The overriding interest of this research group is the educational and social inclusion of young people who tend to be excluded from success in schooling and from achieving a sense of belonging.

Research focus

Research undertaken by this group focuses on the capacity to build community resilience and connectedness of children and young people:

  • in contact with youth justice systems
  • from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds
  • of colour
  • from diverse backgrounds
  • with chronic health conditions
  • with negative experiences at school – e.g. bullying, cyberbullying, wellbeing and social exclusion.

Systems level investigation and advice takes place in collaboration with:

  • Youth justice sector
  • Department of Education and Training Victoria
  • Department of Justice and Community Safety
  • Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre
  • Alannah & Madeline Foundation
  • Flexible Learning and Inclusive Education sector

Research areas

  • Sociology of Education
  • Inclusive Education
  • Exclusion – social, political, media
  • Youth Justice
  • Social Justice
  • Race
  • Community resilience
  • Critical Disability
  • Critical Discourse
  • Globalisation and Culture

Research projects

Read about our current projects and publications.

  • Alannah & Madeline Foundation – eSmart Schools Framework outcomes and evaluation
  • Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC – Diversity and Inclusion, building strength and capability

  • Education in youth justice: Whose safety? Whose rights?
  • Colonial occupation: The impact on Filipino First Nations’ culture and education
  • Islamophobia in Australian education
  • Through the looking glass: Inclusive education in rural Bangladesh
  • How is social media shaping higher education in Saudi Arabia?
  • How perceptions of risk by international students transformed through the first year experience?
  • A critical study of policy and practice for inclusive education in Saudi Arabia’s higher education sector
  • Saudi Arabia’s transition to inclusive education
  • Psychosocial well-being of Saudi gifted students
  • Meditation instead of medication; raising the bar for student achievement naturally

  • Poking the Wasp Nest: Young People Challenge and Educate through Applied Theatre. Innovations and Controversies: Interrogating Educational Change Book Series, Brill.
  • Social Justice in Youth Justice: Participation in Education by Incarcerated Young People, Palgrave MacMillan.
  • Book Chapter – Oxford Encyclopedia of School Reform

Staff & students

Find out about our team and read our researcher biographies via the links.

  • Dr Dave Kelman, Theatre Director and Researcher
  • Professor Andre de Quadros, Professor of Music Education, Boston University

  • Ferdousi Anis
  • Kelly Harrison
  • Kristina Glodo
  • Liz Walker
  • May Alrudayni
  • Saleh Alzrahani
  • Tahirih Ernesta
  • Carroll Byrne
  • Abdallelh Alharbi
  • Wafaa Jan

Partners, funders & collaborators

We collaborate with fellow researchers within and external to the University, and high-profile justice and education institutes.

  • Professor Kitty te Riele, Deputy Director, Peter Underwood Centre, University of Tasmania
  • Associate Professor Tim Corcoran, Inclusive Education, Deakin University
  • Dr Nina Van Dyke, Mitchell Institute
  • Dr Marc C Scott, College of Arts, Business, Law, Education and IT, VU
  • Celeste Young, VISES, Victoria University
  • Associate Professor Debra Smith, ISILC, VU
  • Associate Professor Alison Baker, ISILC and College of Arts, Business, Law, Education and IT, VU
  • Dr Amy Quayle, Institute or Health and Sport, VU
  • Professor Christopher Sonn, Institute or Health and Sport, VU
  • Dr Carla Lugetti, Institute or Health and Sport, VU

  • Department of Education and Training (Victoria)
  • Lord Mayors Charitable Foundation
  • Parkville College, Youth Justice Precincts for Victoria
  • Alannah & Madeline Foundation
  • Bushfire and Natural Hazards Community CRC