Research in Action

Connecting knowledge, lived experiences and meaningful change

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Research Initiatives & Impact

This section showcases research-led initiatives that extend scholarly inquiry beyond academic publications through knowledge exchange, collaboration and engagement with diverse communities and stakeholders. These initiatives seek to foster dialogue, inform practice and policy, and contribute to meaningful and sustained research impact.

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Featured symposium

Transformations in Global Mobility: From Research to Practice in Supporting Immigrant Early Childhood Educators’ Wellbeing

Research Translation Symposium | 27 October, 2026

Hosted by Dr Sweta Patel, Lecturer in the School of Education, and Professor Catherine Gomes, School of Media and Communication, RMIT University.

This research translation symposium brings together immigrant and non-immigrant educators, sector leaders, practitioners and researchers to come together, share perspectives, build connections and explore ways to strengthen belonging, wellbeing and inclusive practice across the early childhood sector.

Building on Dr Sweta Patel’s doctoral and ongoing research, the symposium provides a collaborative space for knowledge exchange, critical reflection and dialogue. It seeks to bring research findings into conversation with professional experiences, examine the opportunities and challenges shaping immigrant educators’ professional lives, and identify practical approaches to strengthening belonging, recognition and wellbeing.

Key Themes:

The symposium explores three interconnected themes, creating opportunities for dialogue, reflection and collaborative action.

Belonging, Wellbeing and Workplace Culture: Exploring how workplace relationships, institutional practices and professional recognition shape immigrant educators’ experiences of belonging and wellbeing.
From Pedagogical Strengths to Everyday Practice: Recognising the diverse knowledge, cultural perspectives and professional experiences immigrant educators bring, and exploring how these strengths can be meaningfully valued and integrated into everyday pedagogical practice.
Community and Collective Partnerships: Exploring how collaboration among educators, researchers, communities and sector stakeholders can strengthen professional support, foster inclusion and inform collective approaches to change.
Explore the Resources
  • My Research Journey: My Story shares the experiences and questions that shaped my doctoral research.
  • Publication: Patel, S. V. (2023). Experiences and expectations: Narratives of immigrant early childhood educators and influences on curriculum and pedagogical decision-making. Monash University. Thesis. https://doi.org/10.26180/24556432.v1
Acknowledgement

This symposium is funded by the RMIT University Enabling Impact Platforms (EIP) Social Change Platform Activity Fund, with support from the RMIT School of Education.

We gratefully acknowledge this support in enabling research translation, knowledge exchange and collaborative engagement between academia, industry and the wider community. Through these partnerships, the symposium seeks to strengthen connections between research and practice and contribute to ongoing conversations and initiatives that support a more inclusive and equitable education workforce.

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