Sharon O'Mara

Sharon's research examines the tension between rights and risk in the policy and practice of school-based sexuality education. She has found institutional constraints such as risk management policies and the sex panic over youth sexuality limit students’ sexual autonomy and access to comprehensive sexuality education.

Sharon has extensive experience in the disability sector spanning systemic advocacy, policy development and submissions, and co-designing inclusive projects with young people with disability. She has worked on Federal Government funded projects and prioritises collaborative approaches that prioritises the perspective of affected communities. She is trauma-informed trained and brings a nuanced understanding of the diverse needs of young people to her research and teaching.