Research projects

We're renowned for conducting innovative research projects and making a significant contribution to the educational outcomes and health and wellbeing of children, young people and adults from diverse backgrounds and circumstances.

BRIDGES to Play for Wellbeing

The project brings together international experts and diverse locations to examine intergenerational play (IGP) as a fundamental right across all ages and cultures.

Professor Lisa Kervin AM, Dr Lois Peach

2026 – 2030

Australian Research Council (ARC) FT240100511 – “Intergenerational Play: A right for all generations”

Conceptual PlayWorlds in Pre-service Teacher Education in Vietnam

This project aims to improve pre-service teachers’ understandings of playful pedagogies through the introduction of Fleer’s Conceptual PlayWorld (CPW).

Assoc. Professor Liang Li, Assoc. Professor Thanh Pham, Assoc. Professor Janet Scull, Dr Ann Downton, Professor Steven Roberts, Dr Leigh Disney, Laureate Professor Marilyn Fleer

2025 – 2029

The LEGO Foundation

Gesturing toward Artful Play (GAP)

GAP explores the intersections of art, play, and place-based learning in early childhood education (4-5 year old).

Assoc. Professor Gloria Quinones, Dr Geraldine Burke, Aunty Karan Kent, Bidjara, Melissa Bedford

2026 – 2027

School of Curriculum, Teaching and Inclusive Education (Monash Education)

Authentic Teaching and Learning through Adaptive Simulations (ATLAS)

The ATLAS AI platform is designed to enhance teaching quality by bridging traditional skills like curriculum outcomes with complex competencies such as teamwork, adaptability, and interpersonal skills.

Dr Joel Moore, Dr Jo Blannin, Dr Amna Mazeh, Dr Guilherme Horst Duque, Dr Rosemarie Herbert, Dr Tomas Zahora, Dr Helmy Cook , Dr Bethany Howard, Dr Lisa Barker

2024 – 2027

Monash Education Academy as part of the dragon-den/interfaculty funding initiatives

Supporting Australian Families to Navigate Sleeping and Feeding Practices

A research aims to investigate the facilitators and challenges perceived by parents regarding sleeping and feeding practices in early childhood.

Assoc. Professor Gloria Quinones, Assoc. Professor Megan Adams, Dr Stacey Rabba, Dr Bradley Bloomfield, Dr Levita D'Souza, Dr Zoe Morris

2024 – 2027

Monash University

United on the Field: Enhancing equity and inclusion in community sport

The project aims to deepen understandings of how equity and inclusion policies within community sport can address inequities in participation.

Professor Ruth Jeanes, Dr Karen Lambert, Dr Justen O'Connor, Professor Dawn Trussell, Dr Nadia Bevan, Dr Kim Encel, Satoshi Miyashita

2024 – 2027

ARC Discovery Project

Supporting teachers and teaching in the age of Artificial Intelligence

This project aims to investigate teacher capabilities to respond to, and engage with, Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in their classrooms and online teaching.

Professor Neil Selwyn, Professor Mike Phillips, Dr Jo Blannin, Dr Carlo Perrotta, Dr Adriana Szili

2024 – 2027

Australian Research Council (ARC) DP240100111

Virtual Reality and Inclusive Teacher Education

The purpose of the study is to understand if the use of Virtual Reality, as part of initial teacher education, has a positive impact on preservice teachers' knowledge and understandings of inclusive teaching practices.

Dr Jo Blannin

2023 – 2027

The Gorman Foundation

Learning Strategy Cards: Designing for Student Success

A set of beautifully designed cards that distil key strategies for effective learning. Each card presents a powerful learning approach that students and educators can use to boost outcomes and confidence.

Professor Michael Henderson

2025 – 2026

Monash University

What the teaching profession needs now for the future

This project, undertaken in conjunction with AEU Victoria, will investigate the key issues confronting AEU members in public schools and the opportunities for system- and school-based reforms.

Dr Fiona Longmuir, Professor Jo Lampert, Professor Jane Wilkinson

2024 – 2026

Australian Education Union (Victoria Branch)

AI and HE Student trust: use and intentions

A project aims to understand higher education students' interactions with generative AI.

Assoc. Professor Tim Fawns, Professor Michael Henderson, Professor Ari Seligman

2024 – 2026

The Vice-Chancellery Portfolios of Teaching and Learning from Monash University

Australasia-U.S. Educational Equity Hub

The Australasia-U.S. Educational Equity Hub links scholars, educators, policymakers, Non-Governmental Organizations and students to advance educational equity in schools and communities.

Dr Ilana Finefter-Rosenbluh, Professor Mark A. Brennan

2024 – 2026

The U.S. Government: The U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Australia, The Global Engagement, Office of Provost and Senior Vice President, Monash University and Europe and Oceania Partnerships, Global Partnerships, The Pennsylvania State University

Invisible labour: Principals’ emotional labour in volatile times

This nation-wide survey of Australian school principals seeks to understand the reasons behind the crises we currently experience in recruiting and retaining principals.

Professor Jane Wilkinson, Professor Lucas Walsh, Professor Amanda Keddie, Dr Fiona Longmuir, Dr Christine Grice

2023 – 2026

Australian Research Council (ARC)

The impact of teacher shortages on teachers remaining in hard to staff schools

This project aims to identify ways to retain and support teachers in hard-to-staff schools.

Professor Jo Lampert

2023 – 2026

Australian Research Council (ARC) DP230100110

Play-Exploration-Art (PEA)

A teaching–research project that provides a space for imaginative experimentation for babies and young children (0–3 years old).

Assoc. Professor Gloria Quinones, Dr Geraldine Burke

2023 – 2026

Monash University

Exploring problem-based learning in school-based STEM education

The aim of this project is to generate research-informed principles of practice for a Problem Based Learning (PBL) model of school-based Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) Education.

Assoc. Professor Kathy Smith, Professor Deb Corrigan, Professor Amanda Berry, Dr Jennifer Mansfield

2021 – 2026

Australian Research Council (LP190100282)

A novel transformational model for school food education in Pacific coastal communities

This scoping study will inform the design of a novel model of community engaged food education in the Pacific.

Assoc. Professor Deana Leahy, Dr Kathleen Aikens

2020 – 2026

ACIAR

Conceptual PlayLab

Fleer’s Conceptual PlayLab aims to test ground-breaking play-based models for teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics to young children.

Laureate Professor Marilyn Fleer

2019 – 2026

ARC Laureate Fellowship

Supporting children's mathematics transition to primary school in play

This project addresses the significant need for mathematics learning support in early childhood centres, where play-based learning is mandated, to support the school transition period.

Assoc. Professor Liang Li, Dr Leigh Disney, Dr Ann Downton

2024 – 2025

Collier Charitable Fund