UQ School of Education

📢 Registrations are now open!

Join us for the 2026 Carolyn D. Baker Annual Memorial Lecture, held as part of UQ Research and Innovation Week.

📅 Friday 18 September 2026

This year's keynote speaker is Dr Martin Mills, Research Professor in the School of Education at QUT, presenting:

Schooling in a Volatile, Unpredictable, Complex and Ambiguous (VUCA) World: A Set of Provocations

This annual lecture provides an opportunity to engage with contemporary issues in education and honour the legacy of Carolyn D. Baker.

Register and find out more: https://events.humanitix.com/2026-carolyn-baker-annual-lecture

🏐 Meet Chelsea O’Neill

Hailing from regional Queensland, netballer Chelsea O’Neill learned early that chasing sporting dreams often means going the extra mile, sometimes literally.

Now studying Primary Education at The University of Queensland, Chelsea is balancing elite netball, university study and work with the support of the UQ Firebirds Scholarship.

We’re proud to share Chelsea’s story and celebrate the dedication, resilience and ambition of students pursuing their goals both on and off the court. 💙

Read more about Chelsea’s journey here:

UQ Firebirds scholarship helping students shoot for success Chelsea O'Neill is balancing elite netball, university study and work with the support of the UQ Firebirds Scholarship.

🔉2026 Winter Research Program – Applications now Open❗❗❗
Here’s your chance to team up with some of UQ’s leading researchers to apply your degree-specific knowledge while developing valuable research and professional skills.
✨ Eligibility: Open to undergraduate (including honours) and master by coursework students who are currently enrolled and will remain enrolled at UQ in Semester 2, 2025.
📌 Find out more and apply here: https://education.uq.edu.au/our-research/winter-research-program

✨ Eid Mubarak! ✨

Yesterday, we had the joy of celebrating Eid al-Fitr together as colleagues and friends — and it was truly special. 🌙

Our generous Muslim colleagues treated us to an incredible feast, with a stunning spread of dishes spanning the flavours of Asia and beyond. 🍛🥘🍜 The table was a celebration in itself!

Moments like these are a beautiful reminder of the strength and richness that diversity brings to our workplace. It's not just something we talk about — it's something we live, taste, and experience together. 🌍❤️

Grateful to be part of such a vibrant, inclusive community. Here's to more shared celebrations ahead! 🎉

🌟 Honouring Aunty Denise Proud 🌟
This week, we were privileged to come together at morning tea to celebrate and formally recognise Elder Aunty Denise Proud on her appointment as Honorary Professor with the School of Education.
Aunty Denise is a proud Koa and Kuku-Yalanji woman, born and raised in Cherbourg, and an extraordinary educator, artist, mentor, and cultural leader. Over decades, her work has profoundly shaped early childhood education, teacher learning, community-led practice, and national educational reform—always grounded in culture, care, and deep respect for relationships.
Aunty Denise’s scholarly contributions are equally powerful. Her extensive publications have played a critical role in shifting outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education. She has contributed to numerous research projects and key texts, including serving as lead author of the chapter “Practising critical self-reflection as a foundational tool” in Indigenous Education in Australia: Learning and Teaching for Deadly Futures.
Many know Aunty Denise through her striking artwork, which tells stories of education as a connected pathway between people, generations, and futures. Others know her leadership through her national contributions, including her work with Reconciliation Queensland, where she has supported educators to meaningfully embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives through truth-telling and cultural integrity.
We were delighted to welcome Aunty Denise’s husband, David, and daughter, Monique, alongside longstanding colleagues from QUT and Griffith University, and friends who travelled significant distances to be with us—a testament to the deep relationships, respect, and love that surround Aunty Denise and her work.
We are deeply honoured to formally welcome Aunty Denise as Honorary Professor, and grateful for the wisdom, generosity, and guidance she continues to share with our School and the broader education community.
Congratulations, Aunty Denise—and thank you for all that you do. 💛🖤❤️

🎉 Celebrating 80 Years of the School of Education

Last month, we celebrated the School of Education’s 80th birthday - “Bridging Past and Future, Celebrating 80 Years of Innovation and Impact.” It was a wonderful opportunity for students, colleagues past and present, and friends of the School to come together and reflect on our shared journey.

The evening featured an Acknowledgment of Country by Aunty Denise Proud, welcome addresses from Chancellor Mr Peter Varghese AO and Professor Robin Shields, and an engaging panel discussion exploring the School’s legacy and aspirations for the future.

We were delighted to be joined by Mayor Bruce Simpson (Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council) and Professor Lydia Kavanagh, President of the UQ Academic Board.

👉 Read more here:

Yesterday evening, we held our 80th birthday celebrations on the theme "Bridging Past and Future, Celebrating 80 Years of Innovation and Impact." This was a welcome opportunity for students… | UQ School of Education Yesterday evening, we held our 80th birthday celebrations on the theme "Bridging Past and Future, Celebrating 80 Years of Innovation and Impact." This was a welcome opportunity for students, colleagues past and present, and friends of the School to connect and reflect on our work together. Following...

🎓 AARE 2025 Conference Wrap-Up
The Australian Association for Research in Education Conference ( ) wrapped up last week at the University of Newcastle City Campus, bringing together researchers, educators and practitioners from across Australia and beyond. The conference was held under the theme “New Connections and Directions for Educational Research.”

The School of Education was proud to have a strong presence at AARE 2025, with colleagues contributing through thought-provoking presentations, rich discussions and collaborative engagement.

👉 Read more here:

#aare2025 #aare2025 #educationalresearch #collaboration #innovation | UQ School of Education 🌟 The Australian Association for Research in Education Conference wrapped up today, it was held at the University of Newcastle city campus. It brought together researchers, educators, and practitioners under the theme “New Connections and Directions for Educational Research.” ✨ Th...

On 23 October, Dr Simone Smala, Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at The University of Queensland, attended the QASMT Awards Ceremony 2025 as an external member of the QASMT School Council, proudly representing UQ 👏🎓

It’s wonderful to see our staff contributing to and supporting excellence in mathematics education across Queensland.

👉 Read more here:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/school-of-education-the-university-of-queensland_on-the-23rd-of-october-dr-simone-smala-activity-7404286231599165440-OS_2?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABJG9GkBe3vd5idf5WC4VkPC_a0KB5pEvYY

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/school-of-education-the-university-of-queensland_on-the-23rd-of-october-dr-simone-smala-activity-7404286231599165440-OS_2?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABJG9GkBe3vd5idf5WC4VkPC_a0KB5pEvYY

🌟 On the 23rd of October, Dr. Simone Smala, Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at The University of Queensland, attended the QASMT Awards Ceremony 2025 as the external member of the QASMT… | UQ School of Education 🌟 On the 23rd of October, Dr. Simone Smala, Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at The University of Queensland, attended the QASMT Awards Ceremony 2025 as the external member of the QASMT School Council, proudly representing UQ. In this role, Dr Smala was honoured to serve as a dignitary ...

Last week, it was a pleasure to host Leon Tickly from the University of Bristol School of Education for a seminar on "Ethnonationalism and Education." Prof Tikly discussed ethnonationalism as a global trend and analysed the ways in which education is implicated in ethnonationalism. It was a good discussion and great to see our HDR community participating in the event.