Melissa Castan

Melissa Castan is an Australian human rights scholar and educator. Castan is a Professor of Law in the Monash University Faculty of Law at Monash University and is the incumbent Director of the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, also based in the Monash University Faculty of Law.
== Early life and education ==
Castan is the daughter of Australian barrister and human rights advocate Ron Castan, who is best known for his role as senior counsel to Eddie Mabo in the Mabo v Queensland (No 2)|Mabo case which abolished the doctrine of terra nullius and recognised Indigenous land rights in Australia land rights in Australian common law. Castan (a recent graduate at the time) was involved in this case, assisting her father and the rest of Mabo's legal team.
Castan holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Arts from Monash University, a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne and a Diploma of Education|Graduate Diploma of Education from Monash University. In 2018, Castan completed her Doctor of Philosophy at Monash University. Castan's thesis was entitled 'Competing frameworks for Indigenous recognition: International, Australian and Victorian approaches'. In addition to these academic qualifications, Castan is an Australian Legal Practitioner, having been admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia in 1992.
== Career ==
Castan is a legal academic and educator who specialises in international human rights law, constitutional law, the Rights of indigenous peoples and the law affecting Indigenous peoples. Early in her career, Castan was a Research Assistant to her father, the renowned barrister and human rights advocate Ron Castan AM QC in hearings before the Supreme Court of Queensland (1989) and the High Court of Australia (1991) as part of the Mabo case. Between 1988 and 1999 Castan ran a café in Smith Street, Collingwood called Dr Caligaris.
Castan has significant experience in legal academic and education, and prior to her present appointments was an Associate professor|Associate Professor in the Monash University Faculty of Law at Monash University since 2018. Castan previously held the position of Deputy Director and Deputy Director (Academic) at the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law|Castan Centre. Castan was promoted to Professor of Law in August 2022 and is also currently Associate Dean (Staffing). Castan has also sat on the Board of the Victoria Law Foundation, having been appointed by the Attorney-General of Victoria|Attorney-General in 2016 and is the National Editor of the Alternative Law Journal. 
Castan has also co-authored a number of leading human rights publications, including: 
* Sarah Joseph and Melissa Castan, The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Cases, Materials, and Commentary (Oxford University Press, 3rd ed, 2013);
* Sarah Joseph and Melissa Castan, Federal Constitutional Law: A Contemporary View (Thomson Reuters Law Book Co, 5th ed, 2019);
* Kate Galloway, Melissa Castan and John Flood, The Global Lawyer (Lexis Nexis, 2019);
* Janina Boughey, Lisa Burton Crawford, Maria O'Sullivan and Melissa Castan, Public Law and Statutory Interpretation: Principles and Practice (The Federation Press, 2nd ed, 2021);
* Paula Gerber and Melissa Catsan (eds), Critical Perspectives on Human Rights Law in Australia (Thomson Reuters Law Book Co, 2021) vol 1; and 
* Paula Gerber and Melissa Castan (eds), Critical Perspectives on Human Rights Law in Australia (Thomson Reuters Law Book Co, 2022) vol 2.
Category:Australian human rights activists
Category:Australian educators