Dr Leigh Burrows

Senior Lecturer

College of Education, Psychology and Social Work

place Education (5.57)
GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, South Australia

Leigh has a strong background in teaching, professional development, consultancies and research.

During her professional career she has worked in diverse educational contexts, often working at the intersection of wellbeing and mindfulness pedagogies.

She has been a primary (Waldorf), secondary and special education teacher (SA Ed Dept) leading to a statewide role as a learning difficulties and wellbeing adviser.

She came to Flinders University full time in 2010 during which time she created and developed a number of topics and courses, conducted research, supervised and worked with teachers across Australia, the US, Asia and New Zealand.

Her focus in research, teaching and supervision relates to mindfulness, wellbeing, trauma sensitive teaching, relational learning and qualitative research methodologies

New article

Innovations in mindfulness for young people need to take more account of their unique needs if they are to live up to their potential. Published Online 3/10/2022 Child and Adolescent Mental Health : http://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12601

Recent books for Routledge:

Empowering mindfulness for women

https://www.routledge.com/Empowering-Mindfulness-for-Women/Burrows/p/book/9780367427139

Safeguarding mindfulness in schools and higher education an holistic and inclusive approach.

https://www.routledge.com/Safeguarding-Mindfulness-in-Schools-and-Higher-Education-A-Holistic-and/Burrows/p/book/9781138735521

Find out more about Leigh's research and publications at the following links:

Researchnow

Researchgate

Orcid

Google Scholar

Qualifications
  • Bachelor of Arts (Monash University)
  • Diploma of Education (Flinders University)
  • Masters of Special Education (Flinders University)
  • Diploma of Solution Focused Psychotherapy (Centre for Effective Therapy)
  • Doctor of Philosophy (University of South Australia)
  • Diploma of Educational and Clinical Art Therapy (ACAT)

Leigh is registered as a teacher in South Australia

Honours, awards and grants
  • Dean's award for consistent high quality teaching in post graduate education (2022)
  • Vice Chancellor's Teaching Award for Pioneering mindfulness in pre, in service and post graduate teacher education ( 2016)
  • Faculty Teaching Award recipient (2012) for Teaching Excellence in: Developing a Relational Pedagogy for Pre and In Service Teacher Education
  • Fellow of the Torrens Resiliency Institute, Adelaide
  • Faculty Research Grant 2012, for research into Steiner/Waldorf education
  • Faculty Research Grant 2015 for research into mindfulness in a US community college
  • Faculty Research Grant 2016 for further follow up research into mindfulness in US community college
Key responsibilities
  • course coordiinator and coordinator of topics at undergraduate and post graduate levels
  • teaching at undergraduate and post graduate levels on mindfulness, trauma sensitive pedagogies, counselling, relationships and wellbeing
  • post graduate supervision in mindfulness, inclusion, wellbeing, relationships, parent partnerships, professional learning
  • research into mindfulness and gender
  • professional learning for teachers
Teaching interests

Leigh coordinates the Master of Education and Graduate Certificate Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing and the Graduate Certificate in Counselling Vulnerable Children and Young People courses.

She has developed topics such as Mindfulness and the Innner World of Teaching and Learning, Creating Calmer Classrooms: a trauma sensitive approach (at both undergraduate and post graduate levels) and Relationships for Learning.

Her courses and topics are based in her qualitative research into wellbeing, trauma, autism, mindfulness, teacher student and parent relationships, Waldorf/Steiner education and autism.

Her teaching interests include wellbeing, spirituality, mindfulness, trauma and holistic education. She enjoys teaching in intensive formats and aims to bring a holistic approach that includes head, heart and body.

Topic coordinator
EDUC9709 Mindfulness and the Inner World of Teaching
EDUC4845 Creating Calmer Classrooms for vulnerable students with trauma-related conditions
EDUC9702 Wellbeing and positive mental health
EDUC9845 Creating calmer classrooms a trauma sensitive approach
Topic lecturer
EDUC4845 Creating Calmer Classrooms
EDUC9709 Mindfulness and the Inner World of Teaching
EDUC9845 Creating Calmer Classrooms
Supervisory interests
Mindfulness
Qualitative and participatory methodologies
Spirituality
Student wellbeing
Teacher wellbeing
Higher degree by research supervision
Completion
Principal supervisor: Mindfulness in Classrooms (1), Mindfulness and Teacher Wellbeing (1), Empowerment of parents in Nepal (-1), Creativity in teacher professional learning
Associate supervisor: Students at risk (1)
Higher degree by research student achievements
GayleneDenford- Wood

Vice Chancellors Award for Thesis Excellence - MAR 2019

Expert for media contact
Counselling
Meditation
Mindfulness
wellbeing
Available for contact via
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+61 8 82012092
0427 398 713
Media expertise
  • Counselling
  • Meditation
Interests
  • Mindfulness
  • wellbeing