Kira joined CPELL as a research assistant in March 2005. Her work within CPELL has a strong policy focus, involving contribution to government commissioned projects, literature reviews, local and international environmental scans, targeted interviews and cross-sectoral and longitudinal data analysis. She contributed to the preparation of the Victorian Qualifications Authority (VQA) October Scanning Paper in 2005, the Next Step survey for the Queensland Department of Education in both 2005 and 2006 and the Victorian On Track survey (2005-07). She completed work for the Victorian Department of Education examining the effectiveness of the Student Resource Package (SRP) for non-traditional schools in 2005 and was involved in the benchmarking of the SRP in 2007. Kira worked on the NCVER funded national research project: A Well Skilled Future: Tailoring VET to the Emerging Labour Market, in particular, completing a national survey of TAFE institutes, fieldwork and data analysis for a report on the nature and impact of VET inclusiveness strategies and consultations with state and territory training authorities and VET providers.

Kira was invited to present findings from A Well Skilled Future in a keynote address at the OTTE 2006 Equity Showcase Conference. She also presented findings: as a panellist at the State of Equity forum, hosted by the Equity Research Centre; during informal briefings for ACFE; and at the AVETRA 2007 Conference.

In 2007 Kira was responsible for the data management and analysis for both Victoria’s On Track project and South Australia’s pilot survey of Year 12 Completers, including the preparation of statewide reports, reports for schools and regional directors and regional briefings to stakeholders. In 2008 she contributed to a Review of Critical Skills for OTTE and a review of the governance and funding arrangements of Victoria’s English Language Schools and Centres for the Victorian DEECD. In 2008 she also examined post-compulsory provision in the Northern and Western Metropolitan Regions of Melbourne, including a review of VET in Schools provision and a desktop analysis of SRP funding. In late 2008 Kira began work on an Equity Challenge in Catholic Education project commissioned by the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria. In 2009 she conducted a national study examining the Provision of Pastoral Care in Apprenticeships as part of a national project commissioned by the Joint DEECD/DIIRD Policy Unit on Youth Transitions. She recently completed work on a study of institutional policy and practice to improve VET completion rates.

Previously Kira has worked as a casual research assistant at RMIT University, within the Post-compulsory Education and Training (PCET) Research Centre, as a casual Program Assistant for RMIT International’s African Virtual University and as a Professional Practice Administrator for RMIT’s School of Education.

Kira completed her Masters of Education Policy (International) in 2008 and is currently undertaking a PhD within the Melbourne Graduate School of Education at the University of Melbourne titled "Inclusive Policy and Practice in Vocational Education and Training (VET): Identifying effective TAFE equity policies for changing demographics".

Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association (AVETRA)

B.A (Hons), Monash

MEdPolicy(Int), Melbourne

PhD (in progress), University of Melbourne

Master of Education Policy (International)

• Education Policy


• Equity Issues in Education


• Comparative Education


• Post-compulsory Education and Training


• Post-school Destinations and Pathways


• Vocational Education and Training (VET)


• Education, Social Cohesion and Identity

Clarke, K. and Walstab, A. (2008) Models of TAFE inclusiveness: case studies of three Australian regions, NCVER, Adelaide.

Volkoff, V., Clarke, K. and Walstab, A. (2008) Impact of TAFE Inclusiveness Strategies, NCVER, Adelaide.
Research Overview

Walstab, A. and Clarke, K. (2008) Drivers of participation in VET: Three regional case studies— Support document, NCVER, Adelaide.

Teese, R., Clarke, K. & Polesel, J. (2007) The Destinations of School Leavers in Victoria – Report of the 2007 On Track Project, prepared by the Centre fro Post-compulsory Education and Lifelong Learning for the Office for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Victoria.

Clarke, K. & Volkoff, V. (2007) ‘Passive, responsive or proactive: Australian TAFE approaches to inclusiveness in VET’ refereed paper to the 10th annual Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association (AVETRA) Conference, Evolution, Revolution or Status quo? The new context for VET, 11-13 April: Melbourne.

Keating, J., Clarke, K. and Polesel, J. (2005) Victorian Qualifications Authority October Report 2005, Centre for Post-compulsory Education and Lifelong Learning, the University of Melbourne.

Keating, J., Lamb, S. and Clarke, K (2005) Student Resource Package for Non-traditional Locations, prepared by the Centre for Post-compulsory Education and Lifelong Learning for the Victorian Department of Education and Training, the University of Melbourne.

Polesel, J., Teese, R., Lamb, S., Helme, S., Nicholas, T. and Clarke, K. (2005) Destination Satisfaction Survey of 2004 HSC VET Students in NSW, prepared by the Centre for Post-compulsory Education and Lifelong Learning for the NSW Department of Education and Training, the University of Melbourne.

Volkoff, V., Walstab, A., Keating, J. and Clarke, K. (2005) Youth Learning Officers Model Evaluation, prepared by the Centre for Post-compulsory Education and Lifelong Learning for the Tasmanian Office of Post-Compulsory Education and Training.

McKinley, J. and Clarke, K. (2005) Youth Support Services Project - Models for the Victorian Context, Victorian Department of Education and Training, Centre for Post-compulsory Education and Lifelong Learning, University of Melbourne.

McKinley, J. (with the assistance of Kate Mason and Kira Clarke) (2005) Community Strengthening – The Department of Education and Training’s Contribution, report for the Department of Education and Training, Victoria, Centre for Post-compulsory Education and Lifelong Learning, University of Melbourne.

Clarke, K. (2002) Economic Development and Tourism in Melton Shire and Bacchus Marsh Township, Parliamentary Internship Report, Victorian Parliamentary Library.

Recent Projects

Improving Completions in VET, Joint Policy Unit on Youth Transitions DEECD/DIIRD Victoria, 2009

Provision of Pastoral Care in Apprenticeships, Joint Policy Unit on Youth Transitions DEECD/DIIRD Victoria, 2009

Equity Challenge in Catholic Education, Catholic Education Commission of Victoria, 2007-2009

Review of current funding model and governance arrangements for English Language Schools/Centres, DEECD 2008

Study of Post-compulsory Education Provision in the Northern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne, DEECD, 2008

Study of Post-compulsory Education Provision in the Western Metropolitan Region of Melbourne, DEECD, 2008

Study into the Enhancement of the Australian Qualifications Framework, DEEWR, 2008

OTTE, Review of Critical Occupations and Emerging Skills, 2007-2008

ARC Linkage Project, Education Investment in Australian Schooling: Serving Public Purposes, 2007-2009

Catholic Education Commission of Victoria, Vocational and Applied Learning in Victorian Catholic Schools, 2007-2008

Western Australian State Training Board, Two Way Credit between Vocational Education and Training in The Minerals Sector in Western Australia, 2007

South Australia DECS, Pilot Destination Survey of School Completers, 2007

Victoria DET, Benchmarking of the Student Resource Package, 2007

NCVER, Impact of TAFE Inclusiveness Strategies and Review of Current VET Strategies and Responsiveness to Emerging Skills Shortages, components of A Well-Skilled Future: Tailoring VET to the Emerging Labour Market Project, 2005-2006

Victoria DET, School and Regional for Opportunities and Outcomes in the North West of Melbourne project, 2005

Victoria DET, On Track Destinations Survey of School Completers and Early Leavers, 2005-2007

Queensland DoE Next Step Survey of School Completers, 2005-2006

Victoria DET, Victorian Qualifications Authority October Scanning Report, 2005

NSW DET, Destination Satisfaction Survey of 2004 HSC VET Students in NSW, 2005

Victoria DET, review of the Student Resource Package for non-traditional locations, 2005