Dr Beata Leuner is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute for Community, Ethnicity and Policy Alternatives at Victoria University. Her recently published PhD, which received the Magna cum laude at European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, focuses on migration movements and multiculturalism in Australia, where she analysed migration policies since Federation 1901 and multicultural government policies since 1973, with particular emphasis on the Polish group. She has since carried out research work on migrant women in service industries and ethnic discrimination in Victoria, and is currently working on employment discrimination against culturally and linguistically diverse groups on a national and international level, with focus on the public sector. She is the recipient of several awards and scholarships, including support from European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), Germany for the duration of her PhD.
Dr Leuner completed her Master of Social and Cultural Sciences at European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, where her thesis explored. Immigration and Multiculturalism in Australia". She was also awarded a Masters of German Studies from the University in Wroclaw, Poland. She has an Intermediate Certificate in International Business Administration from European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), Germany.
Dr Leuner has worked in a research capacity at universities across Melbourne, including Melbourne University, Monash University and Victoria University, and also internationally at the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), Germany. She was a Project Officer for Australian Polish Services Inc. (APCS) and has taught Polish at the CAE in Melbourne, and German at Cooltura Konfliktu, Slubice, Poland. She has also assisted in translation services at Polaron Language Services, Melbourne, and was an intern in the passport-visa section of the Consulate General of Poland in Sydney.
Research Interests
- Employment Discrimination
- Racism
- Migration
- Multiculturalism
- Cultural Identity
- Cultural Diversity
- Language Maintenance
Publications
Books
(2007) Migration movements, policies and language maintenance in multicultural Australia. A study of Polish migration to Melbourne in the 1980s (Peter Lang)
Refereed Journal Articles
(2007) 'Settling down and settlement patterns. Case study: Polish migrants to Melbourne in the 1980s' Polish Sociological Review, Vol.16, No 4, pp. 417-429.
Other Publications
(2008) Bertone, S. & Leuner, B. 'Immigrant & refugee women in the service industries' Working well newsletter Multicultural Centre for Women's Health. pp. 8-13.
(2007) 'Language maintenance in a new culture. Case study: Polish migrants in Melbourne in the 1980s' Glottodidactica, Vol. XXXIII, pp. 147-160.
Awards and Recognition
- Masters Exchange student in Australia - one of the four places for the entire University for Master's Degree (Topic - Australian Immigration)
- Scholarship for the duration of PhD research in Australia for three years, in 2002
- Grant to attend and give a speech at Summer Institute in Miami, in 2002 on 'Transnationalism, International Migration, Race, Ethnocentrism and the State'.
- Grant to participate in a conference at the Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations in Coventry (UK), in 2002 on 'Citizenship and Discrimination in Europe'.
- Award from the Polish Technical and Professional Organisation in Melbourne, in 2006
Community Involvement
- Polish Technical and Professional Association Inc., Melbourne (2006-)
- Austrailan-Polish Community Services Inc. (APCS), Melbourne (Oct 2004-Mar 2007)
Contact Details
Email Beata Leuner
Ph: +61 (0) 3 9919 5478
Fx: +61 (0) 3 9919 5479
Location: ICEPA
Postal Address: PO BOX 14428, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 8001
