Tony Dowden has a part-time role at AC fostering and supporting research in education. He has conducted research on learning and teaching pertaining to designs for curriculum and pedagogy at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Tony also has broad sociological interests, including democratic education, Christian education, inclusive education and social justice in education. He has also engaged in the scholarship of learning and teaching, especially by exploring ways to enhance written feedback on assessment. Tony has an extensive research output and is an experienced higher degree research (HDR) supervisor. He was a Senior Lecturer of Education at the University of Southern Queensland (2013-2025) and a Lecturer of Education at the University of Tasmania (2005-2012). His doctoral thesis won the 2007 Sutton-Smith Doctoral Award prize for the best thesis in education in Aotearoa New Zealand. Tony is a registered secondary teacher with the Queensland College of Teachers and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK). His university teaching has been recognised by a 'Teaching Merit Certificate' (UTas, 2009) and a 'Stellar Award' (UniSQ, 2024). Earlier in his career, Tony was a secondary school teacher in NZ (1987-2001). He served in missions with Catholic Overseas Volunteer Service (NZ) by teaching at Logoipulotu College in Samoa (1985) and with Youth With A Mission (NZ) in a Discipleship Training School with an outreach to Jakarta (1990). Tony sat on the Academic Council of Worldview Centre for Intercultural Studies (WEC) in Launceston, Tasmania (2005-2012) and, immediately prior to his current role, sat on the Academic Board of AC as an external member (2024-2025). Tony is married with two adult children. He enjoys bushwalking, competitive chess and being (almost) retired.
EdD (Massey University), Curriculum integration for early adolescent schooling in Aotearoa New Zealand: Worthy of serious trial [NZ Association of Research in Education Doctoral Award] – 2007
MEd (with Distinction) (Otago University) – 1993
Grad Cert Univ L&T (University of Tasmania) – 2010
BA (Massey University) – 1992
BSc (Otago University) – 1985
Dip Tch (Canterbury University) – 1986
Higher Education Academy (since 2021)
Qld College of Teachers (since 2025)