About CREEW
The Centre for Research in Education, Equity and Work (CREEW) was formed in 1995 through amalgamation of existing research groups as a means of advancing research into issues at the interface between education, work and the broader civil society. Members of CREEW work collaboratively to research these issues so as to advance knowledge and develop new materials, products, processes and services to enhance education and learning as a means of fostering a society characterised by social justice and equity.
Key research areas
CREEW aims to exercise a national leadership role in carrying out quality research and development projects at the interfaces between education, work and community, with a strong underpinning focus on social justice and equity. The past ten years have seen the emergence of four key programs of research within the Centre.
Professional development
- Practicum
- Teacher development
- School/university partnerships
- Needs analyses
- Professional development in VET
Educational policy analysis/critique
- The public/private debate
- National curriculum agendas (e.g. civics education)
- VET policy
- Lifelong education
Learning/teaching/curriculum
- Workplace learning
- Learner characteristics (e.g. resilience, diversity, identity)
- Learning/teaching methodologies
- Notions of knowledge & inquiry
- Assessment & evaluation
- Curriculum theory & practice
- Entry level training
Workplace change/innovation
- Nature of work (e.g. teachers)
- Roles of workplace trainers
- School & workplace restructuring
- Workplace cultures
Each of these programs is supported by teams of researchers whose interests encompass the full range of educational provision (primary, secondary, post-secondary and workplace) in both formal and informal settings. The development of these research programs has mirrored movements within the education industry itself, where many traditional boundaries (such as those separating secondary schooling from education and training for work) have been lessened in attempts to create a seamless system that encourages and values learning across all stages of the life cycle. Clustering research under these four key programs has enabled the growth of a coherence and synergy that enables CREEW to anticipate and respond to the emerging needs of the education industry and its clients.
CREEW has become one of the countrys leading research centres, especially in workplace learning, professional development in VET and school sectors, and school-university relationships. It has a strong track record of research grants, publications and partnerships in education and training within its charter.
Over the past four years, CREEW has been contributing to the developing activities of the Hawke Research Institute. It now forms one of the constituent concentrations within that Institute, which was officially launched on 9 June 2005. Infrastructural funding to CREEW ceased during 2006. 2007 has therefore been a transitional period as CREEW operates in a new environment.
Aims
CREEW aims to exercise a national leadership role in carrying out quality research and consultancy at the interface between education, work and community, with a strong underpinning focus on social justice and equity. It aims to achieve this by:
- Contributing to the development of policy and best practice through its quality research and consultancy;
- Emphasising collaboration with end-users of research and the application of knowledge through building professional partnerships with industries, governments, educational agencies and workplaces; and
- Contributing to the growing research culture within the University
through its provision of quality research training for postgraduate students
and continuing support for staff in their research endeavours.
Research education - strategic plan powerpoint
Management
The activities of CREEW are coordinated by a Management Committee, which meets on a monthly basis. The CREEW Management Committee is comprised of the following members:
- Roger Harris
- Bruce Johnson
- Ann Lawless (Student Representative)
- Judy Peters
- Alan Reid
- Michele Simons
- Tom Stehlik
- Peter Willis
Activity reports
CREEW produces an annual report which documents all the activities and achievements of members during the previous year.
2007 Activity Report (PDF 204kb)
2006 Activity Report (PDF 183kb)
2005 Activity Report (PDF 261kb)
2004 Activity Report (PDF 172kb)