Sara Javadian

Sara is a Ph.D. candidate at the Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne and Murdoch Children's Research Institute under the supervision of A/Prof Jon Quach and A/Prof Elisha Riggs. Sara's current research focuses on co-designing a mindfulness-based art intervention with and for children from refugee backgrounds. She is passionate about the use of creative participatory research methods to hear the voices and improve the psycho-social wellbeing of children from migrant and refugee backgrounds.

Sara hopes the Stronger Futures CREs focus on hearing the voices of children from migrant and refugee backgrounds and support promoting their psycho-social wellbeing with a participatory and strength-based approach. Sara is excited to be a part of CRE to collaborate and exchange knowledge with a diverse group of passionate researchers and partner organisations.

Sara has a bachelor's in clinical psychology and a master's in clinical child and adolescents' psychology both from Iran and a second master's in child development from University College London. She view's children's psycho-social wellbeing from a psychological, educational, and social lens. Sara's research is built upon eight years of work and research experience with children in clinical and educational settings.

Sara lives and works on Wurrundjeri Country. Spending time with friends and family, playing with her niece, going in nature, photography, playing the guitar and singing, and teaching Body Combat as an instructor are some of the things that keep Sara strong and resilient.