An accomplished academic leader with extensive experience in higher education, I have consistently driven strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing student access, equity, and teaching quality. With $639, 659 in funding grants, I have led and collaborated with key researchers, partner organizations, and schools to drive impactful research that enhances enabling programs and educational practices. My leadership roles at UniSA have included overseeing program development and restructuring, co-leading initiatives to promote inclusive pedagogies, and fostering academic research excellence. I have successfully led cross-functional teams in the development of new programs, the establishment of research networks, and the implementation of... Read more
About me
An accomplished academic leader with extensive experience in higher education, I have consistently driven strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing student access, equity, and teaching quality. With $639, 659 in funding grants, I have led and collaborated with key researchers, partner organizations, and schools to drive impactful research that enhances enabling programs and educational practices. My leadership roles at UniSA have included overseeing program development and restructuring, co-leading initiatives to promote inclusive pedagogies, and fostering academic research excellence. I have successfully led cross-functional teams in the development of new programs, the establishment of research networks, and the implementation of professional development initiatives for staff. With a passion for empowering underrepresented groups and a track record of delivering impactful, evidence-based strategies, I am committed to advancing higher education outcomes and fostering an inclusive academic environment.
About me
Co-Director Higher Education Research Network (HERN)
National Association of Enabling Educators of Australia (NAEEA) Executive Committee member
Equity Practitioners of Higher Education of Australasia
Higher Education and Research Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA), SA Branch
Centre for Educational Research in Social Inclusion, Full Member
Pedagogies for Social Justice, Education Futures
Research Centre for Gender Studies, Hawke Research Centre
About me
Doctor of Philosophy University of South Australia
Bachelor of Arts University of South Australia
Bachelor of Arts (honours) University of South Australia
Launched Higher Education Research Network (HERN)
The objectives of the UniSA Higher Education Research Group (HERN) is to make visible Higher Education research as a discipline area of excellence at UniSA nationally and internationally. We sustain a group of 129 Higher Education researchers across disciplines to forge local networks and advance high quality Higher Education research across the university and with stakeholders, national and international partners and collaborators.We facilitate Higher Education Early Career Researcher (ECR) mentorship as well asprovide advice to relevant bodies on higher education practice and policy. Our aim is to advance understanding and application of socially just and equitable practices in... Read more
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 or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2024 |
Open access
11
6
6
|
| 2023 |
Open access
2
2
5
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2019 |
|
| 2014 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
11
6
6
|
| 2023 |
Open access
2
2
5
|
| 2023 |
|
| 2021 |
Open access
8
5
6
|
| 2019 |
Open access
|
| 2018 |
Open access
4
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2009 |
|
| 2008 |
|
PhD Thesis
Hattam, S (2014) Motherhood, equality and the state: the possibilities and limitations of the Australian Human Rights Commission, University of South Australia, Adelaide.
Conference Presentations
Shannon, B., Mansfield, M., Griffiths, Z. & Hattam, S. (2024) The ‘queer’ pathways of LGBTIQA+ students into enabling education, Student Success Conference, July 1-3, 2024, Melbourne Australia.
Richardson, A., Noacco, J., Hudson, C. & Hattam, S. (2024) Attributional retraining presentation HERDSA
National Benchmarking Consortium, Benchmarking Australian Enabling Education Programs, NAEEA Conference 5-6 December 2022, UniSA Adelaide
Invited presentation, ‘Education Provocation: How can we ensure alternative education is an integral part of the education system and integrates curriculum? Keeping kids connected to school and learning Summit #2, 6 May 2022 Adelaide City, hosted by CRESI and the SA Commissioner for Young People Helen Connelly.
Invited presentation ‘Recognition and Belonging in Enabling Education’, Australian Curriculum Studies Association Webinar Series, 2 March 2022.
Keynote presentation, ‘International Workshop: Action Research in English Language Teaching: From Theories to Classroom Practices’ event held by STKIP Paracendekia NW Sumbawa in collaboration with the University of South Australia and the Association of Teacher Training Institutes of West Nusa Tenggara on March 15, 2022.
Weiler, T & Hattam, S (2021) 'Isolated, invisible, illegitimate yet indispensable: The impact of professional development on casual staff', Decent Work in the 21st Century Research Symposium, Queensland University of Technology, December 1-3 2021.
Weiler, T & Hattam, S (2021) ‘The ‘illegitimate’ Academic: The impact of professional development on casual staff’ Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia Conference 2021 July 7-10 Brisbane (cancelled due to COVID).
Research
Launched Higher Education Research Network (HERN)
The objectives of the UniSA Higher Education Research Group (HERN) is to make visible Higher Education research as a discipline area of excellence at UniSA nationally and internationally. We sustain a group of 129 Higher Education researchers across disciplines to forge local networks and advance high quality Higher Education research across the university and with stakeholders, national and international partners and collaborators.We facilitate Higher Education Early Career Researcher (ECR) mentorship as well asprovide advice to relevant bodies on higher education practice and policy. Our aim is to advance understanding and application of socially just and equitable practices in HE and foster research at the cutting-edge in digital learning in Higher Education (Co-Directors As Prof Negin Mirriahi, As Prof Chris Deneen & As Prof Sarah Hattam).
Recently Published
Book
Journal articles
Projects - current
2024-Current - Building student’s perceptions of preparedness, capability, confidence and belonging in Higher (Co-investigators As Prof Sarah Hattam, Dr Tanya Weiler, Dr Alice Betteridge, Dr Natasha Wilson, Tristan King, Dr Nazz Oldham, Myfanway Tilley)
2023 – Current Student diversity and LGBTIQA+ pathways through tertiary enabling programs (Co-investigators Dr Barrie Shannon (UniSA), Dr Michelle Mansfield & Dr Zoe Griffiths, University of Newcastle, Sarah Hattam)
Launched University Makes a Difference Outreach Program 2025
UniSA College staff formed a partnership with 6 non-mainstream schools to provide an outreach program that builds the students’ research skills and academic literacies, but also sense of belonging at UniSA and capability to be successful leading to increased SACE completions and articulation into university.
UniSA Representative on National Benchmarking Panel of Enabling Program Learning Outcomes
The first comprehensive cross-institutional benchmarking project involving nine Australian universities and demonstrates there is shared understanding of the standards of enabling programs between institutions. We are conducting the next phase of benchmarking with a review of retention, articulation and success data.
Advocacy for Enabling Education Funding as Executive Committee member, National Association of Enabling Educators of Australia
What are enabling programs and how do they help Australians get to University, The Conversation, 26 July 2023, (co-authors Hattam, S., Davis, C., & Weiler, T.)
Facilitated intensive pathway program with Catherine House & Zahra Foundation 2016 - Current
Awarded Catherine House Catherine McAuley Award 2022 at South Australian Government House for leading and facilitating womens outreach and course at UniSA
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Central Queensland University | AUSTRALIA |
| Charles Darwin University | AUSTRALIA |
| Curtin University | AUSTRALIA |
| Edith Cowan University | AUSTRALIA |
| Federation University Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
| Southern Cross University | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Newcastle | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Southern Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Tasmania | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student LearningOffice for Learning and Teaching, Department of Education and Training, Australian Government |
2020 |
Facilitator of Intensive Pathway ProgramSagamartha Women's Centre, Catherine House |
2020 |
Senior FellowAdvance Higher Education |
2020 |
Facilitator of Intensive Pathway ProgramSagamartha Women's Centre, Catherine House |
2019 |
Facilitator of Intensive Pathway ProgramSagamartha Women's Centre, Catherine House |
2018 |
Facilitator of Intensive Pathway ProgramSagamartha Women's Centre, Catherine House |
2017 |
Facilitator of Intensive Pathway ProgramSagamartha Women's Centre, Catherine House |
2016 |
Peer Reviewer
Australian Award for University Teaching (AAUT), Teaching Excellence Award for Centring Critical Enabling Pedagogy in Higher Education to support student and educator success (with Dr Tanya Weiler), 2024
UniSA Award for Teaching Excellence for Centring Critical Enabling Pedagogy in Higher Education to support student and educator success (with Dr Tanya Weiler), 2024
Awarded Best Teacher of the Year, UniSA Education Futures, 2022
Teaching & student supervision
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| An auto ethnographic action research study | Current |
| Going Further, Closer to Home: Measuring the Impact of Regional Study Hubs on Academic Success and Workforce Engagement | Current |
| The role of motivational teaching strategies in reducing student non-completion in online courses | Current |
| 'This is how I learn', an investigation into how student trauma experiences inform learning perspectives during social work training. | Current |
