معرفی
Sarah Ailwood is an Associate Professor in the School of Law at the University of Wollongong, where she also serves as LLB Program Director. She has been with the university since at least 2008 when she completed her PhD there, and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2020 before becoming an Associate Professor.
Dr. Ailwood completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong in 2008, establishing her academic foundation at the same institution where she now teaches and conducts research.
Sarah Ailwood's research primarily focuses on the intersection of law, gender, and social justice. Her work critically examines how legal frameworks respond to issues of sexual harassment and violence against women. She is particularly interested in how women's voices are heard (or silenced) within legal processes and law reform initiatives. A significant portion of her recent scholarship analyzes the #MeToo movement's impact on defamation law and sexual harassment legislation. She also maintains research interests in disability law, having published on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) early in her career. Her research demonstrates how legal systems can both protect and silence vulnerable populations, particularly women reporting workplace harassment.
Dr. Ailwood's publications reveal consistent thematic development across her career. While her early work focused on disability law and insurance schemes, her more recent scholarship has concentrated on gender justice issues. Her 2025 article examines how non-disclosure agreements silence workplace harassment victims, while her 2024 publication documents how defamation law is weaponized against women reporting sexual violence. These works demonstrate her commitment to identifying systemic legal barriers that prevent victim-survivors from seeking justice.
As co-Managing Editor of the Australian Feminist Law Journal, Dr. Ailwood plays a significant role in shaping feminist legal scholarship in Australia. Her work has influenced policy discussions around workplace sexual harassment and the need for legal reforms to protect victim-survivors. She has been actively engaged with government bodies including the Australian Human Rights Commission, contributing her expertise to national conversations about legal reform in gender-related issues.
Dr. Ailwood maintains strong connections with advocacy groups including Working Women's Centres and participates in international networks addressing gender and law issues across Australia, Ireland, and Northern Ireland through the Doing Feminist Legal Work Network. She is an active contributor to public discourse through media engagements, speaking requests, and academic collaborations, demonstrating her commitment to translating academic research into practical legal and policy reforms.
