Meegan Brown

Dr Meegan Brown is a Senior Lecturer and Study Area Co-ordinator of the Master of Education School Guidance and Counselling at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), within the Faculty of Creative Industries, Education & Social Justice, School of Education. An Indigenous academic with AFHEA recognition, she brings over 20 years of professional experience from diverse educational settings including early childhood, primary and secondary teaching, small school principalship, and Guidance Officer roles in North West Queensland.

Dr Brown earned her Doctor of Philosophy from Queensland University of Technology and a Master of Education with a Major in Guidance & Counselling from the University of Southern Qld. Her extensive practical background directly informs her academic work and teaching approach at QUT.

Dr Brown's research focuses on trauma-aware schooling, rural and remote education, educators' experiences working with students affected by trauma, and School Guidance and Counselling practices. Her work examines how educational professionals understand and implement trauma-informed approaches, particularly in challenging rural and remote contexts where resources may be limited. She investigates the intersection of trauma, education, and mental health, with particular attention to how school counselors can effectively lead and implement trauma-informed practices. Her scholarship emphasizes practical application, aiming to bridge research and practice to improve outcomes for vulnerable students.

Analysis of Dr Brown's recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a strong concentration on trauma-informed education systems, with particular emphasis on school counselors' roles, teacher experiences in remote settings, and national policy development. Her work consistently addresses practical implementation challenges while contributing to theoretical frameworks for trauma-aware schooling. The publications demonstrate growing influence in national education policy discussions, with multiple collaborative works contributing to national guidelines and declarations for trauma-informed education in Australia.

• Executive Dean's Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching - Faculty of Education (2020)

As Study Area Co-ordinator for the Master of Education School Guidance and Counselling program, Dr Brown oversees curriculum development and student supervision in this specialized field. Her professional memberships include the Australian Guidance and Counselling Association, Queensland Guidance and Counselling Association, Queensland Association of State School Principals, Australian Association for Research in Education, Society for the Provision of Education in Rural Australia, Queensland College of Teachers, and Early Childhood Australia. These affiliations demonstrate her commitment to both research and professional practice in educational counseling and trauma-informed approaches.

Dr Brown is an active member of QUT's Centre for Child and Family Studies, where she contributes to research projects including 'How do rural and remote primary school teachers experience their work with children living with the effects of complex childhood trauma?' and 'Trauma-informed pedagogical practice at QUT: Considerations for the education and support of students living with adversity, the impacts of trauma, and/or mental health concerns.' Her work bridges academic research with practical application in educational settings across Australia.