Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Lucas is Professor of Education Policy and Practice, Youth Studies and currently director of the Monash Centre for Youth Policy & Education Practice (CYPEP), which has created influential research, such as The Australian Youth Barometer, and other investigations into young people's food insecurity, exclusion, careers education, personal finances, education and working life.
Lucas has served as Associate Dean (Berwick), Associate Dean (Academic Staff), Deputy Dean and Interim Dean of the Faculty of Education. He has worked in corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors. He was a manager within the International Baccalaureate in the UK, held four research fellowships and was Director of Research and Evaluation at the Foundation for Young Australians.
He is exploring responses to the questions: what does the world beyond school look like for young people and what types of education and training do they need to navigate it? His research focuses on:
- The political, economic, cultural, social and technological dimensions of young people's participation - in particular their transitions to post-school life and the implications of these for educators, other service providers and policy makers. Current areas include youth transitions to employment and young people's experiences of citizenship.
- How evidence can be used more effectively to support those working to improve the life-outcomes of children and young people.
- Teacher professional learning and development in relation to the areas above.
Lucas has worked extensively in collaboration with universities, NGOs, governments and the private sector throughout his career. His work has included joint research, education and evaluation projects with industry, philanthropy and government, engaging with youth entrepreneurs and change-makers, and educators seeking to make a difference.
He has been chief investigator on projects for the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework, South Australian Government, Western Australian Government, Federal Department of Education and National Curriculum Board (ACARA).
Lucas has been invited to advise local and commonwealth governments and briefed state and federal ministers and senior policy advisers.
He has a lifelong passion for education because it is a key driver of social and economic change. Currently, Lucas is seeking to influence policy and practice by building connections and surprising alliances needed for evidence-based solutions to wicked problems.
Lucas was a chief investigator on The Q Project (Quality Use of Evidence Driving Quality Education) funded by The Paul Ramsay Foundation.
He is currently a chief investigator on: Invisible labour: Principals emotional labour in volatile times, funded by the Australian Research Council.
Follow me on X: @ProfLucasWalsh
Follow CYPEP on X: @MonashCYPEP
Follow the QLab on X: @MonashQLab
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-walsh-936179a/?originalSubdomain=au
CYPEP website: https://www.monash.edu/education/cypep
Invisible Labour website: https://www.monash.edu/education/research/projects/school-principals-emotional-labour-in-volatile-times
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):
Research area keywords
- Young people
- Young workers
- Youth Development/Leadership
- Youth Employment Opportunity Programs
- Youth identities
- Youth studies
- Youth transitions
- Workplaces and workplace change
- Democracy
- Civics and citizenship
- Education
- Education - internationalisation of the curriculum
- Education and Work
- Education and globalisation
- Education and the global workplace
- Education research
- Educational Administration and Policy
- Educational Reform
- Educational Studies--Developing Countries
- Educational Values
- Youth employment
- Educational Technology
- Evidence use
- Communities of practice
- Teacher development
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))
Australian Research Council (ARC)
27/04/23 → 26/04/26
Project: Research
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Measurement and reporting framework for the outcomes of the Victorian Youth Strategy
Walsh, L. & Gallo Cordoba, B.
15/05/23 → 17/07/23
Project: Research
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Evaluation of Social and Economic Inclusion Program Services
Wickes, R., Powell, R., Forbes-Mewett, H., Wilkinson, J., Walsh, L. & Cooke, F. L.
30/08/19 → 21/12/22
Project: Research
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Leading for social cohesion: Schools and communities facilitating ‘challenging conversations’ about social and political volatilities
Wilkinson, J. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Walsh, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Longmuir, F. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Howie, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Keddie, A. M. (Chief Investigator (CI))
8/07/19 → 31/12/21
Project: Research
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Five Top Issues for Young Voters in The 2025 Federal Election: Insights from The Australian Youth Barometer
Walsh, L., Deng, Z. & Huynh, T. B., 2025, 1st ed. Melbourne Vic Australia: Monash University. 11 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other Report › Other
Open AccessFile -
2024 Australian Youth Barometer: Understanding Young People in Australia Today
Walsh, L., Deng, Z., Huynh, T. B. & Cutler, B., Aug 2024, Melbourne Vic Australia: Monash University. 80 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other Report › Research
Open AccessFile -
About them, without them? figures of youth in Australian policy 2014–2021
Waite, C., Walsh, L., Gallo Cordoba, B., Cutler, B. & Bao Huynh, T., 2024, (Accepted/In press) In: Journal of Youth Studies. 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Adapting through transformative leadership: how pilots can build it while they fly it
Walsh, L., 2024, The Bloomsbury Handbook of Values and Ethical Change in Transformative Leadership in Higher Education. Drinkwater, M. & Waghid, Y. (eds.). 1st ed. London UK: Bloomsbury Academic, p. 215-234 20 p. (Bloomsbury Handbooks).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus) -
Anxiety, Wellbeing and Engaging Young People in Volunteering
Huynh, T. B., Deng, Z., Cutler, B. & Walsh, L., 17 Jul 2024, 1st ed. Melbourne Vic Australia: Monash University. 23 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other Report › Research
Open AccessFile
Prizes
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2023 Dean's Award for Excellence in Research Engagement and Impact
Rickinson, M. (Recipient), Walsh, L. (Recipient), Gleeson, J. (Recipient), Cutler, B. (Recipient), Hall, G. (Recipient), Marshall, P. (Recipient) & Daredia, K. (Recipient), 2 Aug 2023
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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ICSEI / JPCC Innovation Award
Rickinson, M. (Recipient), Gleeson, J. (Recipient), Cutler, B. (Recipient) & Walsh, L. (Recipient), 12 Feb 2025
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters Inquiry into Civics Education, Engagement and Participation in Australia
Thuc Bao Huynh (Contributor), Zihong Deng (Contributor), Lucas Walsh (Contributor) & Blake Cutler (Contributor)
2024Activity: External Academic Engagement › Submissions to industry or govt committees, commissions and inquiries
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The Pressures of Being Queer and Young: The Australian Youth Barometer
Blake Cutler (Contributor), Beatriz Gallo Cordoba (Contributor) & Lucas Walsh (Contributor)
4 Sept 2023 → 15 Sept 2023Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public event
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Education State Principals Conference 2022
Mark Rickinson (Invited speaker), Lucas Walsh (Invited speaker), Jo Gleeson (Invited speaker) & Blake Cutler (Invited speaker)
30 May 2022 → 31 May 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Young people choosing careers
Jo Gleeson (Keynote/plenary speaker) & Lucas Walsh (Keynote/plenary speaker)
27 Oct 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Building Pathways to Empowerment Conference on Young People's Rights to Civic Engagement in East Asia and Pacific 2021
Walsh, L. (Speaker), Waite, C. (Speaker), Esmerald, Y. (Speaker), Santos, E. J. (Speaker) & de Jesus, J. (Speaker)
2021Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
Press/Media
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Why trying to appeal to younger voters (at the expense of older ones) isn’t the answer
12/04/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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The generational shift in election ’25: A tremor or a quake?
9/04/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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The generational shift in election ’25: A tremor or a quake?
9/04/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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