Associate Professor Michael Carey is a core member of the Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre (ITRC) at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC). He is Associate Professor in Secondary Education and Professional Learning, specialising in English language and literacy education.

He brings more than two decades of experience in applied linguistics including TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), speech science (pronunciation & perception), academic writing, language testing and assessment (e.g. IELTS), and literacy education at secondary and tertiary levels.

Research Focus

Dr Carey’s research addresses language and literacy in English-language education, with a strong focus on fair and valid assessment practices, second language acquisition, interlanguage pronunciation variation, and promoting appreciation for non-standard and transcultural forms of English.

He uses mixed-methods research designs to evaluate and improve outcomes in language testing, teacher education, and ESL/EFL teaching especially in multilingual and multicultural contexts.

Key Research Impact

• Dr Carey’s early work on speaking-test rater bias notably the study Does a rater’s familiarity with a candidate’s pronunciation affect the rating in oral proficiency interviews? has become foundational in global English-language testing debates, influencing rating scale design and training in high-stakes tests such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
• By advocating for recognition of diverse English varieties and challenging accent-based bias, his work supports more equitable English-language policies benefiting ESL/EFL learners, migrants, and multilingual communities, and aligning with transcultural and equity values championed by the ITRC.
• In the context of teacher and tertiary education, his curriculum materials and assessment frameworks contribute to better-prepared educators capable of teaching English and literacy in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms.

Recent Grants & Projects

Dr Carey remains actively engaged in research through the UniSC “Assessment, Testing and Evaluation” research cluster, where he acts as an advisor. Recent and ongoing projects include:

• A 2023–2024 project: Investigating the effects of varying Accelerative Integrated Method instruction on spoken recall accuracy in junior-primary learners of French (International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching) reflecting his expertise in language acquisition, teaching methods and assessment.
• A 2023 study on English-language education: Measuring Australian preservice teachers’ Asia capability and perceived readiness to teach the Asia cross-curricular priority (Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 48(6)), contributing to pedagogical capacity for culturally and linguistically inclusive teaching across curricula.
• A 2024–2025 research output under the cluster: Revisiting raters’ accent familiarity in speaking tests: Evidence that presentation mode interacts with accent familiarity to affect comprehensibility ratings (Language Testing). This work revisits pronunciation bias and scoring reliability in oral language assessment a timely contribution to fairness in high-stakes testing.

These projects demonstrate his sustained commitment to improving language testing, equity in assessment, and effective ESL / EFL pedagogy.

Translation to Practice and Policy

• His research on pronunciation, accent bias and assessment reliability has international reach influencing how language tests such as IELTS are administered and evaluated, thereby affecting millions of English-language learners worldwide.
• Through his curriculum materials, university teaching and supervision of Higher Degree Research candidates, Dr Carey builds capacity among future educators, influencing how English/literacy and assessment practices unfold in schools and tertiary institutions.
• His commitment to language diversity and recognition of non-standard English forms supports inclusive educational practices and transcultural respect aligning with ITRC’s focus on social equity, cultural diversity and educational access.

Recognition and Significance

• Dr Carey has received national recognition for teaching and learning excellence: he was awarded a Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning by the (then) Commonwealth Office for Learning and Teaching.
• His internationally influential work on test fairness and pronunciation bias continues to be cited and included in major linguistic reference collections, underlining his long-term impact on language testing research and practice worldwide.
• His role in the ITRC strengthens UniSC’s capacity to address issues of language, literacy, multiculturalism and assessment equity fitting with the Centre’s mission to advance socially relevant, transcultural research.