Section: Overview
Overview
Key publications
Research funding
Supervising & teaching
Career

Key details

Areas of expertise

  • Gender studies
  • Labour history
  • Environmental Science
  • Public Advocacy and Action
  • Social change

Available to supervise research students

Available for media queries

About Jeannie Rea

Associate Professor Jeannie Rea is currently Head of Community Programs in the College of Arts, Business, Law, Education and IT and Chair, Quality Teaching and Learning Committee of Academic Board at Victoria University, Melbourne. Her current teaching is principally in community development focussing upon advocacy and action for progressive social change and environmental justice.

Recently Associate Professor Rea undertook the development of a Roadmap for TAFE South Australia. The comprehensive report was released in full by the South Australian Government in early August 2023 adopting the 6 Goals. The Roadmap frames the development of the TAFESA Strategic Plan for the next decade.

Associate Professor Rea has been a professional educator and advocate in the postsecondary sector for over four decades. Starting her career in TAFE and the Technical Teachers Union of Victoria, she then worked at Victoria University for almost twenty years teaching and researching in gender studies, labour history, environmental science, public relations and public advocacy. She previously held education leadership roles in governance and management at Victoria University including Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Education and Human Development, and Head of the School of Communication and the Arts.

Associate Professor Rea returned to Victoria University in 2019 after completing two terms as the National President of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), the industry union for all staff working in Higher Education. She also served on the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) national executive. She has contributed expertise in gender analysis, labour unions and higher education locally and globally.

She is a long-term member of the National Youth Employment Body (NYEB) Advisory Board, and amongst other community roles, chairs the board of the Australian Living Peace Museum.

Associate Professor Rea believes passionately in the role of education in transforming people’s lives to make for a fairer and environmentally sustainable world. Throughout her life, she has worked for access, equity and quality education for all in Australia and internationally.

Qualifications

  • Master in Environmental Science, Monash University, Australia, 1986
  • Diploma of Education, Monash University, Australia, 1980
  • Bachelor of Arts, Monash University, Australia, 1979

Key publications

Year Citation
2002 Rea, J. (020101). The Feminisation of Public Relations: What's in it for the Girls Queensland: Bond University.

Year Citation
2021 Rea, J. (210101). Precarious work and funding make academic freedom precarious. Australian Universities Review, 63(1), (26-30).
2010 Rea, J. (100501). Worth Fighting For: Inside the Your Rights at Work Campaign. LABOUR HISTORY,(98), (266-268).
2005 Rea, J. (050101). Women and Trade Unions: Do Women Need Unions or Unions Need Women. Social Alternatives, 24(2), (50-54).
2004 Rea, J. (040101). Gender Mainstreaming: Getting it Right in the Workplace First.. Development Bulletin, 64(1), (42-44).
2000 Rea, J. (000101). Talkin' up to the white woman: Indigenous women and feminism. OVERLAND,(161), (95-97).
1999 Rea, J. (990101). The stranger from Melbourne: Frank Hardy, a literary biography 1944-1975. OVERLAND,(157), (96-98).
1999 Rea, J. (990101). Jean Devanny: Romantic revolutionary. OVERLAND,(157), (96-98).
1995 Rea, J. (951201). Educating for our environment: an Australian experience. The Environmentalist, 15(4), (246-251).

doi: 10.1007/BF01902245

Research funding for the past 5 years

Funding details for this researcher are currently unavailable.

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to the following organisations for their support and essential contributions to my research:

  • Institute of Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities

Supervision of research students at VU

Available to supervise research students

Available for media queries

Currently supervised research students at VU

No. of students Study level Role
1 Masters by Research Principal supervisor
1 PhD Associate supervisor

Currently supervised research students at VU

Students & level Role
Masters by Research (1) Principal supervisor
PhD (1) Associate supervisor

Completed supervision of research students at VU

No. of students Study level Role
2 PhD Associate supervisor
1 PhD Principal supervisor
1 Masters by Research Associate supervisor

Completed supervision of research students at VU

Students & level Role
PhD (2) Associate supervisor
PhD (1) Principal supervisor
Masters by Research (1) Associate supervisor

Teaching activities & experience

Teaching Responsibilities:

Course Chair:

Key academic roles

Dates Role Department / Organisation
Jan 2023 - Jan 2024
Head, Community Program
Victoria University
Jan 2019 - Present
Associate Professor
Victoria University
Jan 2020 - Jan 2022
Planetary Health Health Senior Policy Officer
Victoria University
Jan 2019 - Jan 2022
Course Chair, Postgraduate Program in Internatioanl Community Development
Victoria University
Oct 2018 - Jan 2019
Senior Lecturer
Victoria University
Oct 2010 - Oct 2018
National President
National Tertiary Education Union
Jan 2006 - Oct 2010
Deputy Dean, Faculty of Arts, Education and Human Development
Victoria University
Jan 2008 - Jan 2009
Head, School of Communication and the Arts
Victoria University
Jan 1995 - Jan 2000
Lecturer
Technical Teachers Union of Victoria
Jan 1992 - Jan 1995
Lecturer
Moorabbin TAFE
Show more academic roles
Dates Role & Department/Organisation
Jan 2023 -
Jan 2024
Head, Community Program
Victoria University
Jan 2019 -
Present
Associate Professor
Victoria University
Jan 2020 -
Jan 2022
Planetary Health Health Senior Policy Officer
Victoria University
Jan 2019 -
Jan 2022
Course Chair, Postgraduate Program in Internatioanl Community Development
Victoria University
Oct 2018 -
Jan 2019
Senior Lecturer
Victoria University
Oct 2010 -
Oct 2018
National President
National Tertiary Education Union
Jan 2006 -
Oct 2010
Deputy Dean, Faculty of Arts, Education and Human Development
Victoria University
Jan 2008 -
Jan 2009
Head, School of Communication and the Arts
Victoria University
Jan 1995 -
Jan 2000
Lecturer
Technical Teachers Union of Victoria
Jan 1992 -
Jan 1995
Lecturer
Moorabbin TAFE
Show more academic roles

Key industry, community & government roles

Dates Role Department/Organisation
Nov 2022 - Apr 2023
Lead, Roadmap for the Future of TAFE South Australia
Government of South Australia
Oct 2010 - Oct 2018
National President
National Tertiary Education Union
Dates Role & Department/Organisation
Nov 2022 - Apr 2023
Lead, Roadmap for the Future of TAFE South Australia
Government of South Australia
Oct 2010 - Oct 2018
National President
National Tertiary Education Union