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  • A Professional Portrait image Dr Jennifer Achari

    Dr Jennifer Achari

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Dr Jennifer Achari

Lecturer

Staff Member Details
Telephone: +61 8 6304 863043941
Email: j.achari@ecu.edu.au
Campus: Joondalup  

Jen is a Lecturer in the School of Education.

Background

Dr Jennifer Achari is a nationally recognised leader in trauma-informed and alternative education. She brings nearly two decades of experience across school leadership and higher education, with particular expertise in inclusive practice, alternative education reform, and system-level transformation. Jennifer has held senior leadership roles in alternative education and she has extensive experience leading multidisciplinary teams, implementing trauma-informed frameworks across diverse education contexts.

Jennifer is actively engaged in collaborative national research projects exploring trauma-transformative teacher education and educator wellbeing. She is also an advocate for student success, and her work focuses on strengthening educational access, engagement, and wellbeing for students impacted by complex trauma and disrupted educational pathways. She is committed to bridging research and practice, supporting schools, systems, and higher education institutions to embed evidence-informed, relational, and inclusive approaches that improve outcomes for vulnerable learners.

Current teaching

  • EDU6140 - Understanding Trauma in Educational Settings
  • EDU6141 - Trauma-Driven Behaviour in Educational Settings
  • EDU6142 - Trauma Responsive Educational Settings
  • EDU6152 - Trauma Informed Practice
  • EDU6150 - Supportive Learning Environments

Professional associations

  • 2025-2026: Trauma Aware Conference Committee (Member)
  • 2025-2026: Trauma-Aware Higher Education Leadership Network (Member)

Awards and recognition

National and International Awards

  • 2025 - QUT Outstanding Thesis Award (nomination, confirmation pending)
  • 2023, 2024, 2025 - Dr. Laurie Cowled PhD Scholarship
  • 2023 - ACEL QLD Research in Educational Leadership & Management

Research areas and interests

  • Trauma-informed approaches in schools and education systems
  • Alternative and flexible education for students who have disengaged from mainstream schooling
  • Supporting teacher wellbeing and resilience
  • Inclusive education and strengthening outcomes for vulnerable learners
  • Whole-school transformation and sustainable change
  • Educational Leadership practices that strengthen school culture, educator capacity, and student wellbeing

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology, 2025.
  • Professional Equivalence, Edith Cowan University, 2025.
  • Professional Equivalence, Edith Cowan University, 2022.
  • Education, Edith Cowan University, 2022.
  • Master in Teaching English to Speaker of Other Languages, United States of America, 2012.
  • Bachelor of Arts (Major in Humanities, minor in Psychology), Canada, 2006.

Research Projects

  • Equity-Focused Multi-tiered Systems of Support: Developing Differentiated Disciplinary and Intersectional Practices for Students with Disabilities from Priority Equity Groups, Department of Education, Education Horizon Grant, 2025 ‑ 2026.
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