James Beaufils

Dr. James Beaufils is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), affiliated with the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research and the Faculty of Law. He is a Gundungurra man from the Pejar area and Kanak from New Caledonia. His research focuses on child protection, criminology, justice systems, and Indigenous education, with a particular emphasis on First Nations experiences in out-of-home care and criminal justice reform. He holds a PhD in Law from UTS, an MSc in Child Development from the University of Oxford, and multiple degrees in Criminology and Education from the University of Sydney.

Dr. Beaufils has held roles as a parole officer, educator, and social worker, providing him with firsthand insights into systemic issues faced by First Nations communities. His work critiques colonial policies in child protection and advocates for self-determination through models like the Minintitja Care Model. He has contributed to major reports such as the Family Matters Report 2022 and collaborates with government and NGOs on projects addressing post-release support for parolees and decolonizing child welfare systems.

• Educations:
  • PhD in Law, UTS (2018–2023)
  • MSc in Child Development, University of Oxford (2016–2017)
  • Masters of Criminology, University of Sydney (2015–2016)
  • BA/BEd in English, Geography, and Aboriginal Studies, University of Sydney (2009–2014)

His research spans decolonization, biopolitics, and neoliberalism in legal systems, with a focus on child protection and rehabilitation. He has secured grants for projects like the Deaths of Aboriginal people in Corrective Services NSW custody: Qualitative Review and the Co-designing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner for the ACT. Awards include the Charlie Perkins and Chevening Scholarships.

Dr. Beaufils advises on policy reforms to reduce Indigenous overrepresentation in child protection and criminal justice systems. His work emphasizes cultural continuity and community-driven solutions, challenging systemic inequities through research and advocacy.