About
Professor Monica Thielking serves as Dean of the School of Psychology and Public Health at La Trobe University, bringing extensive experience from her prior role as Psychologists in Schools National Advisor at the Australian Psychological Society (APS). A registered psychologist, she began her career in disadvantaged school settings as a youth worker and school psychologist, later establishing Australia's first Psychologists in Schools Interest Group and authoring the foundational Handbook of Australian School Psychology.
Her research program prioritizes educational equity for marginalized youth and systemic teacher wellbeing enhancement, with documented influence on Commonwealth Royal Commissions and state inquiries regarding youth homelessness, mental health policy, and student equity frameworks. Current leadership includes two major regional Victoria initiatives: a positive psychology intervention for teacher wellbeing and a community-co-designed full-service school model addressing behavioral challenges in students.
Analysis of her 2022-2025 publications reveals dominant themes in decolonizing psychology education through Indigenous knowledge integration, trauma-informed approaches for homeless populations, and culturally responsive clinical practices. Her work consistently bridges academic research with policy implementation, evidenced by frequent media coverage and government policy references across 42+ outputs.
Thielking's strategic governance extends to non-executive directorship on the APS Board and Australian Institute of Company Directors membership, where she advances Indigenous student pathways in higher education and international academic partnerships. Her leadership philosophy centers on staff wellbeing, equity-driven access, and community-engaged research translation within La Trobe University's institutional framework.
