Rachel Bao

Rachel Bao is a Teaching Focused Academic at Victoria University and an experienced early childhood educator with leadership experience across both higher education and the early childhood sector. She brings strong industry knowledge and practice-based perspectives into Initial Teacher Education. 

Rachel is passionate about social justice, inclusion, relational pedagogy, and culturally responsive practice in early childhood education. Her teaching supports pre-service teachers to critically connect theory with practice, reflect ethically on their professional identity, and work responsively with diverse children, families, and communities. 

Her research interests include emotionally intelligent leadership and the cultural voice of Asian migrant educators within Australian early childhood education. Rachel is particularly interested in how leadership, identity, culture, and communication shape educator wellbeing, professional belonging, and inclusive practice. She has also contributed as a Subject Matter Expert in Department of Education projects involving the development and review of assessment tools and training resources for Early Childhood Education and Care qualifications.