Sandra Phillips

(She/Her)

9

Articles

2

Comments

Sandra Phillips holds concurrent appointments in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne as Associate Dean Indigenous in the Office of the Dean and Professor of Publishing and Communications in the School of Culture and Communication. An Aboriginal woman from Queensland, Sandra is Wakka Wakka and Gooreng Gooreng. Sandra's research into Indigenous storytelling, writing, and publishing is interdisciplinary and strengths-based. Sandra is Chief Investigator on Community Publishing in Regional Australia (ARC LP210300666), Reading climate: Indigenous literatures, subject English and Sustainability (ARC LP220200724), and Casting the Net for What Matters: The ALIVE National Consortium for Equitable WellBeing and Mental Health Systems Transformation (MRFF2036872). An industry-trained book editor, Sandra worked at Magabala Books, UQP, and Aboriginal Studies Press before going on to earn a Creative Industries PhD using innovative reader-centred methodology. Sandra has also held significant leadership roles across Australian arts and culture including Judge of black&write! National Indigenous Writing and Editing Project (2025, 2011, 2010), Literature Industry Advisor with Creative Australia (2025, 2024), past appointed member of the Library Board of Queensland governing the State Library of Queensland, past twice-elected chairperson of the First Nations Australia Writers Network (FNAWN), and past deputy chair of the former Australia Council for Arts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board.

Experience

  • 2024–present
    Associate Dean and Professor, University of Melbourne
  • 2023–present
    Associate Dean and Associate Professor , Western Sydney University
  • 2020–2022
    Associate Dean (Indigenous Engagement), UQ
  • 2018–2020
    Coordinator Indigenous HDR, University of Technology Sydney
  • 2013–2018
    Lecturer, QUT Creative Industries
  • 2012–2013
    Lecturer, University of the Sunshine Coast

Education

  • 2012 
    QUT, Doctor of Philosophy
  • 1988 
    UQ, Bachelor of Arts

Grants and Contracts

  • 2025
    Casting the Net for What Matters: The ALIVE National Consortium for Equitable WellBeing and Mental Health Systems Transformation
    Role:
    Chief Investigator
    Funding Source:
    National Health and Medical Research Council
  • 2023
    Reading climate: Indigenous literatures, school English and Sustainability
    Role:
    Chief Investigator
    Funding Source:
    Australian Research Council
  • 2022
    Community Publishing in Regional Australia
    Role:
    Chief Investigator
    Funding Source:
    Australian Research Council

Professional Memberships

  • First Nations Australia Writers Network (FNAWN)
  • Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

Contact Sandra for

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