About

As an Associate Professor in Education at the University of Southern Queensland, Assoc. Prof. Melissa Fanshawe specialises in mathematics curriculum and inclusive pedagogy. With over twenty years’ experience within Queensland schools as a teacher, advisory teacher, Deputy and Principal, Assoc. Prof. Fanshawe is passionate about student success and access to education. Her dedication to inclusive education is evidenced through her being the recipient of teaching awards including; an Australian Awards for University Teaching citation for supporting students learning, an ADCET Accessibility in Action award, an ASCILITE innovation award and a Commonwealth Bank teaching award. Assoc. Prof. Fanshawe is also an expert in access to education for students with blindness and low vision. She is a qualified and experienced teacher for students with vision impairment, gaining her Masters at the Royal Institute for the Deaf and Blind. Her PhD built on this interest focusing on the participation in learning and preparation for employment for students with blindness and low vision in mainstream secondary schools. She enjoys her volunteer roles as Vision Australia’s education ambassador for LEGO braille bricks, Co-President of the South Pacific Educators of Vision Impairment and an executive member of the Australian Braille Authority. Assoc. Prof. Fanshawe is committed to supporting teachers, parents and students to gain equitable access.