Rate My Professor Helen Dempsey

Dr. Helen Dempsey is a lecturer in the School of Education at Murdoch University, where she holds senior leadership positions as Director of Accreditation, Executive Lead for Accreditation, and Academic Chair for the Master of Teaching (Primary) and Master of Teaching (Secondary) programs. In these roles, she approves applications for the programs, develops accreditation documentation, liaises with staff on timetabling and course modifications, teaches units including Transition to Teaching, Diversity and Inclusion, and EDN221 to undergraduates, and contributes to the annual report for the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia. She also delivers educational psychology content at undergraduate and master's levels and supervises doctoral students.

Helen Dempsey completed her PhD in Education at Murdoch University in 2017, with the doctoral thesis titled 'Early career casual teachers: Negotiating professional identity in multiple communities of practice.' She previously earned a Master of Education from Murdoch University (2008–2010) and a Graduate Diploma (1998–1999). Her research centers on early career teachers, with a particular emphasis on those in casual capacities, examining professional identity negotiation, resilience development through colleague relationships, retention, and professional experience. Key publications include the book chapter 'Early Career Casual Teachers: The Role of Relationships with Colleagues in Negotiating a Teacher Identity and Developing Resilience' (2021), 'School-based teacher educators use of a teaching performance assessment as a boundary object' (2025, co-authored with Chad Morrison, Kathryn Dehle, and Sandi Fielder), and 'Blinded by the light: motivations of unqualified teachers in Western Australia' (2025, co-authored with Sandi Fielder and Alison L. Hilton). She presented 'Lessons to be Learnt: Connecting present conditions for permission to teach across two Australian jurisdictions' in August 2025. Through her multifaceted contributions to teaching, accreditation leadership, and research, Helen Dempsey plays a vital role in advancing teacher education and supporting early career educators.