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 and policy briefs, literature reviews, local and international environmental scans, targeted interviews and data analysis. She contributed to the preparation of the Victorian Qualifications Authority (VQA) <i>October Scanning Paper</i> in 2005, the <i>Next Step</i> survey for the Queensland Department of Education in both 2005 and 2006 and the Victorian <i>On Track</i> 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: <i>A Well Skilled Future: Tailoring VET to the Emerging Labour Market</i>, 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 <i>A Well Skilled Future</i> in a keynote address at the <a href=http://home.vicnet.net.au/~swpacfe/resources/acememo/2006/47%20-%20OTTE%20Equity%20Showcase%20Conference%20Program%202006.pdf > OTTE 2006 Equity Showcase Conference.</a> 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 <a href="http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/voced/pdf/2007%20On%20Track%20Final%20Report.pdf"> On Track</a> 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 early 2008 she worked on a Review of Critical Skills for OTTE and an environmental scan of strategies to increase retention of Victorian secondary school students for 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. She is currently contributing to a review of the governance and funding arrangements of Victoria’s English Language Schools and Centres for the Victorian DEECD and an <i>Equity Challenge in Catholic Education</i> project commissioned by the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria.
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 Master 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 <i>"Equity Strategies and Policies in VET: Identifying effective equity policies for changing demographics"</i>.
