Background

I am a proud Ngunnawal woman from the ancestral lands of Canberra. With over 20 years of lecturing experience, I currently serve as an academic within the Pathways program. I deeply honour the privilege of teaching pathways students at the very beginning of their academic journeys. With extensive experience in curriculum and instructional design, I have crafted numerous engaging subjects for both online and face-to-face formats across various multidisciplinary fields.

Expertise and Research

My areas of expertise include Aboriginal social theory, Aboriginal pedagogies and philosophies, pathways education, hyflex teaching, cultural intelligence, the creation of culturally inclusive spaces, and the ethical use of AI. My PhD, titled “It’s time: An Aboriginal Social Theory, for, by and with Aboriginal People,” introduced an Aboriginal Social Theory that is unique both nationally and internationally. This research, guided by Aboriginal intellectual elders, scholarly works, and autobiographies, employed a methodology that combined yarning, Dadirri, storytelling, strengths-based approaches, and narrative therapy principles. I am currently preparing my thesis for publication as a book. My ongoing research examines the impact of my below consultancy on the teaching practices and broader lives of early childhood educators.

Commitment to Equity in Education

My passion lies in making education accessible and equitable for all who seek tertiary learning. I strive to create a student experience that is engaging and relevant by continually searching for innovative ways to improve learning environments. I am dedicated to Universal Design for Learning and ensuring education accessibility, particularly to support equitable university access for Aboriginal people.

My Pedagogical approaches are:

Ways of Knowing, Being and Doing

Universal Design for Learning

21st Century Pedagogies

Embodied learning

Gamification

Student-centred

Assessment-based

Consultancy Initiatives and Impact

I have recently led a project in collaboration with C&K Childcare and Kindergarten through the Queensland Government’s Kindy Uplift program. 'Expanding Cultural Intelligence: Looking within, to expand our cultural horizons,' received $75,000 in funding for me to develop and deliver series of four workshops for early childhood educators on cultural intelligence, creating culturally inclusive. The initiative launched in 2024 in Townsville and Cairns, has since been expanded to Mackay and Rockhampton, with additional workshops running online, in Townsville and Cairns for phase two of the project. 

Workshop and Seminar Contributions

• Standing on Story Ground: Exploring theory through Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Being, and Doing.
• AARE Theory Workshop: Co-Creating Knowledge – Developing community-based, participatory, and co-designed approaches to creative educational research.
• Opening Statement: Jaimee Hamilton
• Looking Within to Expand Our Cultural Horizons: How to create inclusive spaces and practices.
• Presenter: Jaimee Hamilton
• NSW Paediatric Allied Health Seminar Series: Supporting Resilient Jarjums – Empowering paediatric health professionals to support Aboriginal families and communities.
• July 2025
• NSW Health Education & Training Institute: Training Support Unit, Jumbunna Podcast Series
• Presenter: Jaimee Hamilton, July 2025

Service and Student Engagement

The foundational concepts for teaching Indigenous knowledge include Knowledge, Empathy, Reciprocity, Trust, Respect, and Empowerment. These principles are integral to my teaching and research. They are not taught in isolation; rather, they are interconnected and mutually reinforcing, creating a cyclical dynamic essential for successful teaching.

My dedication to equitable education is reflected in the design of learning materials and assessments that enable students to highlight their skills—such as cultural self-awareness, cultural intelligence, creating and maintaining culturally inclusive spaces, using mind maps to explain complex concepts, developing podcasts to apply theory, and writing professional reports. My goal is to ensure every student’s experience is as meaningful and relevant to their lives as possible.

In addition, I have taken educative approach to Academic Integrity through an strengths-based learning activity that has resulted in zero cases of academic misconduct since implementation.

I am honoured to volunteer annually on the panel for Medicine Selection Interviews, supporting both Indigenous and non-Indigenous prospective students.