DrClaire Charles

I lead units in Initial Teacher Education curriculum and pedagogy, and in the Bachelor of Arts Education Major on the role of education in humanitarian development and human rights. As a leader in teaching, I exemplify the Deakin Values: Brave, Ethical, Inclusive. These values guide me in building a positive learning environment for students that encourages and inspires students exemplify these same values. I lead with pedagogy that demonstrates courage and supports personal responsibility and accountability. My pedagogical leadership enhances the learning experience of my students. Here is what some of them have recently said about my teaching: 

“When Claire spoke about her own complicity it was a powerful act of accountability that deeply moved many of us and encouraged more vulnerability. Her work teaches us to understand love, care, and humanity on a deeper level” (eVALUate, EDU302, 2025).

"Claire is an amazing teacher. She transformed the classroom from a safe space into a brave space—one where we, as students, felt increasingly confident and courageous in sharing our own thoughts, lived experiences, and intelligence. Her teaching went beyond just content; it was an invitation to think, feel, and act differently in the world. I was genuinely satisfied with the quality of her teaching and deeply inspired by the way she facilitated learning with care, honesty, and courage" (eVALUate, EDU302, 2025)

"Claire genuinely understands what is going on in young people’s lives and makes sure we are still staying on track in all aspects of life. High, high praises” (eVALUate, ETP303, 2025)

My teaching leadership also creates a supportive and positive environment for colleagues, exercised through sustained service as unit chair in a large core embedded placement unit in the BEd (ETP303), and other units, in which I have mentored colleagues with unit content, pedagogy, assessment design and providing feedback, encouraging their voices and expertise to be heard, and providing structured support when necessary.  

Graduate Research Supervision

I am a leader in research supervision and training, having supervised eight PhD students to successful completion at Deakin, several research pathway students in the Master of Teaching program. I have chaired or acted as panel member on more than 30 confirmation milestones at Deakin and I am a respected and sought after colleague to support graduate researchers and their supervisors with these milestones. I have examined five PhD theses and numerous minor theses as part of Honours and masters programs. I currently supervise 5 doctoral students with 2 about to commence candidature on my newly funded ARC project 'Addressing gender-based violence in volatile and polarising times' (2026-2028).

I help achieve quality research and career outcomes for my doctoral students through opportunity creation arising from a social justice theory reading group and a graduate researcher collective that I lead where graduate researchers work in a team environment providing each other with academic and social support, including working toward candidature milestones and preparing for national and international conference presentations. I also support them with participating in Deakin's HDR conferences and other opportunities such as the 3 minute thesis competition, for which one of my current students, Mehdi, won the people's choice award (2026). I understand the diverse and complex needs of PhD students at different career stages.

Here is what some of my doctoral students have said about my supervision: 

“Throughout my doctoral studies, Dr. Charles provided me with rigorous methodological and theoretical mentorship that helped me to craft a critically reflexive and creative dissertation” (Kat Riley)

“The supervisor-student relationship is one of the key factors to success, and working with Claire made what could have had the potential to be a very stressful experience one that was enjoyable. At all times I felt supported by Claire, and was grateful for her expertise in my key areas” (Jodi Williams)

"Claire's support was instrumental in me finishing my thesis and establishing a successful career in academia. I could not have done it without her and her belief in me and my work. I especially appreciated the care Claire took in reading and responding thoughtfully, sensitively and generatively to my drafts" (Lucinda McKnight)