Education

PhD in Sociology, La Trobe University

Bachelor of Arts, First Class Honours, La Trobe University


Academic Appointments

Associate Professor of Sociology, Department of Social Inquiry, La Trobe University, 2019–

Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Department of Social Inquiry, La Trobe University, 2015–19

Australian Research Council Fellow (DECRA), La Trobe University, 2015-18; The University of Melbourne, 2014–15

Melbourne Research Fellow and Lecturer, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne, 2013–14

Australian Research Council (ARC) Postdoctoral Fellow, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne, 2009–12

Research Fellow, Faculty of Education, The University of Melbourne, 2007–09

Associate Lecturer and Tutor, School of Social Sciences, La Trobe University, 2005–06

Research Funding

National & International Competitive Grants

National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse (National Centre): ‘Creating safer futures: raising public awareness of child sexual abuse among young adults through digital storytelling’, 2023-25

Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project: ‘Reclaiming child rights: Activism, public inquiries and social change’, 2022–25

Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA): ‘Childhood maltreatment and late modernity: Public inquiries, social justice and education’, 2014–19

International Baccalaureate Organization: ‘International Baccalaureate programs: Longer term outcomes’, 2013–14

Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Grant and Postdoctoral Fellowship (APD): ‘Educating the adolescent: An historical study of   curriculum, counselling and citizenship in Australia, 1930s-70s’, J. McLeod & K. Wright, 2009–12

Other Competitive Grants

Transforming Human Societies, Research Focus Area: ‘Reclaiming childhood rights: Citizen activism and Australia’s largest royal commission’, La Trobe University (with S. Swain, J. Skold), 2019

Transforming Human Societies, Research Focus Area: ‘The Age of Inquiry: A genealogy of inquiries into historical abuse’, La Trobe University (with S. Swain, J. Skold), 2015

Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, Workshop Grant (with S. Swain, and K. McPhillips), 2015

Melbourne Research Fellowship, The University of Melbourne, 2015

Ian Potter Foundation Travel Grant, 2010

Travelling Fellowship, The Australian Academy of Humanities, 2008

Awards & Honours

Vice Chancellor’s Innovation Award, La Trobe University, 2023

Research Excellence Award (Mid-Career Researcher), School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University, 2022

International Academic Collaboration Award, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University, 2020

Barrett Prize, Highly Commended, for guest edited special journal issue (with S. Swain & K. McPhillips), ‘The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse’, Journal of Australian Studies, awarded by the International Australian Studies Association (InASA), 2018

Research Excellence Award (Early Career Researcher), La Trobe University, 2016

College Research Excellence Award (Early Career Researcher), College of Arts, Social Sciences and Commerce, La Trobe University, 2016

School Research Excellence Award (Early Career Researcher), School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University, 2016

ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA), Awarded by the Australian Research Council, 2014

Highly Commended Paper Award, ‘Education for Citizenship: Transnational Expertise, Curriculum Reform and Psychological Knowledge in 1930s Australia’, History of Education Review, 2014

Raewyn Connell Prize, Special Commendation, Biennial award for best first monograph in Australian Sociology,  TASA, 2012

ARC Postdoctoral Fellowship, Awarded by the Australian Research Council, 2009

TASA Jean Martin Award, First runner-up, Biennial award for the best PhD in a social science discipline, 2007

TASA Postgraduate Scholarship, Awarded by The Australian Sociological Association, 2003

Jean Martin Prize in Sociology for Best Honours Thesis, La Trobe University, 2000