Professor Alan Reid

Alan Reid is Professor Emeritus of Education at the University of South Australia where he has held a number of positions including Dean of Education, Director of Research Centres, and Professor of Education.

Professor Reid's research interests include educational policy, social justice and education, education and democracy, and the history and politics of public education. He has published widely in these areas and gives many talks and papers to professional groups, nationally and internationally. These include a number of named Lectures and Orations, including the Radford Lecture (AARE); the Fritz Duras Memorial Lecture (ACHPER); the Selby-Smith Oration (ACE); the Hedley Beare Oration (ACE -NT); the Phillip Hughes Oration (ACE - ACT); the Garth Boomer Memorial Lecture (ACSA); and the national conference of the AEU.

Professor Reid has been involved in policy development at the state and national levels throughout his career. For example, he was a member of a three person panel which reviewed the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE); engaged by the South Australian Department of Education and Children’s Services (DECS) to lead the development of a system-wide culture of research and inquiry; and co-directed the writing of the SACSA framework which was the curriculum used by all South Australian schools for many years.

In 2015 he was appointed by the then Minister for Education to Chair the Public Education Advisory Committee (PEAC) which provided advice to the Minister and advocated for public education. In the latter capacity Alan wrote the foundation statement on Public Education in South Australia which sets out the values and characteristics of public education. In 2022 he was appointed to the Board of the History Trust of South Australia; and in 2023 to the Education Innovation Council which provides policy advice to the Chief Executive of SA's Department for Education about broad policy directions for public education.

Professor Reid won the 2002-3 DEST National Research Fellowship and was based in the federal department of education (now the Department of Education, Skills and Employment) in Canberra for twelve months where he conducted research on the national curriculum and provided policy advice.  

Alan works closely with leading professional associations, speaking at conferences and conducting research. For example, he wrote 'Building the Nation through Public Education' for the Australian Government Primary Principals Association (AGPPA) which formed the basis of a national campaign by government school principals to promote public education; and in 2018 he wrote a monograph: 'Beyond Certainty: A Process for Thinking about Futures for Australian Education', for the Australian Secondary Principals Association (ASPA).

Professor Reid’s latest book Changing Australian Education: Why policy is taking us backwards and what can be done about it, was published in October 2019 by Allen and Unwin. It sets out Alan’s views about why a new direction for Australian education is needed, and what education policy might look like to better meet the challenges of the future.

Alan's contributions to education have been recognised through a number of awards. For example:

* in 2004, the Australian College of Educators awarded him the inaugural MacKillop Medal in recognition of his distinguished services to education; and made him a Fellow of the College;

* in 2009 he was awarded the Alby Jones Medal by the Australian Council of Educational Leaders (SA) in recognition of the excellence of his achievements in educational leadership;

* in 2009 he was made a Life Member of the Australian Curriculum Studies Association (ACSA);

* in 2009 he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Australian Council of Educational Leaders (ACEL) which is presented annually to an Australian educator whose 'contribution to the study and practice of educational leadership is assessed as most outstanding at the national level', and he was also made a Fellow of ACEL;

* in 2009 the University of South Australia in 2009 awarded him the title of Emeritus Professor;

* on Australia Day, 2012, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), for his contributions to education;

* in 2017 he was named as one of four finalists for South Australian of the Year.

 Alan is the co-founder, inaugural Chair (2012-2016) and now a Patron of the Australian Foundation for Fostering Learning in the Philippines (AFFLIP). The Foundation is currently providing support to 15 poorly resourced elementary public schools, with about 20,000 students, in Davao City, Mindanao (https://afflip.com). 

Member, Education Innovation Council, South Australian Depertment for Education (2023- )

Board Member - History Trust of South Australia (2023 - )

Chairperson of the Public Education Advisory Committee (2015 - 2018);

Board member of the Australian College of Educators (2010-13);

Chairperson of the Australian Foundation for Fostering Learning in the Philippines (AFFLIP, 2011 - 16);

Patron of the Australian Foundation for Fostering Learning in the Philippines (2018 - present);

National Executive member of the Australian Curriculum Studies Association (ACSA) 1995-2009;

Member of the Advisory Board of the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education (NCSEHE) (2011-13);

Member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Citizenship Teaching and Learning (2005-2009);

Member of the Editorial Board of Curriculum Perspectives (1998-2008);

Member of the Editorial Board of the Journal for Educational Enquiry;

Life Member of the Australian Curriculum Studies Association (ACSA);

Member of the editorial Board of the Australian Educational Researcher (2000 - 2005);

Member of the Australian Association for Educational Research (AARE);

Fellow of the Australian College of Educators;

Fellow of the Australian Council of Educational Leaders.

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy Flinders University

• Master of Arts (Education) York University

• Bachelor of Arts Flinders University

• Diploma of Education Flinders University