Rate My Professor Mandy Hughes

Dr Mandy Hughes is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Social Science Course Coordinator at Southern Cross University, primarily affiliated with the Faculty of Education and also serving as Research Officer in the Faculty of Business, Law and Arts. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University, a Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Canberra, a Master of Letters in Anthropology from the Australian National University, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Southern Cross University. Her PhD research culminated in the documentary film 'The Last Refuge: Food Stories from Myanmar to Coffs Harbour,' which documents the experiences of Myanmar refugees resettled in regional Australia. With more than a decade of experience in higher education, Hughes began as a sessional academic at Southern Cross University from 2008 to 2016. Prior to her academic career, she worked in secondary schools, community and international development, and media production, including roles at ABC and SBS television.

Hughes' research focuses on refugee and forced migration studies, social inequalities, community and social networks, food and culture, participatory and collaborative methods, and visual research approaches. She maintains long-term partnerships with community organizations such as Anglicare North Coast and has contributed to exhibitions like 'Stories to Freedom.' Key publications include 'The social and cultural role of food for Myanmar refugees in regional Australia: Making place and building networks' (Journal of Sociology, 2019), 'Filmmaking as empirical research: working with people from refugee backgrounds to share stories about food' (Visual Studies, 2021), 'Capturing practice wisdom: advancing the empowerment of refugee women' (British Journal of Social Work, 2021), 'Engendering social inclusion and success for refugee women through the 3Es framework' (Australian Geographer, 2022), 'Countering inequality: The role of music opportunities in refugee women’s social inclusion' (Australian Journal of Music Education, 2023), and 'Listening deeply to refugee background women to understand their maternity care experiences' (Health Sociology Review, 2024). She has been a member of the Multicultural NSW Regional Advisory Council since 2016 and the Sustainability, Environment and the Arts in Education Research Cluster. Her scholarship promotes social justice, inclusion, and wellbeing in regional communities through creative and collaborative practices.