Alexandra Ciaffaglione

Dr. Alexandra Ciaffaglione

Lecturer, Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy (ACDF) (Education Focused)
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Details

Open to

  • Masters Research or PhD student supervision
  • Collaborative projects
  • Industry Projects
  • Membership of an advisory committee

About

Dr Alexandra Ciaffaglione is a teacher educator and researcher in the School of Education, RMIT University, Melbourne. She completed her PhD at RMIT in 2023 focusing on the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer (LGBQ) teachers working in Australian Catholic schools, and her Master of Teaching (Secondary) at Australian Catholic Univeristy. Through her work, Alexandra aims to explore and deconstruct simplistic and stereotypical understandings of queerness and teacher professional identities and religiosity, and the politicisation of queer teachers in educational workplaces.

Research fields

  • 390406 Gender, sexuality and education
  • 390203 Sociology of education
  • 390307 Teacher education and professional development of educators
  • 441014 Sociology of religion

UN sustainable development goals

  • 4 Quality Education
  • 10 Reduced Inequalities
  • 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Academic positions

  • Lecturer - Curriculum and Pedagogy (Secondary)
  • RMIT University
  • School of Education
  • Melbourne, Australia
  • Feb 2025 – Present
  • Research Assistant
  • RMIT University
  • School of Media and Communications
  • Melbourne, Australia
  • Apr 2024 – Feb 2025
  • Research Assistant
  • RMIT University
  • School of Property, Construction and Project Management
  • Melbourne, Australia
  • Oct 2023 – Mar 2024
  • Sessional Tutor/Academic
  • RMIT University
  • School of Education
  • Melbourne, Australia
  • Apr 2022 – Feb 2025

Teaching interests

Alexandra is a lecturer in the School of Education, mainly teaching on the Master of Teaching (Practice) program based on the City Campus. She course coordinates TCHE2605 Introduction to Teaching, a first year Professional Experience unit, as well as TCHE2665 Teaching the Humanities. Alexandra lecturers in a range of units across the MTP program, across first year and second year. 

Research interests

Alexandra's doctoral research, LGBQ Teacher Identities in Australian Catholic School Workplaces, examined the everyday navigations of LGBQ teachers working within faith‑based schooling contexts. This project illuminated the complex interplay between sexuality, professional identity, and institutional expectations, offering new insights into how queer educators negotiate belonging, safety, and authenticity in systems marked by both pastoral commitments and doctrinal constraints. She is also contributing to the Australian Research Council–funded project Youth, Religion, and Sexuality: Digital Media, Schooling Cultures, Exemptions. In this role, she has participated in investigating how young people engage with religion and sexuality across digital and schooling environments, with particular attention to the implications of legislative and cultural exemptions in educational settings. 

Initiatives and links

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

Learn more about our commitment to Indigenous cultures