A central aim of A/Prof Kelly-Ann Allen’s work is to establish belonging as a fundamental psychological need in educational settings and beyond. Her research examines the positive impacts of belonging on wellbeing, academic outcomes, and long-term success through empirical longitudinal data. Her program encompasses testing and evaluating belonging interventions, building new theoretical frameworks, providing empirical evidence on the determinants of belonging, and translating research into practice-ready platforms, including policy and guidebooks. A key focus is engaging educators, policymakers, school communities, and international networks of belonging scholars to implement evidence-based strategies that foster belonging in educational environments and beyond.
2024