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PhD (University of Tech., Sydney), Dr (University of Tech., Sydney)
Grace is a lecturer/researcher in the Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice. She has worked in partnership with First Nations communities throughout Queensland for many years. Grace’s research addresses the need for urgent educational reform to support the engagement of young First Nations males at school and prevent their over-representation in the juvenile justice system. Grace has worked across primary, secondary and tertiary education sectors to support an understanding and inclusion of First Nations perspectives and Knowledges within the education curriculum. She is a co-leader in the Centre for Inclusive Education – Indigenous Education Research Program, an affiliate member of the QUT Centre for Justice and the School of Early Childhood and Inclusive Education representative for the Faculty of Education’s, Equity Committee.
Grace’s areas of interest are:
Indigenous Education
School Equity
Cultural Safety
Lowering Suspension & Exclusion Rates from schools
Social Justice
Inclusive Pedagogy
Schooling for the 21st Century
(Grace is available for Supervisions)
Additional information
Grace has teaching experience in Indigenous Education, pre-service teacher professional development, sociology and psychology. She also works in partnership with First Nations communities in the Moreton Bay Region to support and improve educational equity for First Nations and marginalised children. Grace completed a Master of Indigenous Education through Macquarie University and was awarded the Vice Chancellor’s commendation for Academic Excellence. She has experience in the area of educational exclusion of First Nations young males and the school to prison pipeline in Australia. Grace is currently researching the development of a methodology to develop and implement an Indigenous Languages Program in an Early Learning Centre in a regional town in Queensland with Dr. Francis Bobongie-Harris.
- Type
- Fellowships
- Reference year
- 2020
- Details
- AFHEA (Indigenous)
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2015
- Details
- Vice Chancellor's Commendation for Academic Excellence
- O'Brien G, (2021) Racial Profiling, Surveillance and Over-Policing: The Over-Incarceration of Young First Nations Males in Australia, Social Sciences
- O'Brien G, Trudgett M, (2020) School house to big house, The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education p98-106
- Ewing B, Sarra G, Price R, O'Brien G, Priddle C, (2017) Access to sustainable employment and productive training: workplace participation strategies for Indigenous employees, Australian Aboriginal Studies p27-42
- Identifying and addressing over-representation of at-risk groups in school suspension and exclusion data
Professional Doctorate, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Professor Linda Graham, Associate Professor Kristin Laurens