Dawn Joseph

Dawn Joseph is a Professor in the School of Education at Deakin University's Faculty of Arts and Education. She specializes in music education, multicultural pedagogy, and community music, with a focus on African music and cultural diversity. Her work emphasizes decolonizing curricula, intercultural exchange, and integrating non-Western music into teacher training programs.

Holding a PhD from the University of Pretoria, Dawn has held academic roles at Deakin since 2001, progressing from Associate Lecturer to her current professorship. She has led over 50 HDR examinations globally and supervised numerous PhD/MEd students. Her service roles include membership in the Faculty Board, Human Ethics Advisory Group, and State Government music education committees.

Her research explores music's role in aging, spirituality, and community cohesion, with over 200 publications. Awards include the 2023 Fellowship of the Australian Society for Music Education and Honorary Life Membership in the Pan African Society for Musical Arts Education. She serves on editorial boards for journals like the International Journal of Music Education and Muziki.

Grants include a 2021 study on faith communities during the pandemic and a 2014 project improving international student work placements. Teaching interests focus on innovative pedagogies linking research and practice, fostering cultural sensitivity, and empowering pre-service teachers to integrate music across disciplines.