معرفی
Associate Professor Marnee Shay is a Principal Research Fellow and Deputy Head of School in the School of Education at The University of Queensland. An Aboriginal woman with maternal family connections to the Ngen'giwumirri language group (Daly River, Northern Territory), she was born in Brisbane and maintains strong connections to Indigenous communities in South East Queensland. Dr. Shay is an experienced and qualified secondary teacher with extensive research expertise in Indigenous education, policy studies, flexi schooling, and youth studies.
Her educational background includes a Doctor of Philosophy from Queensland University of Technology (2017), a Masters (Research) of Education from the University of the Sunshine Coast, a Postgraduate Diploma from the University of the Sunshine Coast, and a Bachelor of Indigenous Studies from Southern Cross University.
Associate Professor Shay's research focuses on strengths-based approaches in Indigenous education, advocating for Indigenous-based evidence to inform policy futures. Her work spans Indigenous education policies, flexi schooling models, youth studies, and Indigenous research ethics and methodologies. She emphasizes cultural identity, wellbeing, and excellence in Indigenous education, challenging deficit discourses and promoting approaches that honor Indigenous knowledge systems and community expertise. Her research demonstrates how identity building serves as a pathway to children and young people's wellbeing in schools, offering alternatives to traditional resilience frameworks.
Her recent publications reveal a strong thematic focus on strengths-based approaches in Indigenous education research and practice. The 2025 Routledge publication 'Strengths-Based Approaches in Indigenous Education Research and Practice' (co-edited with Grace Sarra) represents a significant contribution to the field. Her research increasingly emphasizes co-design methodologies, local wisdom, and theoretical frameworks that center Indigenous knowledge production. Her work bridges academic research with practical applications in schools, particularly through examining flexi schooling models and their impact on student engagement.
- National Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) award (2020)
- Queensland branch ACEL Excellence in Educational Leadership Award (2020)
- UQ Foundation for Research Excellence Award (2021)
- Education Publishing Awards Australia for 'The Tertiary/VET Teaching and Learning Resource' category (2021)
Associate Professor Shay actively supervises PhD and Master's students, though she is currently not available for new supervision. Her current grants include major projects such as 'Keeping prep-aged students engaged at school' (2024-2025), the ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Futures (2023-2030), and 'Equity and Excellence: Behaviour review tools for Queensland State Schools' (2023-2027). She serves on multiple government and school boards, including the Queensland Department of Education Ministerial Advisory Committee for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education, demonstrating the policy impact of her research.
As Deputy Head of School and Principal Research Fellow, Associate Professor Shay plays a significant leadership role within the Centre for Policy Futures at UQ. Her research program emphasizes community partnership and co-design, working closely with Indigenous communities to develop educational approaches that honor cultural identity and promote excellence. Her work has substantially impacted policy and practice through numerous policy submissions, non-traditional research outputs like podcasts, and school reviews that translate academic research into practical applications.
