Susan Baidawi is an Associate Professor, Director of Higher Degrees by Research, and Co-Director of the Monash Criminal Justice Research Consortium (CJRC) in the Department of Social Work at Monash University. She has over 16 years' research experience in child and family welfare and criminal justice, and has authored over 80 peer reviewed journal articles, book chapters and reports in these fields. Her research focuses on young people with complex support needs involved in the criminal justice system, including 'crossover' children with dual involvement in child protection and youth justice systems, 10-13 year old children charged with offending, responding to adolescent family violence, and place-based approaches for addressing youth offending.

A/Prof Baidawi’s research is characterised by its high level academic, policy and practice impact, which is acknowledged by several awards including a 2024 Victorian Young Tall Poppy Award from the Australian Institute of Policy & Science, and the 2025 Monash University Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research Engagement & Impact. She has led numerous Commonwealth-funded studies including an Australian Research Council Discovery Project and prestigious Discovery Early Career Research Award (DECRA) Fellowship, an Australian Institute of Criminology Research Grant, and Commonwealth Disability Royal Commission-funded research.

Experience

  • 2024–present
    Associate Professor, Monash University
  • 2021–2024
    Senior Lecturer, Monash University
  • 2019–2021
    ARC DECRA Senior Research Fellow, Monash University
  • 2017–2018
    Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Monash University
  • 2010–2016
    Senior Research Officer, Monash University

Education

  • 2017 
    Monash University, PhD
  • 2010 
    Monash University, Bachelor of Social Work (Hons)
  • 2002 
    Monash University, Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons)

Honours

2024 Victorian Young Tall Poppy Award (Australian Institute of Policy & Science), 2025 Monash University Vice-Chancellor's Award for Research Engagement and Impact, 2022 Monash University Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research by an Early Career Researcher

Contact Susan for

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