Deakin Education Practice and Policy Group
Innovating curricular and pedagogical practices and informing education policy and systems
How our transdisciplinary research drives educational change
The Deakin Education Practice and Policy Group investigates ongoing and emerging challenges in education practice and policy across diverse education systems and settings, including:
- early childhood education
- primary and secondary education
- vocational training
- higher education
- academia
- community initiatives.
Our research engages diverse perspectives and knowledges to tackle complex educational issues that often relate to curriculum, pedagogy and policy. It is responsive to systemic pressures and the shifting conditions of education across local, national and global contexts.
We contribute empirical, conceptual and theoretical insights across a range of fields. As researchers based in settler-colonial Australia and culturally diverse communities, our work is concerned with decolonising education through truth-telling/listening, the transnational and intercultural dimensions of education, and creating more equitable and inclusive educational landscapes.
Our research areas
The Deakin Education Practice and Policy Group includes diverse disciplinary and transdisciplinary research interests that are connected by two key themes.
Informing policy and transforming knowledge practices
We critically analyse the problem framing of policy across contexts. Our research draws on a range of theoretical and methodological perspectives to examine the diversity of knowledges, the dynamics of knowledge making practices and the power relations that shape them.
Innovating curriculum and pedagogy
We collaborate with educators, students and other education actors to explore and innovate curricular and pedagogical practices and policies across all educational settings. Our work focuses on supporting educator agency and fostering environments of care, wellbeing, creativity and belonging.
Help us impact student outcomes
Deakin is #13 in the world for education and educational research and #3 in Australia. Through our research we are changing the way the world thinks about education.
Our researchers
Our research community fosters a strong sense of belonging by nurturing an inclusive and welcoming research culture. Researchers explore interconnected interests through individual and collaborative projects within and beyond the School of Education. They are committed to critical and creative inquiry that contributes to humanising education. The co-convenors bring a range of expertise based on decades of combined experience.
Dr Maria Nicholas focuses on students' learning and education across pre-school and school settings, with a specific interest in literacy development and supporting high-ability and gifted learners.
Dr Rebecca Cairns investigates how contemporary and historical socio-political conditions shape curriculum making and policy, with a focus on decolonising approaches to history and Asia-related education.
Robyn Barallon, Learning Designer
Dr Robin Bellingham, Senior Lecturer, Education (Pedagogy and Curriculum)
Dr Ros Black, Senior Lecturer, Education (Humanities, Societies And Environments)
Dr John Cripps Clark, Senior Lecturer
Dr Rachel Finneran, Associate Research Fellow
Dr Kerri Garrard, Senior Lecturer
Dr Karen Guo, Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education
Dr Shelley Hannigan, Senior Lecturer, Education (Arts Education)
Penny Harry, Lecturer in Education
Professor Dawn Joseph, Professor
Dr Arif Kabir, Lecturer
Dr Merinda Kelly, Senior Lecturer
Jennifer Kernahan, Lecturer in Education, Education-focused
Will King, Lecturer in Education, Education-focused
Dr Melinda Kirk, Lecturer in Education, Education-focused
Dr Gary Levy, Lecturer in Education, Education-focused
Dr Elizabeth Little, Lecturer in Education (Language and Literacy)
Dr Jonathan O'Donnell, Lecturer, Early and Mid-Career Researchers (EMCR)
Dr Fiona Phillips, Lecturer in Education (Arts Education)
Dr Carly Sawatzki, Senior Lecturer in Education, Maths Education
Dr Xiaofang Lainie Shang, Lecturer in Early Childhood Education, Education-focused
Associate Professor Michiko Weinmann, Associate Professor in Education (Languages Education)
Featured projects
Our partnerships with government, community and industry enable us to conduct impactful research that seek solutions beyond conventional boundaries.
Collaborative practices, spaces and places for wellbeing in the academy
This project is a collective biography methodology by five female scholars, through creative, embodied activities as methods for building strong communities of practice and collective scholarship for learning. The project advocates for rewilding of academic practices to foster and sustain individual and collective wellbeing.
Benefits of the arts and arts-based pedagogies in Australian primary school classrooms
This project reviews evidence supporting the role of arts-based pedagogies in enhancing children's literacy skills, particularly with the shift in pedagogical practices, such as teaching by PowerPoint, and mandates in reading instruction.
Navigating the curriculum resource marketplace
Digitisation has rapidly changed how educators navigate curriculum resources and instructional materials online, amplifying calls for government investment in ‘high-quality’ and ‘evidence-based’ resources. This project investigates how historical and contemporary policy discourses frame the provision of ready-made curriculum resources as a ‘solution’ to complex systemic issues, such as teacher workload.
Professional learning for high-ability education
Many schools find it challenging to effectively identify and support high-ability students. In partnership with the Centre for Higher Educational Studies and the Victorian Department of Education, this project developed co-designed professional learning programs that enable participants to join professional communities – improving outcomes for 'high potential' primary and secondary school students.
Our partnerships
We actively collaborate with a diverse range of education actors and stakeholders to promote partnerships with:
- curriculum authorities
- departments of education
- government and non-government schools
- higher education and vocational institutions
- professional organisations and subject associations
- cultural and educational organisations
- other educational and community organisations.
Our members play a vital role in shaping public discourse through research publications, conference presentations, media engagement, and expert commentary, in addition to delivering invited presentations. We engage directly with education stakeholders to collaboratively develop materials and inform and improve educational practices and policy.
