Lizzie Knight

Lizzie Knight is an Honorary Fellow at Victoria University's Mitchell Institute, focusing on equity in tertiary education, vocational education reform, and disability rights. She also holds roles as Research Advisor at the Career Industry Council of Australia and Executive Member of AVETRA. Her work bridges policy, practice, and advocacy to enhance access and inclusion in education systems.

Education

• PhD in Education, Monash University (2018)
• Master of Arts (Higher & Professional Education), University of London (2006)
• Bachelor of Arts (1st Class Honours), Middlesex University (2004)

Research Interests Lizzie’s research emphasizes equitable access to higher and vocational education, employability of graduates, and the integration of VET and higher education systems. She advocates for disability inclusion in educational policies and supports care-experienced students through institutional frameworks. Her edited book Equity and Access to High Skills through Higher Vocational Education (2022) highlights her commitment to policy-driven equity.

Awards

• Australian Postgraduate Award (2014)
• Monash Graduate Research Equity Scholarship (2015)
• Vice Chancellor's Award for Diversity and Inclusion (2013)

Advising & Grants Lizzie supervises PhD students at VU and has led research projects on topics such as supporting students with disabilities in VET, skills strategies for Melbourne's West, and VET-higher education integration. She secured funding from organizations like the Victorian Higher Education Strategic Investment Fund and National Centre for Vocational Education Research.

Labs/Teams Affiliated with the Mitchell Institute, she collaborates on initiatives addressing education equity and regional workforce development.