Dr Thaera O'Brien

Thaera O’Brien is an Associate Lecturer within the School of Communication and Creative Arts at Deakin University, holds a PhD in Communications from the University of Otago, New Zealand. With an extensive career spanning over 15 years, she brings a wealth of cross-cultural teaching experience to her pedagogical and curriculum development roles, encompassing various interdisciplinary communication domains. Thaera has received  awards in recognition of her outstanding teaching skills. She has also accumulated more than a decade of professional experience in public relations, having served as a consultant and head of the department. Her recent professional and research endeavours have centred on the intricate topics of multiculturalism and their implications for rural and regional communities. Her engagement as the Chair of a non-profit board, Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services, coupled with her role as an Intercultural Ambassador for the City of Greater Bendigo Council, has afforded her profound insights into the dynamics of rural and regional communities and the complexities of multiculturalism. She is committed to advocating for the rights of marginalised populations and cultivating more inclusive and equitable societies