Sarah Redshaw

Sarah Redshaw is a Senior Research Fellow in Education at Charles Sturt University's School of Education, Bathurst campus. With over 20 years of research experience, she has held positions including ARC postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Western Sydney, senior researcher at the Kids Research Institute, Children's Hospital at Westmead, and Research Fellow in sociology at Macquarie University. Her extensive background includes social research on community connections and resilience with Dr. Valerie Ingham at Charles Sturt University and Public Health research at the University of Technology Sydney.

Dr. Redshaw earned her BA (Hons) and MA (Hons) from Macquarie University, a PhD from Western Sydney University, and a Grad Cert in Health Services Research from the University of Wollongong. Her academic journey reflects her interdisciplinary approach spanning sociology, education, and community health.

Her research interests encompass social and cultural practices, with particular expertise in inclusion in higher education, LGBTQIA+ experiences in academia, STEM education in regional Australia, and community resilience. Her influential book In the Company of Cars: Driving as a Social and Cultural Practice (Ashgate, 2008) established her reputation in cultural sociology. Recent work focuses on educational equity, rural education challenges, and intersectional approaches to understanding social phenomena in non-metropolitan contexts. Dr. Redshaw employs community-engaged methodologies that bridge theoretical frameworks with practical applications.

Dr. Redshaw's recent publications reveal consistent engagement with issues of diversity, inclusion, and educational access. Her work demonstrates particular strength in examining how intersectional identities (gender, sexuality, rurality) shape educational experiences and outcomes. She has developed a distinctive approach to studying STEM education beyond metropolitan centers, highlighting unique challenges and opportunities in regional contexts.

• 1 prize for research contributions

As a Senior Research Fellow since 2022, Dr. Redshaw leads and collaborates on numerous research projects including the James Martin Institute-funded STEM Education Beyond the Cities initiative with A/Prof Lena Danaia and Dr. James Deehan. She works extensively with the Curriculum and Pedagogy Sturt Scheme team on inclusion in higher education research. Her collaborative network spans disciplines and institutions, demonstrating strong partnerships with researchers across education, social work, and health sciences.

Dr. Redshaw is an active member of the Australian Sociological Association (2011-present) and contributes to the Social Equality Intersectionality & Inclusion Research Group at Charles Sturt University. Her research approach emphasizes community engagement and practical applications, working closely with the Department of Education on projects like the Rural Learning Exchange evaluation. She maintains strong connections with both academic and community partners to address complex educational and social challenges in regional Australia.