Louise Jenkins

As a sociologist and performing arts practitioner Louise’s particular focus is on using music and drama as tools to support social inclusion for culturally diverse schools. Underpinning this inclusive work is her benchmark development of innovative curriculum resources, designed to drive whole school approaches to cultural inclusion (Building Bridges: Creating a Culture of Diversity, Melbourne University Publishing). Louise’s work has been informed by her contributions to national research about school-based racism and migrant and refugee inclusion.

Louise’s strong teacher practitioner focus and emphasis on teacher-led research, underpin all of her work. She uses action research to drive flexible and contemporary teaching practice, including the combination of a Blended Learning and Team teaching approach in the classroom. This combined approach has underpinned innovative changes to her work with her pre-service students. The Blended Learning and Team Teaching approach is underpinned by pedagogy which re-considers the role of the teacher and student in the classroom. Louise has disseminated the findings of this research and innovative teacher practitioner work via various journal publications and national and international conference papers.

Louise also uses historical research methodology to inform and give perspective to all that she does. Her ground breaking research about Australian women music educators from 1890-1950 enabled a more complex understanding of her work in socially inclusive education for youth from culturally diverse backgrounds and religions. The similarities in the barriers and prejudices that the early Australian women, and cultural minorities in Australian society today experience, informed her work in both spheres.