Rate My Professor Sally Murphy

Dr Sally Murphy is a Senior Lecturer in Literacy in the School of Education at Curtin University, serving as Course Coordinator for the Bachelor of Education (Primary). She holds the qualifications PhD, Graduate Diploma in Education (Grad Dip Ed), and Bachelor of Arts (Hons) (BA Hons), with her doctorate in Creative Writing focusing on children's poetry from Edith Cowan University. An experienced educator who has taught from preschool through to university level, Dr Murphy lectures in literacy, creative writing practice, and related areas. She supervises higher degree by research (HDR) students and is a member of Curtin's Creative Research Hub in the business, society, and community research area. Her professional experience includes coordinating professional learning for teachers and contributing to early childhood and primary education programs.

Dr Murphy's research specializations include representation of diverse families in children's literature, mentoring for second-career female academics, and fostering community and agency in reading practices. Notable publications are 'Where Are the Diverse Families in Australian Children's Literature? Impacts and Consideration for Language and Literacy in the Early Years' (2024, Education Sciences, co-authored with Helen Adam, Yvonne Urquhart, and Katira Ahmed), which analyzes the underrepresentation of diverse family structures such as LGBTIQA+, foster, step, and blended families in award-winning Australian picture books; 'Teachers and readers: Community, Agency and Joy' (2025, Journal of Literary Education, co-authored with Tamara Reads and Sally Lamping), presenting reflections on collaborative story-sharing initiatives; and 'Empowering Second+ Career Female Academics: Strengthening Relationships through Mentoring for Personal and Professional Growth' (2024, co-authored with Sonia Ferns). She received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2022 for services to children's literature and education, and the Muriel Barwell Award for Distinguished Contribution to Children's Literature Scholarship in 2024 from the Children's Book Council of Australia. Dr Murphy serves as Chair of the Board of The Literature Centre in 2024. As an author of over 50 children's books, she integrates creative practice into her academic influence on literacy pedagogy.