Assoc Prof Tamara Young

Associate Professor Tamara Young’s research focuses on the interactions between travelling and travelled cultures for sustainable tourism futures. Tamara works in critical tourism studies as a qualitative researcher focusing on the lived experiences of individuals and communities. For travelling cultures, tourism exposes individuals to transformative educational experiences through intercultural encounters with places, people and cultures. For travelled cultures, as societal awareness of the multi-faceted impacts of tourism on societies and cultures continues to grow, there is demand for responsible and inclusive tourism practices and policies informed by evidence attuned to community values and needs. 

Research Expertise and Leadership

Tamara is currently leading four research projects, in collaboration with colleagues in the College of Human and Social Futures, that contribute to the global agenda for the role of tourism in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Young voices, sustainable choices: shaping the future in tourism. This research explores how young people (aged 18-29) in the Asia-Pacific are leading sustainable practices for peace, justice, and reconciliation. This multi-phase qualitative project examines values-led tourism experiences and youth entrepreneurship in sustainable tourism initiatives. The project focuses on the roles of young people in fostering inclusive tourism, particularly through their capacity for innovation and participation in the industry as activists and entrepreneurs. Through the analysis of local and global best practices, this project highlights the impact of youth advocacy on tourism policy. Aligning with international priorities of responsible, sustainable, and inclusive tourism, this research seeks to empower young people to shape the future of tourism, supporting community sustainability and intercultural dialogue.

Place-based reflections: lived and mobile encounters of the past, present and future. This research explores the evolving identity of Stockton, known as Burrahihngarn to the Worimi people, a coastal tourism destination in regional NSW. The project investigates the lived experiences of residents through multi-generational perspectives to understand how place is constructed through memories, practices, and imaginings. Through innovative and creative methods of qualitative data collection coupled with archival research, this study captures multi-layered narratives at the intersection of travelled and travelling cultures. This research emphasises the significance of place for both resident and mobile communities. The outcomes aim to lead change in regional tourism by documenting and promoting deep engagement with place, advancing inclusive and sustainable place-based tourism initiatives.  

Indigenist approaches to tourism research and education: a framework of Indigenous engagement. This project offers an Indigenist approach to reframing tourism research and tourism education through the ‘Spectrum of Indigenous Engagement’ (Calvin & Young et al., 2024; Young & Calvin, 2024 forthcoming). Positioned at the nexus of critical Indigenous studies and critical tourism scholarship, our research advocates for embedding Indigenous ways of knowing and being into tourism research, scholarship and curricula. Using this framework, we highlight inclusive methods for meaningful and respectful engagement with Indigenous peoples and communities. Our work aims to provoke increased reflexivity and dialogue within the tourism research community. By amplifying Indigenous voices and embedding Indigenous knowledges, this project advances tourism scholarship and education, emphasising tourism’s transformative potential to shape societies and cultures. 

Leading industry collaborations to shape regional tourism: Tamara is an industry-engaged researcher leading collaboration with local government and tourism associations in Newcastle and the Hunter Region to develop and conduct research that supports the knowledge needs of the tourism industry. These collaborations have led to several industry-funded projects including, most recently, the City of Newcastle Industry Response Project Hometown Holiday: Recovery and Resilience for the Newcastle Visitor Economy (2021-2022) that developed industry partnerships and facilitated collaboration to give back to the city through direct economic impact during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tamara was awarded the 2021 College Excellence Award for Industry Engagement for driving the city-shaping outcomes of this project.

Teaching Expertise and Leadership

Tamara has led tourism education initiatives at the University of Newcastle for over 15 years. She has substantial teaching experience in a range of undergraduate courses in the areas of tourism and leisure studies, and media and cultural studies since 1999. Tamara’s teaching excellence has been recognised through prestigious university, industry and national awards including, most recently, the Newcastle Tourism Industry Group Employee of the Year Award (2024) in recognition of extensive contributions to educating the next generation of tourism professionals.

Tamara’s values-led pedagogical approach prioritises ethics and responsibility, aiming to develop world-changing graduates and global citizens to lead sustainable tourism futures. Her research expertise and industry collaborations add both weight and value to her teaching, ensuring the curriculum covers local and global contexts through authentic, industry-relevant, problem-based learning. Her achievements in this space was recently recognised by the 2023 College Excellence Award for Work Integrated Learning.

Tamara co-led the establishment of the Newcastle International Hotel School and developed the flagship Bachelor of Tourism, Hospitality and Events program. She is currently co-investigator on the multidisciplinary whole-of-university project 'Setting higher education research priorities’ drawing on her extensive experience in higher education across business and social science programs. As Vice-Chair of the Council for Australasian Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE), Tamara advocates for increased recognition and support for tourism higher education within industry and government. Further, through international higher education projects, such as the Degrees of Change project, Tamara collaborates with networks of tourism educators to share best practices in tourism education that positions our students as advocates of change for sustainable tourism futures.