Victoria Rawlings – The Conversation

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August 27, 2026

Wear It Purple Day is about more than a T‑shirt. Here’s how schools can really include gender and sexuality diverse youth

Jacqueline Ullman, Western Sydney University; Emily Gray, Monash University, and Victoria Rawlings, University of Sydney

As many kids and teachers go to school today in purple clothes, we know too many young people still feel isolated and unsupported.

AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

August 18, 2023

‘Wouldn’t want to be on any other team’: the queer joy of watching the Matildas at the ‘outest’ World Cup ever

Lee Wallace, University of Sydney and Victoria Rawlings, University of Sydney

Like the rest of Australia, we have been following the world cup with growing emotional intensity. From the group chat to TikTok, the online alt-commentary on the game has been a joy.

Moms and dads of queer and trans teens also have parental rights. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter McCabe

June 21, 2022

‘Parental rights’ lobby puts trans and queer kids at risk

Jen Gilbert, York University, Canada and Victoria Rawlings, University of Sydney

Conservative rhetoric about ‘parent rights’ that marginalizes LGBTQ+ positive sex education erases the complexity of parent identities and denies possibilities for richer school experiences.

Warlpiri person showing a honey ant after hunting. shutterstock

July 26, 2021

For too long, research was done on First Nations peoples, not with them. Universities can change this

Victoria Rawlings, University of Sydney; James L. Flexner, University of Sydney, and Lynette Riley, University of Sydney

Historically, research has been imposed upon Indigenous people, instead of conducted with them. This is an exploration of more collaborative ways to research when working with Indigenous communities.

People have different views when it comes to school uniforms. from shutterstock.com

August 15, 2019

Should school uniforms be compulsory? We asked five experts

Sasha Petrova, The Conversation

We asked five experts from various fields whether school uniforms should be compulsory. Four out of five said no.

Books are a good starting place to make schools more inviting places for queer students. www.shutterstock.com

February 15, 2019

Pages and prejudice: how queer texts could fight homophobia in Australian schools

Annamarie Jagose, University of Sydney; Lee Wallace, University of Sydney, and Victoria Rawlings, University of Sydney

Including queer texts in the English curriculum has the potential to affect real social change, including in understanding and confronting inequalities.

Changes to stringent school uniform rules may help schools on the pathway to acceptance of sexuality and gender fluidity. Rawpixel/shutterstock.com

May 10, 2018

School uniforms: what Australian schools can do to promote acceptance of gender diversity

Victoria Rawlings, University of Sydney and Debra Hayes, University of Sydney

Despite the “Yes” vote, Australia has a long way to go in accepting sexuality and gender fluidity, especially in schools. Changing strict uniform rules is a small step in the right direction.

The Crossroads program teaches children that gender is neither fixed nor binary. from www.shutterstock.com

September 16, 2016

Crossroads program: should we teach children that gender identity is fluid? Here’s what the research says

Victoria Rawlings, University of Sydney

The Crossroads program provides students with meaningful and accurate information about gender diversity in order to challenge homophobic and transphobic discrimination and violence.

Many claim the Safe Schools program is essential for reducing homophobia and transphobia in school. from www.shutterstock.com

March 18, 2016

Safe Schools review findings: experts respond

David Rhodes, Edith Cowan University; Lucy Nicholas, Swinburne University of Technology; Timothy W. Jones, La Trobe University, and Victoria Rawlings, University of Sydney

After a three-week debacle, the findings of the review into the Safe Schools Coalition program are out. Here’s what academic experts make of the review.

About 80% of homophobic and transphobic incidents that young people experience take place in schools. from www.shutterstock.com

March 3, 2016

Bullying linked to gender and sexuality often goes unchecked in schools

Victoria Rawlings, University of Sydney

About 80% of students experience some kind of gender-based bullying in their primary and high school years. But research shows that teachers often fail to intervene or are not equipped to deal with it.

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