Allegra Schermuly

Dr Allegra Schermuly is a Research Fellow in the School of Social Sciences, Monash University. Before joining Monash, Allegra worked as a perioperative nurse in Australia and the UK. She completed her PhD at Monash University in 2018 on the topic of police legitimacy. In her dissertation, Allegra explored perceptions of Victoria Police and the implications of public perceptions for legitimacy, community satisfaction and willingness to cooperate with police. Using qualitative interviews with community representatives in the Monash Local Government Area, Allegra’s doctoral thesis analysed the factors that impact police legitimacy with a view to informing police practices and culture, especially in contemporary multicultural societies. Allegra’s other research interests include the challenge for public institutions, such as law enforcement and healthcare, to remain fit for purpose in multicultural societies and the social inequalities that persist despite advances in digital technologies. She is currently working on an ARC funded project in the School of Social Sciences at Monash which explores citizens’ use of digital media in disease activism and advocacy.