Dr Melinda Hildebrandt is a Policy Fellow with expertise in tertiary education policy. Her work focuses on improving equity, access and effectiveness in education.

Dr Hildebrandt has contributed to major national policy submissions, briefs and research outputs and is a regular commentator in national media on education policy issues.

She has a longstanding interest in access and equity in education, informed by a strong commitment to disability advocacy.

Portfolios

Areas of expertise

  • Education policy
  • Tertiary education access and pathways
  • International students
  • Higher education student debt
  • ATAR and tertiary admissions
  • Equity and inclusion in education
  • School-to-university transitions
  • Research translation and policy communication
  • Disability and inclusive education policy

Contact details

[email protected]

Publications

Books

Hildebrandt, Melinda. (2017). Amelia & me : on deafness, autism, and parenting by the seat of my pants. Merlynston VIC: Agincourt Publishing.

Refereed book chapter

Brett, Matt, George, Kelly, Knight, Elizabeth and Hildebrandt, Melinda (2024) University student engagement and disability. In: Research Handbook on Student Engagement in Higher Education. Stone, C and O’Shea, S, eds. Elgar Handbooks in Education. Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 55-71.

Refereed journal article

Tangalakis, Kathy, Hoang, Cuong Huu, Knight, Elizabeth, Hurley, Peter, Jackson, Jennifer and Hildebrandt, Melinda (2024) Differentiation through innovation in the contemporary higher education environment: The case of the ‘Victoria University Block Model®’. Innovations in Education and Teaching International.

Monographs

Pilcher, Sarah, Walstab, Anne, Hildebrandt, Melinda, Brisbane, Rachel, Ta, Binh and Van Dyke, Nina (2025) Assessing the ATAR Exploring the use of the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). Project Report. Mitchell Institute, Melbourne, Australia.

Molina, Andres, Doecke, Esther and Hildebrandt, Melinda (2025) Achieving Better and Fairer Schools: The case for full-service school models in Australia. Project Report. Mitchell Institute, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria.

Hurley, P, Hildebrandt, M. (2025), The changing value of a degree: Rebalancing Australia’s tertiary pathways, Policy Brief, Mitchell Institute, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria.

Hildebrandt, M., Hurley, P., & Pilcher, S. (2025). Election 2025 Education Policy Brief: Tertiary Education. Election Brief, Mitchell Institute, Victoria University.

Tham, Melissa, Hildebrandt, Melinda, Hurley, Peter and Pilcher, Sarah (2025) Election 2025 Education Policy Brief: Early Childhood Education & Care. Election Brief. Mitchell Institute, Melbourne, Australia.

Appearances in the media

Towell, N. (2025, December 8). Call to break ATAR ‘stranglehold’ on the imagination. The Age.

Duffy, C. (2025, April 16). Graduates in ‘debt vortex’ as HECS front and centre for first time in an election. ABC News.

Hare, J. (2024, August 27). New overseas students to be capped at 270,000. The Australian Financial Review.

Hildebrandt, M. & Hurley, P. (2024) How is ‘Gonski-style’ needs-based funding going to work for universities? The Conversation.

Hildebrandt, M. & Hurley, P. (2023) The Universities Accord will plan for the next 30 years: what big issues must it address? The Conversation.