mediterranean heritages
c) “Re-introducing pre-colonial and pre-Christian histories of gender and sexual diversity”: developing CALD GLBTIQ anti-homophobic understandings and strategies
d) “Agedo”: The experiences of Italian parents and families of GLBTIQ young people in Italy and Australia: a comparative analysis
Publications
M Pallotta-Chiarolli, R Sweid, B Sudarto
(2022), Vol. 43, pp. 148-165, Journal of Intercultural Studies, Abingdon, Eng., C1
A Zaharin, M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2022), Vol. 43, pp. 98-119, Journal of Intercultural Studies, London, England, C1
J Power, T Jones, T Jones, N Despott, M Pallotta‐Chiarolli, J Anderson
(2022), pp. 1-4, Medical Journal of Australia, London, England, C1
Migrant Lives on First Nation Land: Greek-Australian Memories of Titjikala in the 1960s
Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli, Francesco Ricatti
(2022), pp. 1-23, Journal of Intercultural Studies, Abingdon, Eng., C1
T Jones, J Power, T Jones, M Pallotta-Chiarolli, N Despott
(2022), Australian Psychologist, London, Eng., C1
Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2021), Vol. 1, pp. 327-341, Worldwide Perspectves on Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals, Santa Barbara, Calif., B1
Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2021), Vol. 1, pp. 422-442, Worldwide perspectives on lesbians, gays, and bisexuals, Santa Barbara, Calif., B1
M Mulholland, K Robinson, C Fisher, M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2021), Vol. 21, pp. 44-58, Sex education, Abingdon, Eng., C1-1
J Heerde, M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2021), Vol. 36, pp. 247-273, Journal of Adolescent Research, C1-1
Mis-education of Australian Youth: exposure to LGBTQA+ conversion ideology and practises
Tiffany Jones, Timothy Jones, Jennifer Power, Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli, Nathan Despott
(2021), pp. 1-16, Sex Education, Abingdon, Eng., C1
Healing Spiritual Harms: Supporting Recovery from LGBTQA+ Change and Suppression Practices
Timothy Jones, Tiffany Jones, Jennifer Power, Nathan Despott, Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2021), Melbourne, Vic., A6
Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli, Budi Sudarto, Judy Tang
(2021), Melbourne, A6
Pre-Colonial Actualities, Post-Colonial Amnesia and Neo-Colonial Assemblage
Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2020), Vol. 1, pp. 57-81, Sage Handbook of Global Sexualities, London, Eng., B1
Mental health for sexual and gender minority polyamorous and consensually non-monogamous individuals
Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2020), pp. 369-379, Oxford handbook of sexual and gender minority mental health, Oxford, Eng., B1
Jessica Heerde, Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli, Arno Parolini
(2020), pp. 1-11, Safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments for young people in crisis and trauma : plaiting the rope, Abingdon, Eng., B1
J Heerde, M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2020), Vol. 23, pp. 406-429, Journal of youth studies, Abingdon, Eng., C1-1
«Mobs» and «Wogs»: reflections on researching life stories and family histories
Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2019), Vol. 59, pp. 42-52, Altreitalie, Torino, Italia, C1-1
"We need much more of the same'": an evaluation of Equinox Gender Diverse Health Centre.
Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli, Jeremy Wiggins, Peter Locke
(2019), Melbourne, Vic., A6
Schooling and sexualities: twenty years on
E Charlton, lisahunter, M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2018), Vol. 18, pp. 231-238, Sex Education, C1
'Safe spaces, inclusive services': support service access and engagement by LGBTIQ+ Muslims
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2018), Melbourne, Vic., A6
Living and Loving in Diversity An Anthology of Australian Multicultural Queer Adventures
Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2018), Mile End, S.A., A7
M Pallotta-Chiarolli, T Capelota
(2017), pp. 129-150, Through a distorted lens: media as curricula and pedagogy in the 21st century, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, B1
Systemic invisibilities, institutional culpabilities and multicultural-multifaith LGBTIQ resistances
M Pallotta-Chiarolli, A Rajkhowa
(2017), Vol. 38, pp. 429-442, Journal of intercultural studies, Abingdon, Eng., C1-1
Women in relationships with bisexual men : bi men by women
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2016), Lanham, Md., A1
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2016), pp. 7-17, Bisexuality in education: erasure, exclusion and the absence of intersectionality, London, Eng., B1
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2016), Melbourne, Vic., A6
Bisexuality in education: erasure, exclusion and the absence of intersectionality
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2016), London, Eng., A7
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2015), pp. 268-283, Engaging men in building gender equality, Newcastle upon Tyne, Eng., B1
L Low, M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2015), pp. 169-184, Cultural, religious and political contestations: the multicultural challenge, Cham, Switzerland, B1
Living the rainbow : 'Queerying' Muslim identities
S Beckett, A Mohummadally, M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2014), pp. 96-106, Education integration challenges : the case of Australian Muslims, Melbourne, Vic., B1
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2014), pp. 91-106, The politics of recognition and social justice : transforming subjectivities and new forms of resistance, New York, NY, B1
Recognition, resistance and reconstruction : an introduction to subjectivities and social justice
M Pallotta-Chiarolli, B Pease
(2014), pp. 1-23, The politics of recognition and social justice : transforming subjectivities and new forms of resistance, New York, NY, B1
S Goldingay, T Mataki
(2014), pp. 144-156, The politics of recognition and social justice: transforming subjectivities and new forms of resistance, New York, NY, B1
Putting families of origin into the queer picture : introducing this special issue
C Bertone, M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2014), Vol. 10, pp. 1-14, Journal of GLBT Family Studies, London, England, C1
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2014), Vol. 14, pp. 7-17, Journal of bisexuality, London, England, C1
'These are our children' : polyamorous parenting
M Pallotta-Chiarolli, P Haydon, A Hunter
(2013), pp. 117-131, LGBT parent families : innovations in research and implications for practice, New York, N. Y., B1
You're too queer for the straights and now too queer for the gays!
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2011), Vol. 11, pp. 566-570, Journal of bisexuality, Philadelphia, Pa., C1-1
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2010), pp. 182-187, Understanding non-monogamies, New York, N.Y., B1
E Martin, M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2009), pp. 143-153, Theorizing social exclusion, Abingdon, England, B1-1
A Renzaho, M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2009), Vol. 2, pp. 27-38, Open tropical medicine journal, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
G Curran, S Chiarolli, M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2009), Vol. 9, pp. 155-168, Sex education, London, England, C1
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2009), Vol. 3, pp. 129-136, THYMOS : journal of boyhood studies, Harriman, TN, C1
M Pallotta-Chiarolli, E Martin
(2009), Vol. 6, pp. 199-222, Journal of L G B T Youth : an international quarterly devoted to research, policy, theory, and practice, Oxon, England, C1
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2008), Vol. 34, pp. 52-54, Hecate: an interdisciplinary journal of women's liberation, St Lucia, Qld., C1
International perspectives on bisexuality : an introduction
R Fox, L Goetstouwers, M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2008), Vol. 8, pp. 3-8, Journal of bisexuality, Binghamton, N. Y., C1-1
W Martino, M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2007), pp. 347-374, International handbook of student experience in elementary and secondary school, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, B1
On the borders of sexuality research: young people who have sex with both males and females
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2006), Vol. 3, pp. 79-86, Journal of gay & lesbian issues in education, Binghamton, NY, C1
Polyparents having children, raising children, schooling children
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2006), Vol. 7, pp. 48-53, Lesbian and gay psychology review, Leicester, England, C1
When our children come out : how to support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered young people
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2005), Sydney, N.S.W., A1
Being normal is the only way to be : adolescent perspectives on gender and school
W Martino, M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2005), Sydney, N.S.W, A1
We're the x-files : bisexual students 'messing up tidy sex files'
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2005), pp. 17-36, Sexuality, sport and the culture of risk, Oxford, England, B1
Weaving textual tapestries: weaving the 'Italian woman-writer' into the social fabric
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2004), pp. 152-168, Across genres, generations and borders : Italian women writing lives, Newark, Del., B1
Take four pioneering poly women : a review of three classical texts on polyamory
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2004), Vol. 4, pp. 227-234, Journal of bisexuality, Binghamton, NY, C1
W Martino, M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2004), Vol. 6, pp. 143-160, Balayi: culture, law and colonialism, Sydney, N.S.W., C1
Bi books: take four pioneering poly women: a review of three classical text on polyamory
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2004), Vol. 4, pp. 227-234, Journal of bisexuality, Abingdon, Eng., C1-1
So what's a boy? : addressing issues of masculinity and schooling
W Martino, M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2003), Maidenhead, England, A1
Outside belonging : multi-sexual relationships as border existence
M Pallotta-Chiarolli, S Lubowitz
(2003), Vol. 3, pp. 55-85, Journal of bisexuality, Binghamton, NY, C1
Boys and girls talking about what matters: student voice as text in the English classroom
W Martino, M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2002), pp. 54-68, English in Australia, Australia, C1
Gender performativity and normalizing practices
W Martino, M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(2001), pp. 87-119, Unseen genders : beyond the binaries, New York, NY., B1
"You can't be gay, you're Italian."
M Pallotta-Chiarolli, V Perri, V Luciano
(2000), pp. 543-558, IN SEARCH OF THE ITALIAN AUSTRALIAN INTO THE NEW MILLENNIUM, AUSTRALIA, MELBOURNE, E1-1
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(1999), Vol. 36, pp. 183-205, JOURNAL OF HOMOSEXUALITY, United States, C1-1
Authority, compliance and rebellion in second generation cultural minorities
M Pallotta-Chiarolli, Z Skrbis
(1994), Vol. 30, pp. 259-272, Journal of sociology, London, Eng., C1-1
The female stranger in a male school
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(1990), Vol. 2, pp. 169-183, Gender and education, Abingdon, Eng., C1-1
M Pallotta-Chiarolli
(1989), Vol. 10, pp. 49-63, Journal of intercultural studies, Abingdon, Eng., C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Other Public Sector Funding
Supporting SSAGD Young People of Multicultural and Multifaith Background: A Case Study Approach
Dr Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli
DPCGV Grant - Research - Department of Premier and Cabinet, Government of Victoria
- 2016: $22,272
Other Funding Sources
Schooling and Sexualities: 20 years on (conference and writing agenda)
Dr Emma Charlton, A/Prof Mary Louise Rasmussen, Dr Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli, Dr Lisa Hunter
Ian Potter Foundation Conference
- 2016: $2,500
Supervisions
Julie Elizabeth Peters
Thesis entitled: A Feminist Post-transsexual Autoethnography on Challenging Normative Gender Coercion
Doctor of Philosophy (Health & Social Development), School of Health and Social Development
Annemarie Gallichio
Thesis entitled: Crossing Nepantla: Older Khmer Women's Passage To Healing in Diaspora
Doctor of Philosophy (Health & Social Development), School of Health and Social Development
Kerry William Benton
Thesis entitled: Emotionality in same-sex attracted men's sexual scripting: Four expatriate men in Burma tell their stories
Doctor of Philosophy (Health & Social Development), School of Health and Social Development
Georgia Birch
Thesis entitled: Researching the relationship between physical activity and motherhood in older Somali women
Doctor of Philosophy (Health & Social Development), School of Health and Social Development
Jack Migdalek
Thesis entitled: Embodied Choreography and Performance of Gender
Doctor of Philosophy (Health & Social Development), School of Health and Social Development
Jan Moore
Thesis entitled: Exploring Jockey and Family Life through a Social Health Lens
Doctor of Philosophy (Health & Social Development), School of Health and Social Development
Belinda Cathryn Crockett
Thesis entitled: From Globe to Globe: Women, HIV/AIDS and Papua New Guinea
Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (Low Cost), School of Health and Social Development
Alana Hulme
Thesis entitled: Marginalised Young People's Lived Experience of Place
Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (Low Cost), School of Health and Social Development
Lisa Gibbs
Thesis entitled: Men's Access to Chronic Illness (Arthritis) Self Management Programs
Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (Low Cost), School of Health and Social Development
John Lindsay Oliffe
Thesis entitled: Prostate Cancer: Anglo-Australian Heterosexual Perspectives
Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (Low Cost), School of Health and Social Development
Patricia Maria Ong
Thesis entitled: Reproductive Health of the Marginalised: The Knowledge of Young Women Trafficked into the Sex Industry in Nepal
Doctor of Philosophy (Health & Social Development), School of Health and Social Development
Sarah Bernadette Epstein
Thesis entitled: Mothers and Sons: Feminist Maternal Practice with Boys
Doctor of Philosophy (Health & Social Development), School of Health and Social Development
Kerrie Allen
Thesis entitled: Self-Management for Women's Arthritic Conditions in Rural Victoria
Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (Low Cost), School of Health and Social Development