Sally Baker

Dr. Sally Baker is an Associate Professor in Migration and Education at the Australian National University (ANU), affiliated with POLIS: The Centre for Social Policy Research and The Migration Hub. Her research focuses on educational equity, refugee education, and academic literacy, particularly for students from marginalized backgrounds. She holds a PhD and has pioneered initiatives like the Australian Refugee Education Special Interest Group (www.refugee-education.org).

Her work explores systemic barriers faced by migrant and refugee students, including issues of academic oracy, transition challenges, and employability. Key projects include developing trauma-informed university supports and culturally responsive employability training for CALM students. She also investigates ethics in research practices, especially in fragile contexts.

Her recent projects include a 2024 initiative to support inclusive curricula and a 2025 evaluation of Country University Centres. She has contributed to policy debates on sanctuary initiatives and global migration frameworks, emphasizing the need for institutional care and ethical responsibility.

• Education: PhD in Education

Baker’s publications analyze YouTube’s role in academic writing instruction, hyflex teaching models post-pandemic, and the weaponization of language policies. She critiques neoliberal settlement frameworks while advocating for holistic support systems that recognize refugees’ skills and agency.

Her work highlights intersectional barriers faced by women asylum seekers and explores how universities can disrupt 'stuck places' that hinder student transitions. Current research emphasizes long-term solutions for refugee integration through education and policy reform.