Priya Devendran

Over the course of her work history, Priya has developed research strategies to influence positive social outcomes.

Email: priya.devendran@aru.ac.uk

Background

Priya has provided expert research and advice within State Government departments in Australia. Her work has informed the development of the medicinal cannabis industry in Victoria and the implementation of Early Years Management. She has also supported the successful delivery of Victorian Government submissions, Federal Government issues papers, and evaluations of existing programs.

Priya graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Politics. She continued with an Honours year, in which she received a Bachelor of Arts (Hons), First Class in Criminology. She recently completed her Masters in Philosophy in Criminological Research at the University of Cambridge, graduating with a First Class degree. In total, she has had five years of academic training in the social sciences.

Priya has over four years of work experience in both government and research environments, focused on social research, policy development and implementation. This has spanned various sectors, including health, education and criminal justice. Her work has informed innovative policy reform to legalise the growth of medicinal cannabis in Victoria, Australia. Further, she has worked closely with vulnerable families - such as those known to child protection, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families - to enhance engagement with universal maternal child healthcare, and early childhood education.  In this endeavour, she has supported the implementation of Early Years Management reform, a key 'Education State' election commitment across Victoria.

Her current role as a researcher with PIER will focus on working with various criminal justice sectors to provide an evidence base for policy development and reform.

Qualifications

• BA (Hons) in Criminology, Monash University
• MPhil in Criminological Research, The University of Cambridge