معرفی
Dr. Melissa Tham is a Research Fellow at Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute, focusing on education policy, equity, and early childhood development. She holds a PhD and dual bachelor’s degree (BSci/BEd) from Monash University. Her work spans youth research, school choice dynamics, enrolment equity, and childcare accessibility, employing mixed-methods and qualitative approaches.
Key research interests include addressing inequities in education systems, particularly through policy analysis and place-based interventions. Her writings critically examine school selectivity’s impact on meritocracy and socioeconomic advantage, as well as childcare deserts and their implications for families.
Dr. Tham contributes to public discourse via media outlets like The Conversation, discussing topics such as childcare affordability and selective school outcomes. She co-supervises one PhD candidate and collaborates with organizations on commissioned reports, including an international childcare accessibility study and a Melbourne West skills strategy.
Professional affiliations include the Australian Association for Research in Education. Her work bridges academic research with practical policy recommendations to enhance educational equity and workforce readiness in diverse communities.
