Personal profile
Biography
Jane Wilkinson is Professor in Educational Leadership, Faculty of Education at Monash University. Jane is Lead Editor of the Journal of Educational Administration and History and a member of the Australian Council of Educational Leadership, Victorian executive.
Jane's research interests are in the areas of educational leadership for social justice, with a particular focus on refugee education, issues of gender and ethnicity; and theorising educational leadership as practice/praxis. She is a lead developer of the theory of practice architectures (Kemmis, Wilkinson, Edwards-Groves, Hardy, Grootenboer, & Bristol, 2014). She also draws on sociologist Pierre Bourdieu's work and the philosopher, Ted Schatzki. Jane has published widely in the areas of women and leadership, refugee students and theorising leadership as practice/praxis.
Her most recent publications include:
Wilkinson, J., & Kaukko, M. (2020). Educational leading as pedagogical love: The case for refugee education. International Journal of Leadership in Education, (23)1, 61-76. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/13603124.2019.1629492
Jane is currently Chief Investigator of two Australian Research Council Discovery projects: Teacher capabilities in superdiverse societies (2021-2024) and School autonomy reform and social justice in Australian public education (2018-2022).
Research interests
- Feminist theories of leadership
- Leadership as practice, in particular practice architectures and praxis, and practice theorists Pierre Bourdieu and Theodore Schatzki
- Leadership as social justice
- Refugee education
Research area keywords
- Educational leadership and policy
- gender
- Refugees
- practice theory
- Reimagining educational leadership
- Educating for diversity and inclusion
- Educational Leadership Studies
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Invisible labour: Principals’ emotional labour in volatile times
Wilkinson, J. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Walsh, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Keddie, A. M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Longmuir, F. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Grice, C. (Chief Investigator (CI))
ARC - Australian Research Council
27/04/23 → 22/12/26
Project: Research
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Teacher capabilities in conditions of superdiversity
Kostogriz, A. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Wilkinson, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Sharma, U. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Fielding, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bright, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Gamble, N. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/08/20 → 31/07/26
Project: Research
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What the profession needs now for the future
Longmuir, F. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Wilkinson, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lampert, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Evans, J. (Project Manager)
3/04/24 → 31/10/25
Project: Research
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The future of Victorian Jewish schools: a community consultation to re-assess the ethical responsibility of schooling
Rosenbluh, I. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Forgasz, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Wilkinson, J. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/07/21 → 30/06/22
Project: Research
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How can we better support the behavioural and academic needs of our refugee background students?
Rojas Quimbay, M. D. P. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Fielding, R. (Supervisor), Forbes-Mewett, H. (Supervisor) & Wilkinson, J. (Supervisor)
1/11/20 → 30/11/23
Project: Research
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Invisible Labour: Principals’ Emotional Labour in Volatile Times: Report Three: The Escalation of Violence in Schools and Its Repercussions for Principals’ Emotional Labour
Wilkinson, J., Walsh, L., Grice, C., Longmuir, F., Chandler, P., Keddie, A. M. & Delany, T., Feb 2026, Melbourne Vic Australia: Monash University. 28 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other Report › Research
Open AccessFile -
School Autonomy Reform and Social Justice in Australian Public Education
Keddie, A., MacDonald, K., Gobby, B., Blackmore, J., Wilkinson, J., Eacott, S. & Niesche, R., 2026, 1st ed. Abingdon UK: Routledge. 267 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › Research › peer-review
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Teacher education reform and the reproduction of social inequality
Lampert, J., McPherson, A. & Wilkinson, J., 2026, Preparing Teachers for Social Change: Teacher Education at a Crossroad. Dadvand, B., Lampert, J. & Brooks, C. (eds.). 1st ed. Abingdon UK: Routledge, p. 102-112 11 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review
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A tale of two students: unpacking undergraduate mathematics students’ mathematical identities using the Listening Guide
Hall, J., Robinson, T., Flegg, J. & Wilkinson, J., 2025, In: Educational Studies in Mathematics. 120, p. 635-656 22 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Ethical discourses of justice: understanding edu-philanthropy in exclusionary schools
Finefter-Rosenbluh, I. & Wilkinson, J., 2025, In: Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education. 46, 5, p. 598-611 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Prizes
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School of Education, Culture and Society Award for Research Innovation and Impact
Wilkinson, J. (Recipient), Walsh, L. (Recipient), Longmuir, F. (Recipient) & Chandler, P. (Recipient), 2024
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
- 1 Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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ACEL Victoria’s President's Research Seminar, Mental health of children and young people: What do schools and school leaders need to know and do?
Wilkinson, J. (Organiser), Cross, D. (Invited speaker), Berger, E. (Invited speaker), Krishnamoorthy, G. (Invited speaker) & Stokes, H. (Invited speaker)
15 Jun 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
Press/Media
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Dangerous Work. Surge in violence and harassment against Australian public school principals.
4/02/26
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Profile/Interview
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‘I own you’: female principals the target of chilling misogynistic, sexist violence
3/02/26
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Profile/Interview
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National study exposes alarming surge in violence against public school principals
3/02/26
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Principals face alarming rise in violence at school - new report
2/02/26
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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‘I had a recurring dream I was shot in the head’: school principals say violence is normal in their jobs
Walsh, L., Grice, C., Wilkinson, J. & Delany, T.
2/02/26
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature