Judith Howard

Judith Howard is an Associate Professor at Queensland University of Technology's Faculty of Creative Industries, Education & Social Justice, School of Education. With an extensive background in Queensland government schooling, she has served as a teacher, school counsellor, and student behavior specialist, holding regional and state leadership positions within the Queensland Education Department. Her work focuses on addressing the needs of young learners affected by complex trauma through a neuroscience-informed approach.

• PhD from Queensland University of Technology
• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2020)
• Member of QUT Research Centre for Child & Family Studies
• Member of Queensland College of Teachers
• Member of International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
• Member of Australia and New Zealand Mental Health Association

Professor Howard's research centers on trauma-aware education, exploring how complex childhood trauma impacts student behavior and learning. She promotes neuroscience-informed approaches to help educators understand and respond to students affected by trauma. Her work bridges theory and practice, developing practical frameworks for schools to implement trauma-aware practices across educational settings from early childhood through to higher education.

Her scholarly contributions demonstrate a clear trajectory toward system-wide implementation of trauma-aware education. Through her publications, she has established foundational frameworks, developed national guidelines, and addressed specific contexts including remote education, early childhood settings, and higher education environments. Howard's work increasingly focuses on workforce development and creating sustainable trauma-informed education systems across Australia.

• Australian Council for Education Leaders (ACEL) National Award for Education Leadership (2024)
• QUT David Gardiner Teacher of the Year Award (2024)
• Australian Award for University Teaching: Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2022)
• QUT Vice Chancellor's Award for Teaching and Research Excellence (2019)
• Queensland University of Technology Medal for Academic Excellence (1996)

Professor Howard actively supervises multiple PhD students researching trauma-informed education policy and practice, with a particular focus on alternative education sites across Australia. She oversees the Graduate Certificate and Master of Education in Trauma-Aware Education programs at QUT, which have expanded significantly through online delivery to reach thousands of educators nationally and internationally. Her research has secured substantial funding for developing national guidelines and implementing trauma-aware education frameworks across Australian educational systems.

As founder and principal organizer of the biennial Trauma-Aware Education Conference (held in 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2024), Professor Howard has created a vital platform for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to share knowledge and advance trauma-aware practices in education. Her leadership extends to developing the 'Eucalypt Way,' a comprehensive framework for trauma-informed education in the Australian context.