Rate My Professor Aimee Hourigan

Dr Aimee Hourigan is a Research Fellow in the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child at Queensland University of Technology’s Digital Media Research Centre. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy from Queensland University of Technology, awarded in 2023 for her thesis examining the coloniality of digital inclusion for international development through fa’asamoa, as well as a Bachelor of Journalism and a Bachelor of Communication from the University of Queensland. Her research explores socioculturally grounded approaches to digital and media literacy development, with particular attention to inclusive digital media use in community contexts across Australia, misinformation, decolonial digital technology practices, and media education for children, young people, and adults. Hourigan has supported multiple national research projects, contributed to industry, scholarly, and policy documents, and worked to enhance public understanding of digital media environments. In her role as media literacy producer for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Education team, she led the development of evidence-informed learning materials focused on critical understanding of media technologies in home, classroom, and community settings. She previously served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Institute for Culture and Society at Western Sydney University, where she advanced projects on adult experiences with online misinformation and digital inclusion initiatives.

Hourigan’s contributions include co-authored reports such as “Online Misinformation in Australia: Adults' Experiences, Abilities and Responses” and “Principles for a Better Children's Internet.” She has received the Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Communication Association Postgraduate Bursary in 2023 and the Marieli Rowe Innovation in Media Literacy Education Award in 2024. Her work also encompasses consultancy on digital economy reports and media literacy advising for institutions including the National Film and Sound Archive. These efforts underscore her influence in advancing media literacy and digital citizenship research and practice in Australia.