Professor Hûrriyet Babaçan
PROFESSOR HÛRRIYET BABAÇAN - BIOGRAPHY 2008
Professor Hûrriyet Babaçan is the Professor of Social and Cultural Development at Victoria University. Hûrriyet has over twenty years of experience as an academic, public servant, community worker, researcher and trainer in the government, community and university sectors. Formerly, Hûrriyet held key positions such as Executive Director, Multicultural Affairs, Women’s Policy and Community Outcomes Branch in the Department of Premier and Cabinet (Qld), Associate Director, Centre for Multicultural and Community Development (University of the Sunshine Coast), Commissioner with the inaugural Ethnic Affairs Commission in Victoria and was Victorian Manager, Office of Multicultural Affairs in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Hûrriyet has published widely in national and international publications on the issues of multiculturalism, immigration, identity, social policy, gender, racism, settlement, child protection, and community development including two publications for UNESCO. She has co-authored a number of books relating to racism, social development, globalisation and asylum seekers.
Hûrriyet is currently undertaking research and development projects which include:
- Mapping racisms
- Workplace discrimination
- Domestic Violence
- Social Inclusion/Exclusion and Diversity
- International Capacity building (management and policy in education) – East Timor, Oman, Pacific Islands
- Cultural Diversity and Multimedia communication strategies
- Immigrant settlement
Hûrriyet is recognised for expertise in many areas has been invited to give keynote papers in many international and national conferences. Hûrriyet also has been a founding member of numerous non-government organisations. Hûrriyet has been recognised for her work through a number of awards including the Bi-Centenary Medal awarded by the Prime Minister, 2002, Queensland Semi-Finalist Telstra Business Women’s Awards and the Multicultural Services Award by the Premier of Queensland.
