Prof Joanna Howe

Professor

School of Law

College of Business and Law

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Dr Joanna Howe is a Professor of Law at the University of Adelaide and a consultant with Harmers Workplace Lawyers.

She holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Law from the University of Oxford where she studied as a Rhodes Scholar. In 2022 Joanna was appointed by the Minister for Home Affairs as part of an expert, three-member panel to review the Australian Migration Program. In 2021 Joanna was appointed by the Minister for Immigration to the Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration. In 2019 Joanna was appointed as the Australian representative to an ILO working group on temporary labour migration.

Joanna is a leading expert on the legal regulation of temporary labour migration. She is project leader on a number of significant national research grants, including an ARC Linkage Grant examining undocumented migrant work on farms, one for the horticulture industry ((HIA, VG15025, $231,207, 2016) and another for the Fair Work Ombudsman examining the experience of international students in the Australian workplace (FWO, $58, 960, 2016). Joanna is also a chief-investigator on an Australian Research Council Discovery Project (with Prof Rosemary Owens, Prof Andrew Steward and A/Prof Anne Hewitt) investigating the incidence of unpaid work experience and internships in Australia (DP150104516, $207,200, 2015-2018). Joanna is also a chief-investigator on a Commonwealth National Research Grant (cat 1, $311,000) investigating the experience of refugee women in the workplace. Joanna is also a research collaborator on a grant from the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council examining gender, migration and the work of care in Oceania.

Joanna is the author of three books and her work is internationally recognised. Her edited collection Temporary Labour Migration in the Global Era (with Prof Rosemary Owens) is the seminal international work on the regulation of transnational migration flows between countries on a temporary basis, and her monograph Rethinking Job Security provides a three country study of unfair dismissal law. In 2015 Joanna received a grant from the Oñati International Institute for the Sociology of Law in Spain with Prof Rosemary Owens to convene a workshop on temporary labour migration bringing together international experts.

Joanna is regularly invited to present evidence to Australian parliamentary inquiries and reviews into Australia’s temporary labour migration programme. Her recommendations regarding the temporary migration program have been accepted by successive federal governments and inquiries. Joanna is a regular media commentator having given expert evidence on Four Corners and 7.30, and is regularly commissioned to write for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Melbourne Age and The Australian newspapers.

Joanna also researches on laws that impact children, including on abortion and surrogacy.

She is the recipient of the SA InDaily 40 under 40 Award and the University of Adelaide's Women's Research Excellence Award.

Date Position Institution name
2023 - ongoing Professor of Law University of Adelaide
2016 - 2022 Associate Professor in Law University of Adelaide
2015 - ongoing Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide
2012 - 2014 Lecturer University of Adelaide
2010 - 2011 Junior Dean St John's College, University of Cambridge

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2015 Award Executive Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning University of Adelaide Australia 2000
2015 Research Award University of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor's Award for Women's Excellence in Research University of Adelaide Australia 5000
2014 Award Best article submitted in 2015 University Montesquieu-Bordeaux IV France -
2009 Scholarship NSW Rhodes Scholar University of Oxford Australia -

Date Institution name Country Title
2009 - 2012 University of Oxford United Kingdom PhD
2008 - 2009 University of Oxford United Kingdom M.St. Legal Research
2001 - 2007 University of Sydney Australia LLB (First Class Honours)
2001 - 2004 University of Sydney Australia Bachelor of Economics (Social Sciences)

Year Citation
2024 Flavel, J., Due, C., Howe, J., & Ziersch, A. (2024). Refugee women and work: Evidence from an Australian longitudinal study. International Migration, 62(6), 1-21.
DOI Scopus3 WoS1
2024 Howe, J., & Nikoloudakis, I. (2024). The evolution of Australia’s dedicated temporary skilled migration program: a bipartisan political journey from agreement to disagreement. Griffith Law Review, 32(3), 1-29.
DOI Scopus1 WoS2
2023 Ziersch, A., Miller, E., Walsh, M., Due, C., Callaghan, P., Howe, J., & Green, E. (2023). ‘I really want to work for me to feel good myself ‘: Health impacts of employment experiences for women from refugee backgrounds in Australia. SSM - Qualitative Research in Health, 3(100209), 1.
DOI Scopus8 WoS5
2022 Howe, J., Shi, E., & Clibborn, S. (2022). FRUIT PICKING IN FEAR: AN EXAMINATION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT ON AUSTRALIAN FARMS. MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY LAW REVIEW, 45(3), 1140-1174.
WoS2
2022 Hewitt, A., Grenfell, L., Abiyat, H., Hendry, M., Howe, J., & Whittaker, S. (2022). Weighing the Cost of Expectations that Students Complete Legal Work Experience. Legal Education Review, 32(1), 109-128.
DOI Scopus4 WoS7
2021 Howe, J. (2021). Out of Limbo and into the Light: A Case for Status Resolution for Undocumented Migrant Workers on Farms. The Sydney Law Review, 43(4), 433-454.
Scopus4 WoS1
2021 Howe, J. (2021). Submission -Statues Amendment (Repeal of Sex Work Offences) Bill 2021. U. of Adelaide Law Research Paper, (2021).
2021 Hewitt, A., Owens, R., Stewart, A., & Howe, J. (2021). Are work experience participants protected against sex discrimination or sexual harassment?. Alternative Law Journal, 46(2), 115-119.
DOI Scopus2 WoS4
2021 Howe, J., & Nikoloudakis, I. (2021). Short Stay Visa Holders and Occupational Trainees in Australia’s Labour Migration Program: Regulatory Challenges at the Apex of Temporariness. Federal Law Review, 50(1), 40-61.
DOI Scopus1
2021 Howe, J., Reilly, A., Berg, L., & Farbenblum, B. (2021). Understanding International Students’ Professed Satisfaction with Underpaid Work in Australia. Monash University Law Review, 46(3), 50-78.
DOI WoS2
2020 Howe, J., Reilly, A., Clibborn, S., van den Broek, D., & Wright, C. F. (2020). Slicing and Dicing Work in the Australian Horticulture Industry: Labour Market Segmentation within the Temporary Migrant Workforce. Federal Law Review, 48(2), 25 pages.
DOI Scopus15
2020 Howe, J. M. (2020). How effective are legal interventions for addressing precarious work? The case of temporary migrants in the Australian horticulture industry. New Zealand Journal of Employment Relations, 44(2), 35-50.
2020 Howe, J. (2020). A Legally Constructed Underclass of Workers? The Deportability and Limited Work Rights of International Students in Australia and the United Kingdom. Joanna Howe, A Legally Constructed Underclass of Workers? The Deportability and Limited Work Rights of International Students in Australia and the United Kingdom, Industrial Law Journal, 48(3), 416-4.
2019 Howe, J. M., & Le Mire, S. (2019). Medical Referral for Abortion and Freedom of Conscience in Australian Law. Journal of Law and Religion, 34(1), 85-112.
DOI Scopus5 WoS7
2019 Howe, J. M., Reilly, A., van den Broek, D., & Wright, C. F. (2019). Pro-market governance, migration status and worker vulnerability: The case of Australian horticulture. Economic and Industrial Democracy, 42(4), 1-21.
DOI Scopus7 WoS8
2019 Howe, J. M. (2019). A Legally Constructed Underclass of Workers? The Deportability and Limited Work Rights of International Students in Australia and the United Kingdom. Industrial Law Journal, 48(33), 426-446.
DOI Scopus19 WoS19
2019 Howe, J., Reilly, A., Wright, C. F., van den Broek, D., & Clibborn, S. (2019). A Critical Examination of the Relationship between Labour Hire Intermediaries and Growers in the Australian Horticulture Industry. Australian Journal of Labour Law, 32(1), 83-102.
2019 Reilly, A. P., & Howe, J. (2019). Australia's Future Horticultural Workforce: Assessing the Agricultural Visa Concept. Journal of Political Economy, 84(84), 89-115.
Scopus1
2019 Howe, J. M., Charlesworth, S., & Brennan, D. (2019). Migration Pathways for Frontline Care Workers in Australia and New Zealand: Front Doors, Side Doors, Back Doors and Trap Doors. University of New South Wales Law Journal, 42(1), 211-241.
Scopus25 WoS22
2018 Reilly, A., Howe, J., van den Broek, D., & Wright, C. (2018). Working holiday makers in Australian horticulture: labour market effect, exploitation and avenues for reform. Griffith Law Review, 27(1), 99-130.
DOI Scopus43 WoS41
2018 Howe, J., Stewart, A. J., & Owens, R. (2018). Temporary Migrant Labour and Unpaid Work in Australia. Sydney Law Review, 40(2), 183-211.
DOI WoS10
2018 Howe, J., van den Broek, D., Reilly, A., & Wright, C. F. (2018). A Tale of Two Visas: Interrogating the Substitution Effect between Pacific Seasonal Workers and Backpackers in Addressing Horticultural Labour Supply Challenges and Worker Exploitation. Australian Journal of Labour Law, 31, 209-242.
2018 Howe, J., Berg, L., & Farbenblum, B. (2018). Unfair Dismissal Law and Temporary Migrant Labour in Australia. Federal Law Review, 46(1), 19-47.
2017 Howe, J. (2017). Migrant Rights at Work: Law's Precariousness at the Intersection of Migration and Labour. JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, 59(1), 110-112.
DOI
2016 Howe, J. (2016). Regulation of Australia’s labour migration program: Is there a case for including fairness?. Australian Journal of Labour Law, 29, 58-77.
2016 Howe, J. (2016). Examining a Temporary Migrant Worker’s Ability to make a Complaint of Sexual Harassment. Alternative Law Journal, 41(2), 102-104.
DOI Scopus8 WoS7
2015 Golding, G. E., & Howe, J. (2015). Book Review: The Contract of Employment. Australian Journal of Labour Law, 28, 214-217.
2015 Howe, J. (2015). Scrutinising parliament’s scrutiny of delegated legislative power. Oxford University Commonwealth Law Journal, 15(1), 3-40.
DOI Scopus3
2015 Howe, J., & Reilly, A. (2015). Meeting Australia’s labour needs: the case for a low skill work visa. Federal Law Review, 43(2), 259-287.
2015 Howe, J. (2015). Possibilities and pitfalls involved in expanding Australia’s national workers’ compensation scheme. Melbourne University Law Review, 39(2), 472-506.
Scopus2 WoS1
2015 Golding, G., & Howe, J. (2015). Book Review: The Contract of Employment by Mark Irving.
2014 Howe, J. (2014). Work and employment: Accountability and transparency under the subclass 457 visa program: Is there cause for concern?. AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW, 21(3), 5 pages.
WoS1
2014 Howe, J. (2014). Enterprise migration Agreements under the Subclass 457 Visa: much ado about nothing?. Australian Journal of Labour Law, 27(1), 1-12.
2014 Howe, J. M. (2014). Accountability and Transparency under the Subclass 457 Visa Program: Is there Cause for Concern. Australian Journal of Administrative Law, 139.
2014 Howe, J. (2014). Does Australia need an expert commission to assist with managing its labour migration program?. Australian Journal of Labour Law, 27(3), 1-25.
2014 Howe, J. (2014). Le licenciement de salariés pour utilisation des réseaux sociaux. Analyse de l'approche australienne visant à réglementer l'utilisation par les salariés des technologies de communication en dehors du travail’, Rubrique de jurisprudence sociale comparée. Revue de Droit Compare du Travail et de la Securite Sociale, 2, 96-101.
2013 Howe, J. (2013). Is the net cast too wide? An assessment of whether the regulatory design of the 457 visa meets Australia's skill needs. Federal Law Review, 41(3), 443-469.
2013 Howe, J. (2013). Poles apart?: the contestation between the ideas of no fault dismissal and unfair dismissal for protecting job security. Industrial Law Journal, 42(2), 122-151.
DOI Scopus9 WoS7
2010 Howe, J. M. (2010). The Migration Amendment (Worker Protection) Act 2008: Long Overdue Reform, But Have Migrant Workers been Sold Short?. Australian Journal of Labour Law, 24(2).

Year Citation
2017 Howe, J. (2017). Rethinking Job Security: A Comparative Analysis of Unfair Dismissal Law in the UK, Australia and the USA. United Kingdom: Routledge.
DOI Scopus3
2016 Howe, J., & Owens, R. (Eds.) (2016). The Regulatory Changes to Temporary Labour Migration in the Global Era. United Kingdom: Hart Publishing.
2016 Howe, J., & Owens, R. (2016). Temporary Labour Migration in the Global Era: The Regulatory Challenges.
Scopus26
2015 Bannister, J., Appleby, G., Olijnyk, A., & Howe, J. (2015). Government accountability: Australian Administrative Law. Australia: Cambridge University Press.
2009 Howe, J. M. (2009). The Australian Standard of Employment Rights: A How-to Guide for the workplace. J. Riley (Ed.).

Year Citation
2021 Howe, J. (2021). Regulating International Educational Internships: Opportunities and Challenges. In A. Stewart, R. Owens, N. O'Higgins, & A. Hewitt (Eds.), Internships, Employability and the Search for Decent Work Experience (pp. 208-222). United Kingdom: International Labour Organization and Edward Elgar Publishing.
DOI Scopus1
2021 Howe, J. (2021). Temporary migrant workers and trade unions: a complex relationship. In J. -C. Tham, & C. Kelly (Eds.), Democracy, Social Justice and the Role of Trade Unions (pp. 139-154). Online: Anthem Press.
Scopus1
2018 Howe, J. (2018). Is There a Wages Crisis Facing Skilled Temporary Migrants?. In A. Stewart, J. Stanford, & T. Hardy (Eds.), The Wages Crisis in Australia: What It is and What to Do About It (pp. 203-214). Adelaide; South Australia: University of Adelaide Press.
2017 Owens, R., Stewart, A., Hewitt, A., & Howe, J. (2017). Labour regulation, work experience and youth: lessons from the scholarship of Ann Numhauser-Henning. In M. Rönnmar, & VotiniusJ (Eds.), Festskrift till Ann Numhauser-Henning (pp. 643-659). Lund, Sweden: Juristförlaget in Lund.
2017 Hewitt, A., Owens, R., Stewart, A., & Howe, J. (2017). At the intersection of education and work: young people, equality and regulation of the labour market. In J. Howe, A. Chapman, & I. Landau (Eds.), The Evolving Project of Labour Law Foundations, Development and Future Research Directions (pp. 102-116). Annandale, NSW: Federation Press.
2017 Howe, J. (2017). ‘Predatory Princes’, ‘Migration Merchants’ or ‘Agents of Development’? An Examination of the Legal Regulation of Labour Hire Migration Intermediaries. In J. Howe, A. Chapman, & I. Landau (Eds.), The Evolving Project of Labour Law Foundations, Development and Future Research Directions (pp. 192-205). Annandale, NSW: Federation Press.
2016 Howe, J., & Owens, R. (2016). Introduction to Temporary Labour Migration in the Global Era: The Regulatory Challenges. In J. Howe, & R. Owens (Eds.), Temporary labour migration in the global era: the regulatory challenges (pp. 3-40). United Kingdom: Bloomsbury.
2016 Howe, J. (2016). Contesting the demand-driven orthodoxy: an assessment of the Australian regulation of temporary labour migration. In J. Howe, & R. Owens (Eds.), Temporary Labour Migration in the Global Era: The Regulatory Challenges (pp. 131-147). United Kingdom: Bloomsbury.
Scopus4 WoS6
2015 Howe, J. (2015). Why do so few employees return to their jobs? In pursuit of a right to work following unfair dismissal. In M. Mantouvalou (Ed.), The right to work: legal and philosophical perspectives (pp. 255-274). Oxford, United Kingdom: Hart Publishing.
2015 Howe, J. M. (2015). Determining the scope of a power. In J. Bannister, & G. Appleby (Eds.), Government Accountability: Australian Administrative Law. Cambridge University Press.
2015 Howe, J. M. (2015). Improper Exercise of Power. In J. Bannister, & G. Appleby (Eds.), Government Accountability: Australian Administrative Law. Cambridge University Press.
2015 Howe, J., Sanchez, E., & Stewart, A. (2015). Job loss. In M. Finkin, & G. Mundlak (Eds.), Comparative Labor Law (1 ed., pp. 268-295). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.
DOI Scopus2
2015 Howe, J. (2015). Dignity at work. In C. Ozich (Ed.), Employment rights now: Reflections on the Australian charter of employment rights (pp. 27-32). Richmond, VIC: Hardie Grant Books.
2011 Casale, G., Countouris, N., Fenwick, C., Lee, S., & Howe, J. (2011). Legal Regulation of the Employment Relationship in the Asia-Pacific Region. In G. Casale (Ed.), The Employment Relationship: A Comparative Overview (pp. 189-232). Geneva: Hart.

Year Citation
2016 Howe, J. (2016). "Predatory Princes”, “Migration Merchants” or “Agents of Development”? An Examination of the Legal Regulation of Labour Hire Migration Intermediaries. In University of Melbourne. University of Melbourne.
2016 Howe, J. M. (2016). Assessing Employer Claims of Shortages in Aged Care. In New Research on Pacific Labour Mobility Workshop. Australian National University.
2015 Howe, J. M. (2015). Skills and Immigration. In Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. Australia.
2015 Howe, J. M. (2015). Future directions for the 457 visa. In University of Sydney. University of Sydney.
2015 Howe, J. (2015). Scrutinising Parliament’s Scrutiny of Delegated Legislative Power. In Oxford University Commonwealth Law Journal. University of Cambridge: Taylor & Francis (Routledge): SSH Titles - no Open Select.
2014 Howe, J. M. (2014). Governance and Accountability: Legal and Regulatory Frameworks. In Ingram Symposium on Labour Migration in the Asia Pacific Region. University of New South Wales.
2013 Howe, J. M. (2013). The Evolution and Development of Unfair Dismissal Law in Britain and Australia. In Labour Law Research Network Conference. Barcelona.
2012 Howe, J. M. (2012). The Use and Abuse of Codes of Conduct in Unfair Dismissal Legal Systems. In Re-organising Work. Gold Coast.
2012 Howe, J. M. (2012). Poles Apart? The Contestation between the Ideas of No Fault Dismissal and Unfair Dismissal for Protecting Job Security. In Industrial Law Journal. Sydney: Oxford University Press (OUP): Policy E - Oxford Open Option D.
2009 Howe, J. M. (2009). The Regulatory Challenges Posed by Temporary Labour Migration Programmes – A Critique of the Demand-Driven Approach. In Oñati Institute for the Sociology of Law. Spain.
2009 Howe, J. M. (2009). Temporary Labour Migration in a Globalised World – The Regulatory Challenges. In Oñati Institute for the Sociology of Law (pp. 3-40). Spain: BLOOMSBURY PUBL INC.
Scopus13 WoS34

Year Citation
2022 Ziersch, A., Due, C., Howe, J., Walsh, M., Miller, E., & Flavel, J. (2022). Pathways to employment for social inclusion, health & wellbeing for women from refugee backgrounds.
2021 Howe, J. (2021). Out of the Shadows: A Case for Status Regularisation for Undocumented Migrant Farm Workers.
2021 Hewitt, A., Stewart, A., Owens, R., & Howe, J. (2021). Protecting Students At Work: Australian Universities and regulating for quality work experience. Adelaide Law School, The University of Adelaide.
2020 Howe, J., & Singh, A. (2020). Covid-19 and Undocumented Workers in the Australian Horticulture Industry.
2019 Hewitt, A., Owens, R., Stewart, A., & Howe, J. (2019). Issues of sexual harassment in unpaid work: Submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces. Sydney, NSW: Australian Human Rights Commission.
2019 Howe, J. M., Cibborn, S., Reilly, A., van den Broek, D., & Wright, C. F. (2019). Towards a Durable Future: Tackling Labour Challenges in the Australian Horticulture Industry.
2018 Howe, J. M., & Nikoloudakis, I. (2018). A Critique of the Australian Working Holiday Programme: Options for Reform.
2017 Howe, J. M., Reilly, A., van den Broek, D., & Wright, C. (2017). Sustainable Solutions: The Future of Labour Supply in the Australian Vegetable Industry.
2017 Reilly, A., Howe, J., Berg, L., Farbenblum, B., & Tan, G. (2017). International Students and the Fair Work Ombudsman.
2016 Howe, J. (2016). Redesigning Australia's labour migration program (Migration: the economic debate). Melbourne, Australia: CEDA.
2015 Howe, J. M. (2015). The Impact of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement on Australian job opportunities, wages and conditions. University of Adelaide.
2015 Howe, J. M. (2015). Designing a Best Practice National Workers' Compensation Scheme: Why the Safety, Rehabilitation Compensation Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 does not achieve this. The McKell Institute.

 

Year Institution Name/ID Amount

2018-2021

2017

Commonwealth National Research Grants

University of Flinders

Strong and Resilient Communities grant investigating refugees and work (with Alex Reilly, Anna Zeirsch and Clemence Due)

Migration visas and workplace exploitation and discrimination: Regulatory and complaints mechanisms to protect health and wellbeing

$311,000

$19,910

2016-2017 University of Adelaide Assessing the Economic, Social and Health Outcomes for Migrant Workers in the State Sponsored Employment Schemes, Vice-Chancellor's Interdisciplinary Research Fund $24,920
2016 Fair Work Ombudsman The Experience of International Students in the Australian Labour Market (with Alex Reilly, Bassina Farbenblum and Laurie Berg) $60,000
2016 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Gender, Migration and the Work of Care: Migration and Care in Oceania (with Deborah Brennan and Sara Charlesworth)  
2016-2018 Research Agreement with VegetablesWA Addressing labour supply challenges in the Australian horticulture industry (with Alex Reilly, Stephen Clibborn, Diane van den Broek and Chris Wright) $228,000
2016-2017 Horticulture Innovation Australia Investigating Labour Supply Options Across the Australian Vegetable Industry VG15025 (with Alex Reilly, Diane van den Broek and Chris Wright) $231,000
2015-2018 ARC Discovery Project Work Experience: Labour Law at the Boundary of Work and Education DP150104516 (with Rosemary Owens, Andrew Stewart and Anne Hewitt) $228,000
2014-2015 Oñati Institute for the Sociology of Law (Spain) Temporary Labour Migration in a Gobalised World - the Regulatory Challenges (with Rosemary Owens) $50,000
2013-2014 University of Adelaide Temporary Labour Migration - Addressing Regional Challenges 



Vice-Chancellor's Interdisciplinary Research Fund
$20,000

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2023 Principal Supervisor Criminalising Wage Theft: Possibilities and Pitfalls Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Miss Irene Angela Nikoloudakis
2023 Principal Supervisor Criminalising Wage Theft: Possibilities and Pitfalls Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Miss Irene Angela Nikoloudakis

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2015 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Terms Implied by Law into Employment Contracts: Rethinking their Rationale Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Gabrielle Elisabeth Golding

Date Role Board name Institution name Country
2021 - ongoing Member Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration Minister for Immigration Australia
2017 - 2017 Member WWC Management Committee Working Women's Centre Australia
2015 - ongoing Member Youth Mission Team Australia - -

Date Role Membership Country
2015 - ongoing Representative Adelaide Law School; First Year Co-ordinator Australia
2015 - ongoing Representative Research Process Management Reference Group; University of Adelaide Australia
2015 - ongoing Representative Human Research Ethics Committee low risk committee, Univeristy of Adelaide Australia
2013 - 2016 Director Next Steps Seminar Program; Adelaide Law School -

Date Institution Department Organisation Type Country
2015 - ongoing - - - Australia
2015 - ongoing - - - Australia
2009 - ongoing - - - -
2009 - ongoing - - - -

Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
2014 - ongoing Editor Australian Journal of Administrative Law - Australia

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