Dr Megan Weier
Dr Megan Weier is a work-in-progress, having personally and politically shifted away from conservative Christian and political ideologies while completing her PhD in critical developmental psychology at the University of Queensland.
Her relationships and communities now reflect the influences of progressive faith and politics, anti-racism, feminism, and poststructural thought.
Megan's work aims to grapple with fundamental human rights for justice which fuels a conviction to speak out on existing inequalities within Australia. Her personal experiences with mental health challenges, chronic disease, and pain, as well as professional engagement with policy making and research on drug and alcohol policy debates, have led to complex nuanced beliefs about the effects of public policy on personal health and wellbeing.
Her research aims to highlight and explore how systemic and institutional forces impact individual outcomes, and to use these findings to advocate for better, more equitable decision making.
Her workplace values prioritise the support, acknowledgement, and development of her colleagues.
Megan's work as Research and Evaluation Director (Acting) and Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Impact UNSW (CSI UNSW) critically engages with ideas around measuring social progress, wellbeing, and program evaluation.
Her research currently includes working with the disability sector, government departments, and community organisations and she is the lead researcher for Australia’s first Social Progress Index - a tool that looks at the impact of policies regarding basic human needs, foundations of wellbeing, and opportunity in communities across Australia.