I am a lecturer within the Discipline of Geography and Sustainability at the University of Wollongong. My research and teaching primarily focuses on the intersection between international development, volunteering, colonialism and tourism. My philosophy is to promote ethical, responsible, reciprocal and respectful travel through embodied, experiential intercultural learning that centres the knowledges, experiences and expertise of community-based partners. Before this I worked as a Research Associate on an Office for Learning and Teaching Project, Classroom of Many Cultures. My role in that project was to co-create teaching materials with international community partners and students that are part of Macquarie University’s Professional and Community Engagement (PACE) initiative. In 2015 I completed a doctoral degree in Human Geography in the Department of Geography and Planning at Macquarie University. My PhD research critically examined the post-colonial practice of international service-learning and the foundational concept of reciprocity by focusing on the perspectives and experiences of Indigenous community based organisations in the Northern Territory Australia, and Sabah, Borneo. Prior to commencing a PhD, I completed a Bachelor of Environmental Management majoring in Human Geography (2008) and graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Human Geography in 2009. My Honours research focused on volunteering for international development. My recent research focuses on building an ethics of care and reciprocity in the context of international service-learning relationships and in centering the knowledges, experiences and expertise of community based partners in service-learning research, education and practice.

Dr Laura Hammersley (PhD)

Twitter: @LauraAH110

Uow Scholars page: scholars.edu.au/laura-hammersley

I acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Owners of the land on which I work and live and pay my respects to Elders past and present and the knowledge forever embedded in Country.