Rachael Dwyer

Dr Rachael Dwyer is an educator and researcher concerned with ensuring that all students have opportunities to participate in quality music and arts education as part of their schooling. She spent a number of years as a music specialist teacher in primary schools prior to completing her doctoral studies at The University of Queensland. Rachael’s teaching experience has extended across P-12 music classrooms, as well as at the tertiary level.

Rachael’s current research focuses on three main areas: music and arts education in schools, in particular how the professional identities of those teaching the arts shape their students’ experiences; how regulation of teacher education shapes teacher educators' and preservice teachers' identities; and women's lived experiences of academia.

Rachael has published extensively for a range of audiences and is developing an international profile in music teacher education and arts-based research approaches. She is co-editor of the innovative 2016 book ‘Narrative Research in Practice: Stories from the field’ (Springer) and her doctoral work has been published as ‘Music teachers’ values and beliefs’ (Routledge). Rachael is on the editorial board for the Australian Journal of Music Education, regularly sits on review panels and committees for QCAA, and is President of the Queensland Chapter of the Australian Society for Music Education.