A review of Australian publications in educational leadership journals

Educational leadership research activity has a long history in Australia dating back to the pioneering work of Bill Walker. One measure of such activity is publications and in the contemporary policy environment of higher education in which assessment and ranking is tied to research outputs and income, the imperative to publish is arguably at its greatest. In this paper, using the data from an audit of 18 different educational leadership journals, I argue that the Australian contribution to the field of educational leadership is in need of critical reflection. Although Australians play a prominent role in some international arenas, the bulk of the work comes from a relatively small group of academics published in a small set of journals. If the Australian educational leadership voice is to reach the lofty heights of the leading field, it requires a period of self-reflection and a commitment to undertaking work that is of both theoretical and methodological importance. This paper is meant as a starting point for such a conversation to begin.