Kevin F. McGrath

(He/Him)

3

Articles

1

Comment

Dr. Kevin F. McGrath is a Lecturer and education specialist at the Australian Catholic University in Sydney, Australia. A former primary school teacher, his research focuses on the importance of student-teacher relationships and gender diversity in the teaching profession. His work has been widely cited, including by UNESCO and the OECD, influencing global discussions on workforce equity, teacher shortages, and inclusive education.

Dr. McGrath earned his PhD in Education from Macquarie University in 2017, where he received an Excellence in Higher Degree Research award and a Vice-Chancellor’s Commendation, with his dissertation ranked in the top 5% of all Higher Degree Research. He previously completed a Bachelor of Education with First Class Honours at the University of Technology Sydney, receiving the University Medal for outstanding academic achievement.

With experience spanning primary education, public policy, and healthcare, Dr. McGrath brings a multidisciplinary perspective to his work. He has taught over 980 primary school students and more than 3,000 teacher education students, equipping future educators with evidence-based strategies for fostering positive classroom relationships. As a Senior Adviser for the Australian Federal Government, he contributed to shaping policies on workplace gender equality and workforce diversity. Additionally, his work in the healthcare sector involved evaluating State-wide trauma support programs and developing professional development training for teachers on recognising and responding to trauma in classrooms.

Dr. McGrath has published across multiple fields including education, sociology, psychology, and gender studies. His research includes quantitative and qualitative studies, theoretical frameworks, and literature reviews. He has collaborated with researchers in Australia, South Africa, and Ireland, contributing to global best practices in education.

His ongoing research continues to shape discussions on teacher workforce diversity, relational pedagogy, and equity in education.

Education

  • 2017 
    Macquarie University, PhD
  • 2010 
    UTS, B.Ed (Hons1)

Publications

  • 2024
    Nurturing close student–teacher relationships, Inclusive education for the 21st century: Theory, policy, and practice
  • 2022
    Teacher Gender Diversity: Uncovering a Hidden Curriculum of Masculinities, Diversifying the Teaching Profession
  • 2021
    Masculinity and risk: Is teaching “too risky” for men in Australia?, Men and Masculinities
  • 2020
    The plight of the male teacher: An interdisciplinary and multileveled theoretical framework for researching a shortage of male teachers, The Journal of Men's Studies
  • 2020
    When female leaders outnumber men: The decline of male school principals in Australia, Journal of Gender Studies
  • 2019
    Attributions and emotional competence: Why some teachers experience close relationships with disruptive students (and others don’t), Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice
  • 2017
    Are male teachers headed for extinction? The 50-year decline of male teachers in Australia, Economics of Education Review
  • 2017
    Elementary teachers' emotional and relational expressions when speaking about disruptive and well behaved students, Teaching and Teacher Education
  • 2017
    Adding colour to conflict: Disruptive students’ drawings of themselves with their teachers, The Elementary School Journal
  • 2015
    Who, when, why and to what end? Students at risk of negative student-teacher relationships and their outcomes, Educational Research Review
  • 2013
    More male primary-school teachers? Social benefits for boys and girls, Gender and Education

Professional Memberships

  • Australian Men's Health Forum
  • Gender and Education Association
  • Cognitive Science Society
  • Integrated Behavioral Health Research Institute

Contact Kevin for

  • General
  • Media request
  • Speaking request
  • Consulting / Advising
  • Research collaboration
  • Research supervision