Melanie Baak is a Senior Lecturer in UniSA Education Futures and the co-convenor of the Migration and Refugee Research Network (MARRNet). She is a 2023-2025 ARC DECRA Fellow and member of the Centre in Research for Educational and Social Inclusion (CRESI). Her research and teaching interests broadly cover areas of equity and inclusion, particularly in schools, with a focus on refugee education and resettlement. Her research and teaching are underpinned by understandings of how systems and structures work to marginalise sections of the population, particularly culturally and linguistically diverse groups.
In recent research projects she has collaborated with several refugee background communities... Read more
About me
Melanie Baak is a Senior Lecturer in UniSA Education Futures and the co-convenor of the Migration and Refugee Research Network (MARRNet). She is a 2023-2025 ARC DECRA Fellow and member of the Centre in Research for Educational and Social Inclusion (CRESI). Her research and teaching interests broadly cover areas of equity and inclusion, particularly in schools, with a focus on refugee education and resettlement. Her research and teaching are underpinned by understandings of how systems and structures work to marginalise sections of the population, particularly culturally and linguistically diverse groups.
In recent research projects she has collaborated with several refugee background communities recently resettled in Australia to explore themes including; belonging, schooling and education, employment, identity, home, place, transition, family and gender. Her DECRA project is exploring how belonging is experienced in Australian schools by Black African diaspora youth, and what schools can do to enhance belonging for these youth. She is a chief investigator on an ARC Linkage study (2018-2023) exploring how schools foster refugee student resilience. She has also had consultancies for Catholic Education SA to examine aspects of education for culturally diverse students. She has collaborated on research projects exploring aspects of equity in education including culturally responsive pedagogy and behviour management.
Melanie received the Early Career Researcher Award from the UniSA Division of Education Arts and Social Sciences in 2020. She was awarded an Early Career Researcher award at the Inclusive Education Summit in 2017 for her contributions to refugee education. Melanie received an Australian Government Endeavour Research Fellowship to the University of Glasgow in 2017 during which time she researched schools as sites of resettlement for Syrian refugees in Glasgow. Melanie has had diverse roles in community development, education and research working with refugee background communities over the past 15 years.
About me
The Australian Sociological Association (TASA)
Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE)
African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific (AFSAAP)
Critical Race Studies in Education Association (CRSEA)
About me
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 28/01/2023 |
Researchers help African Australian students tackle racism, https://www.africanews.com/2023/01/28/researchers-help-african-australian-students-tackle-racism/ |
| 16/12/2022 |
Study to look in experiences of African-Australian students, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-16/project-to-look-at-experiences-of-african/101784382?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=twitter&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web |
| 16/12/2022 |
Research project to look into how to foster belonging among African youth in Australia, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-16/research-project-into-fostering-belonging-among-african-youth/101772222 |
| 16/04/2022 |
African migrants struggle to find work without white referees, research suggests, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-16/african-migrants-struggle-to-find-jobs-without-white-referees/100995510 |
| 01/04/2022 |
The right whites can make or break job openings for African migrants, https://busycontinent.com/whites-and-job-openings-for-african-migrants/ |
| 28/02/2022 |
Asylum seekers grasp at study access, https://www.theislanderonline.com.au/story/7637359/asylum-seekers-grasp-at-study-access/ |
| 28/02/2022 |
Asylum seekers grasp at study access, https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7637359/asylum-seekers-grasp-at-study-access/ |
| 21/02/2022 |
University is an impossible dream for most asylum seekers, https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20220221072052836 |
| 18/02/2022 |
Education is a human right, but for most asylum seekers in Australia, university is an impossible dream, https://theconversation.com/education-is-a-human-right-but-for-most-asylum-seekers-in-australia-university-is-an-impossible-dream-174881 |
| 24/07/2018 |
The Wire: South Suanese Gangs: Victoria Legislates, http://thewire.org.au/story/south-sudanese-gangs-actually-disturbing-law-order-melbourne/ |
| 24/04/2018 |
'There was an assumption I needed help': racism in our schools, https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6023898/there-was-an-assumption-i-needed-help-racism-in-our-schools/ |
| 28/02/2018 |
Sudanese youth are frequently maligned by fear-mongering and racism, https://www.sbs.com.au/news/dateline/article/sudanese-youth-are-frequently-maligned-by-fear-mongering-and-racism/2u4s88qwa |
| 15/01/2018 |
Radio Adelaide Social Issues: African youth maligned by fear-mongering, http://radioadelaide.org.au/2018/01/15/african-youth-maligned-by-fear-mongering/ |
| 11/01/2018 |
Sudanese heritage youth in Australia are frequently maligned by fear-mongering and racism, https://theconversation.com/sudanese-heritage-youth-in-australia-are-frequently-maligned-by-fear-mongering-and-racism-89763 |
| 10/11/2016 |
The Phactory: Australia’s refugee resettlement program desperately needs attention, https://thephactory.wordpress.com/2016/11/10/australias-refugee-resettlement-program-desperately-needs-attention/ |
| 11/08/2016 |
Nauru abuse reports should mark an opportunity for compassion, not more dehumanisation, https://theconversation.com/nauru-abuse-reports-should-mark-an-opportunity-for-compassion-not-more-dehumanisation-63826 |
About me
Doctor of Philosophy The University of South Australia
Bachelor of Education University of South Australia
Research projects include:
Enhancing belonging for African diaspora youth in Australian schools - ARC DECRA 2023-2025
Over recent decades, Australia’s Black African population has grown significantly and, as a visibly different community, they experience marginalisation in schools and other institutions. This presents significant challenges to their participation in, and contribution to, Australian society because research demonstrates that racial marginalisation inhibits educational, social, cultural and economic outcomes. This study explores how Black African youth experience Australian schooling, and how schools can promote belonging through changes to teaching and learning in schools, teacher education programs, and state ... Read more
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Promoting wellbeing through school-based anti-racism initiatives, The Trustee for The Montebello Foundation, 01/07/2024 - 30/06/2025
Kain Foundation Northern Opportunities Evaluation Proposal, Kain Foundation, 01/05/2024 - 01/10/2024
How schools foster refugee student resilience, ARC - Linkage Project, 12/06/2018 - 31/12/2023
Improving Educational Outcomes for Students from Refugee backgrounds in the South Australian Certificate of Education: a case study of two Catholic secondary schools, Catholic Education Office, 01/09/2016 - 30/04/2018
'Neighbourhood life and social determinants of health for children and young people from refugee backgrounds' (2020, Channel 7 Research Fund, A Ziersch, C Due, M Baak, I Levin, M Walsh - awarded $99,985)
'Vulnerability, resilience and extremism: investigating the restorative practice framework in South Australia' (2019, University of South Australia, M Baak, G Stahl, S Schultz, B Adams, R Hattam - awarded $10,000)
'Employment seeking experiences of African-Australians in South Australia' (2019, University of South Australia, M Baddeley, M Baak, G Treuren, F Souza, T Ziaian - awarded $40,000)
'Engagement of African-Australian families on South Australian Catholic schools' (2018-19, Catholic Education South Australia, M Baak, E Miller - awarded $25,000)
‘Regional settlement experiences of people from refugee backgrounds: Social inclusion and health and wellbeing’ (2015, Flinders University, L Mwanri, A Ziersch, M Baak – awarded $17,000)
‘Understanding trauma among young children: A pilot project for the development of a screening tool for children aged 4 to 8 years old’ (2014, University of Adelaide, C Due, S Hanson-Easey, – awarded $6828)
‘Motivators and outcomes of volunteering: discourses of international and local volunteers’ (2014, University of South Australia, P Gale, M Baak – awarded $7,000)
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2021 |
Open access
|
| 2021 |
Open access
12
11
7
|
| 2019 |
Open access
97
81
66
|
| 2019 |
6
|
| 2016 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2016 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2021 |
Open access
|
| 2019 |
Open access
|
| 2019 |
6
|
| 2016 |
9
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
5
5
|
| 2024 |
Open access
1
2
|
| 2023 |
Open access
1
1
10
|
| 2023 |
Open access
1
2
10
|
| 2023 |
Open access
7
2
|
| 2023 |
Open access
4
3
2
|
| 2023 |
Open access
8
|
| 2022 |
Open access
12
10
4
|
| 2022 |
Open access
3
2
7
|
| 2022 |
Open access
6
8
3
|
| 2022 |
Open access
3
2
41
|
| 2022 |
Open access
2
2
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
12
11
7
|
| 2021 |
Open access
7
5
7
|
| 2021 |
Open access
8
6
2
|
| 2021 |
Open access
33
33
14
|
| 2020 |
Open access
19
17
7
|
| 2020 |
Open access
40
28
17
|
| 2019 |
|
| 2019 |
Open access
97
81
66
|
| 2019 |
3
3
6
|
| 2015 |
14
13
|
| 2011 |
6
|
| 2011 |
21
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2010 |
Open access
21
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2021 |
Open access
|
| 2019 |
Open access
|
| 2019 |
|
| 2019 |
|
| 2019 |
|
| 2018 |
Open access
|
Engagement with African-Australian families in South Australian Catholic schools, Catholic Education South Australia, 2019
Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Pedagogy, research consultancy for Catholic Education South Australia, 2019
Communication with Families, research consultancy for Catholic Education South Australia, 2019
Building Belonging and Connection, research consultancy for Catholic Education South Australia, 2019
Understanding African-Australian Students, research consultancy for Catholic Education South Australia, 2019
Understanding Catholic Education, research consultancy for Catholic Education South Australia, 2019
Understanding Catholic Education (Dinka), research consultancy for Catholic Education South Australia, 2019
Sudanese heritage youth in Australia are frequently maligned by fear-mongering and racism, The Conversation, 11 January 2018
Enterprising Research: Support services for youth from refugee backgrounds, UniSA, May 2018
Migration and Belonging: is there a way?, Glasgow Refugee Asylum and Migration Network (GRAMNet) blog
Nauru abuse reports should mark an opportunity for compassion, not more dehumanisation, The Conversation, 12 August, 2016
Research
Research projects include:
Enhancing belonging for African diaspora youth in Australian schools - ARC DECRA 2023-2025
Over recent decades, Australia’s Black African population has grown significantly and, as a visibly different community, they experience marginalisation in schools and other institutions. This presents significant challenges to their participation in, and contribution to, Australian society because research demonstrates that racial marginalisation inhibits educational, social, cultural and economic outcomes. This study explores how Black African youth experience Australian schooling, and how schools can promote belonging through changes to teaching and learning in schools, teacher education programs, and state and national policies. Importantly, Black African youth will participate as active researchers alongside teachers to identify and trial possibilities for change in curriculum, teaching and professional learning. The study will identify strategies and practices to improve educational and social outcomes for Black African youth, enabling them to work with others in our increasingly diverse society to build social cohesion and cultural inclusion.
How schools foster refugee student resilience - ARC Linkage Grant 2018-2023
Research Team: Emeritus Professor Bruce Johnson, Dr Mel Baak, Associate Professor Anna Sullivan
This research aims to investigate how schools transcend refugee students' past life experiences by creating the social and educational conditions that enhance their resilience. It will focus on the policies, practices, relationships, and events that shape the schooling experiences of refugee students and promote their resilience. The study will provide education sectors, schools, and refugee service providers with crucial new knowledge about how school-based policies and practices can foster refugee student resilience. Outcomes of this project will include the development of research-based guides to good policy and practice in refugee education, and improved educational and social outcomes for refugee students.
Improving Educational Outcomes for Students from Refugee backgrounds in the South Australian Certificate of Education: A case study of two Catholic secondary schools 2016-2018
Research Team: Dr Melanie Baak, Associate Professor Kathleen Heugh, Professor Roger Slee, Associate Professor Anna Sullivan
Students from refugee backgrounds face significant challenges in successfully completing the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE). Little research has been conducted on the nature of and extent to which schools in initiate and implement policies and practices that engage successfully with students from refugee backgrounds and support them in their secondary education. This project will investigate and analyse a school-based intervention program to enhance the SACE outcomes of students from refugee backgrounds in South Australia.
Service provider experiences of mid to long term settlement challenges and mental health consequences for youth from refugee backgrounds 2016-18
Research Team: Dr Melanie Baak, Associate Professor Anna Ziersch, Dr Clemence Due, Associate Professor Tahereh Ziaian, Dr Shepard Masocha
Young people from refugee backgrounds are at risk of developing poor mental health (Fazel et al 2012). However, very few researchers have considered their long-term settlement outcomes. This project will explore education as one mainstream service which most young people from refugee backgrounds access. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, the project will explore the understandings of staff in educational settings in identifying and referring students who might have mental health issues, as well as the perspectives of mental health personnel about how education settings can best support the mental health of young people from refugee backgrounds. Enterprising Research: Support services for youth from refugee backgrounds
Recent Book published:
Negotiating Belongings: Stories of forced migration of Dinka women from South Sudan, Sense Publishers, Netherlands.
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
| Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
| Relationships Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Torrens University Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Birmingham | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Technology Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Associate EditorDiscourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education |
2024 |
National Anti-Racism in Education Expert Advisory Committee MemberCurtin University |
2024 |
School support program expert advisory committee memberUbuntu Australia school |
2024 |
Invited expertCatholic Education South Australia English as an Additional Language or Dialect advisory group for policy development |
2023 |
Invited submission and presentationAustralian Government Multicultural Framework Review |
2023 |
Invited submission and presentationAustralian Government Review to Inform a Better and Fairer Education System |
2023 |
South Australian representativeNational Refugee Education Roundtable steering committee |
2023 |
South Australian representativeNational Refugee Education Roundtable steering committee |
2022 |
SubmissionUN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent |
2022 |
South Australian representativeNational Refugee Education Roundtable steering committee |
2021 |
South Australian representativeNational Refugee Education Roundtable steering committee |
2020 |
SubmissionSenate Inquiry into the Australian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic |
2020 |
SubmissionSenate Inquiry into the issues facing diaspora communities in Australia |
2020 |
Reference in HansardCommonwealth of Australia: Joint Standing Committee on Migration - Migrant settlement in regional Australia public hearing |
2019 |
Research Investigator Channel Seven Research Fund Grant Project 'Neighbourhood life and social determinants of health for children and young people from refugee backgrounds'Flinders University |
2019 |
South Australian representativeNational Refugee Education Roundtable steering committee |
2019 |
SubmissionParliamentary inquiry into migration in regional Australia, Joint Standing Committee on Migration |
2019 |
SubmissionSouth Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission Act 1980 Review, Department of Premier and Cabinet |
2019 |
South Australian representativeNational Refugee Education Roundtable steering committee |
2018 |
Endeavour Research FellowshipDepartment of Education and Training, Australian Government |
2017 |
SubmissionMigrant Settlement Outcomes, Joint Standing Committee on Migration |
2017 |
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| (Re)thinking Cultural Safety and Belonging for Afro-diasporans inAustralian Schools | Current |
| 110880 - Enhancing belonging for African diaspora youth in Australian schools | Current |
| 111036 - Enhancing belonging for African diaspora youth in Australian schools | Current |
| An examination of the use of green spaces and its influence on wellbeing for African diaspora youth in an Australian city | Current |
| Maternalist assumptions and the experiences of educators in early childhood | Current |
| Redesigning teaching for a fairer Australia: exploring the role of racial literacy | Current |
| Second language acquisition for first-generation school-age Sri Lankan migrant students within the Australian education system | Current |
| Towards critical global literacies: building social participation and citizenship in a superdiverse world | Current |
| Understanding early school leaving among Afro diaspora youth | Current |
| Hearing and heeding `the other side': (Re)-centring the southern multilingualisms and lived realities of South Sudanese women in Australia | Completed |
| Students from refugee backgrounds: experiences and practices of support in Australian high schools | Completed |
