About Us

The Griffith Institute for Educational Research (GIER) is an interdisciplinary coalition of researchers working to ensure that the benefits of educational and learning opportunities—wherever they take place, whenever they occur—can flow equitably to all members of our society. Focusing on the needs of diverse learners in diverse contexts, our research enables democratic, equitable, sustainable futures, and impacts directly on the quality and dignity of peoples’ lives.

Our Highlights

Evolving Perspectives on Equity, Excellence and Care in Education

Our work brings to light the many factors affecting educational opportunities and outcomes—to ensure that everyone benefits from diverse learning experiences. We provide leadership in seeking to understand equity and excellence in education, as well as how opportunities and advantages are constructed and constrained. We are pioneers in investigating how social justice, transformation, advantage and disadvantage change as we develop new ways of talking about diversity. Recently projects have included the ARC funded Educating preservice teachers to teach diverse learners and Quality teaching work and reducing educational inequalities as well as Department of Education funded Weaving Stories of Strength: Conceptualising a framework towards Indigenising the classroom.

Strengths based approaches to autism, neurodiversity and inclusion

The Griffith Institute for Educational Research is proud to be one of the world’s foremost leaders in autism, neurodiversity and inclusion research hosting the Autism Centre of Excellence. Our strengths-based philosophy to understanding diverse learners means co-designing research where all stakeholders have a voice. We also excel in research on gifted and talented education and the experience of twice and multiple exceptional learners. Recent projects include the ARC funded Every Day Matters: Reducing School Non-Attendance in Autistic Students and MRFF funded Enhancing Quality of Life through an early Intervention co-developed with the autistic community (E-QoL-ITY).

Teacher education for excellence, equity, and impact

Teacher education plays a central role in maximising the opportunities for diverse people to learn and to thrive. Our team of experts are committed to progressive, high-quality teacher education that supports ongoing professional and personal development over the course of teachers’ lives. Our research is committed to the equitable distribution of learning opportunities and outcomes and understands that teacher education and support plays a crucial role in student wellbeing and learning opportunities. GIER members have been actively involved in the establishment of Ohana College; an independent secondary school for young people who have disengaged from mainstream schooling. Recent projects include the ARC funded projects Early career teacher induction: Supporting precarious teachers, Improving middle leading practices in schools to enhance student learning and Supporting teachers and teaching in flexible and non-traditional schools.

Lifelong learners in diverse contexts

Our research is committed to connecting people to empowering and diverse opportunities to learn, within and beyond recognised sites for learning, such as workplaces, schools, universities and community contexts. Learning is everywhere and always possible. We expand the body of knowledge addressing the most 'wicked' problems—barriers to learning—and the ways workplaces, communities and other sites of education can effectively engage with diverse people. Recent projects include the Advanced Queensland Fellowship Improving Advanced Life Support training for frontline healthcare workers under novel conditions, Department of Education funded Initiating, building and sustaining industry-school partnerships to realise diverse post-school pathways and ARC funded Investigating professional learning lives in the digital evolution of work.

Equity and quality in curriculum, pedagogies, and learning environments

Our researchers have built a sturdy empirical foundation showing just how life-changing an inclusive, holistic and future-focused approach can have on learning environments. By focusing on including everyone within the learning ecosystem—learners, educators, families, carers and communities—our work harnesses the transformative power of curriculum and pedagogies for a better future for all. Our internationally respected research teams explore curriculum and pedagogy design that prioritises a diverse demographic of learners to address their needs and to create positive and revolutionary learning experiences. Recent projects include the ARC funded Enhancing critical reading with migrant and refugee-background youth and A qualitative and quantitative study of the challenges, opportunities and possibilities for teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Content in the Australian Curriculum.