She has previously held posts at Griffith University and the University of Technology, Sydney. Her teaching fields include sociology of education, research methods, pedagogy and school leadership. Debra's research is located in contexts where there are high levels of poverty and difference. She draws upon systems of thinking that focus on the effects of disadvantage to examine how these are constituted by schooling discourses and teaching practices. Debra works closely with school and system–based educators in the public system, as well as community–based service providers. Debra is a former secondary school science teacher.