Professor Melissa Crouch
BA/LLB (Hons), University of Melbourne
PhD, University of Melbourne
Melissa's research contributes to the fields of law and society;Ìýcomparative constitutional law;Ìýand law and religion,with a focus on Indonesia and Myanmar. Her current research for her ARC Future Fellowship is on the role of the military as a constitutional actor in Asia. This project builds on her earlier ARC Discovery Project on constitutions in authoritarian regimes, which focused on Myanmar (2018-23). The main output of that project is the book, The Palimpsest Constitution: The Social Life of Constitutional Legacies in Myanmar (OUP, forthcoming 2025).Ìý
Melissa's publications contribute to studies of constitutionalism in the Global South, the role of constitutions and courts in authoritarian regimes, and legal pluralism.ÌýFor example, she is the author ofÌýÌý(2019)Ìý(shortlisted for the Australian Legal Research Awards inaugural book award)Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌýÌý(2014).ÌýShe has published in a range of peer-reviewed journals including LawÌý& Society Review, Law & Social Inquiry, Annual Review of Law & Social Sciences,ÌýOxford Journal of Legal Studies ²¹²Ô»åÌýInternational Journal of Constitutional Law. SheÌýis the editor of several volumes, including (OUP 2023),Ìý (CUP 2021) and (CUP 2019).Ìý
She is a Fellow of the . She currently serves as the Past President on the council of theÌýÌý(2025-26), the peak academic body for the study of Asia in Australia. She is the recipient of the Ìý2022 for outstanding scholarship of an early career socio-legal scholar, awarded by the Research Committee on the Sociology of Law, the .ÌýShe has also been awarded a , Kyoto University, Japan; the University of Indonesia Visiting Fellowship; and the University of Melbourne K. She servesÌýon the editorial board of (2023-25), the and the , among other journals.Ìý
At Â鶹Éçmadou, she runs the Asia Law & Policy Forum, ²¹²Ô»åÌýis also co-director with Theunis Roux of the project on . From 2019-21 she was Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Law. Prior to Â鶹Éçmadou, she worked at the National University of Singapore, the University of Melbourne and Monash University.
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- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
2025-28, Australian Research Council,Ìý.Ìý$1,205,235.00 (awarded 2024)
2021-23, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade Sri Lanka Knowledge & Linkages for an Inclusive Economy Grant on ', in partnership with Dr Mario Gomez, International Centre for Ethnic Studies, Sri LankaÌý
2019-20, Australia-ASEAN Council grant,ÌýWing Wah Tham
2019, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung grant forÌýworkshop on
2019, ASAA Workshop Grant for bursaries for students to attend the 'at Â鶹Éçmadou
2019, Australian Academy of Humanities, grant to support the Early Career Workshop of the at Â鶹Éçmadou
2019, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung grant forÌýworkshop onÌýthe Panel Stream
2018-21, ARC Discovery Grant, Chief Investigator, "
2017-19, Â鶹Éçmadou IGD Myanmar Seed Funds, "
2016-19, Asian Development Bank,
2016, New Colombo Plan funding forÌýÂ鶹Éçmadou Myanmar Law Ambassadors ProgramÌý(scholarships for law students).
2016-17,ÌýÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýÂ鶹Éçmadou Indonesia Seed Grant, with Dr Fritz Siregar, University of Indonesia, Jakarta. Project:Ìý‘Administrative Justice in Indonesia’.
2016, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS),Ìý, Workshops with the Constitutional Tribunal of Myanmar, (with T Roux).
2015-18, Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)ÌýÌý on Building Constitutionalism in Myanmar (with W Sadurski, T Roux, M Krygier and C Renshaw).
2015, Faculty Research Grant, Project:ÌýFrom Military Rule to Rule of Law in Myanmar;ÌýEarly Career Grant;ÌýFaculty Workshop Support Scheme, Â鶹Éçmadou Law:Ìý
2014-15, Harvard Law School'sÌý, Project: ‘Authority and Islam: An Ethnography of Fatwa in Myanmar’
2013-14, Research & Conference Grant, Project: ‘Law, Governance & Minorities in Myanmar’;Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌýMyanmar Law Reform Project Fund (for workshops in Myanmar),Ìý, National University of Singapore
2012–13, Postdoctoral Research Support Funds, Law Faculty, National University of Singapore
2012,Ìý
2010, Melbourne Abroad Travelling Scholarship; MA Bartlett Research Scholarship Fund Competitive Funding; and Research Support Funds, the University of Melbourne
2024, ,
2024, , the State University of New York at Buffalo (6 months)
2024, Postgraduate Supervisor of the Year Award (Law), Honorable Mention,ÌýPostgraduate Council and Graduate Research School, the University of New South Wales
2023, (for the article 'Judicial Loyalty to the Military in Authoritarian Regimes' Law & Social Inquiry 2022)
2023, Visiting Research Fellowship, , Kyoto University, Japan (3 months)
2022, for outstanding scholarship of an early career socio-legal scholar, awarded by the Research Committee on the Sociology of Law, International Sociological Association.
2022, Visiting Scholars Scheme, Faculty of Law, University of Diponegoro (Semarang, Indonesia)
2021, Visiting Scholars Scheme, Faculty of Law, University of Brawijaya (Malang, Indonesia)
2021,ÌýÌý(Law)Postgraduate Council and Graduate Research School, the University of New South Wales
2021, Finalist,Ìý of the Ìý
2020, Shortlisted for the inaugural of the Council of Australian Law Deans, for the book The Constitution of Myanmar: A Contextual Analysis
2019, , "Legal Legacies of Authoritarian Regimes"
2018,Ìýl, University of Melbourne
2017, University of Indonesia Resolv Visiting Scholars Fellowship, Faculty of Law (Jakarta, Indonesia)
2012, International Institute of Asian Studies, Visiting Fellowship, the Netherlands
2009, Endeavour Australia Research Fellowship
2008-11, Australian Research Council Federation FellowshipÌý‘Islam & Modernity in Southeast Asia' () Doctoral Scholarship and Travel Scholarships
Current projects include:
Defending Constitutional Democracy: The Military and the Constitution in Asia
Women judges in Asia
Ìý
Ìý
Service to Academic Associations and Editorial Boards
Past President & Councillor,ÌýÌý(2025-26)
Board member, Research Committee of the Sociology of Law (RCSL) (2024-25)Ìý
Editorial Board, (2023-)
Editorial Board, (2023-24)Ìý
Advisory Board, , Faculty of Law, University of Trunojoyo, Madura, Indonesia (2023-)
Advisory Board, , Dept of Constitutional Law, Shariah Faculty, Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Intan Lampung, Indonesia (2023-)
Editorial Board, (est. 2021-)
Editorial Board, , Faculty of Sharia and Law, State Islamic University of Walisongo, Indonesia (2022-)
Reviewer, , University of Airlangga (2022-)
Editorial Board, , Indonesian Consortium for Human Rights Lecturers (2021-)
Editorial Board, , Sharia Faculty, Institut Agama Islam Negeri Batusangkar (2021-)
Editorial Board, , Universitas Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry, Banda Aceh, Indonesia (2019-)
Editorial Board, , State Islamic University of Bandung, Indonesia (2019-)
Advisory Board, , Samarinda Institute of Islamic Studies, IAIN, Indonesia (2018-)
Editorial Board,ÌýÌýNational University of Singapore
Editorial Board, , ASAA, NUS Press
Editorial Board, , ASAA, Routledge
Member, Law and Society Association;ÌýAsian Studies Association of Australia;ÌýAsian Law and Society Association; International Society of Public Law (ICON-S); International Association of Constitutional Law (IACL); Australian Association of Islamic and Muslim Studies
Senior Associate, Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society, University of Melbourne
Former roles
President,ÌýÌý(2023-24); organised John Legge Best Thesis Prize; Reid Book Prize
Committee member for Best Article Prize, Asian Law & Society Association (2024)
Vice-president,ÌýAsian Studies Association of Australia (2021-22), Wang Gungwu Best Article Prize
Secretary, Association for Mainland Southeast Asia Scholars (AMSEAS) (2017-19)
Secretary, Asian Studies Association of Australia (2019-20), and Committee member, Wang Gungwu Best Article Prize; Early Career Book Prize; Postdoctoral Writing Grant; Postgraduate Bursary Awards
Committee member, PhD Award, Australian Law Research Awards (CALD) (2020)
Advisory Board, Australian Consortium for In-Country Indonesian Studies (ACICIS), IndonesianÌýLaw Practicum (2018)
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My Teaching
My teaching interests include Constitutionalism in the Global South; Constitution-making; Law and Society; Comparative Law; Asian Legal Systems; and Law and Religion in Asia.ÌýI have taught a range of workshops overseas, including on Judicial Independence; Principles and Processes of Constitution-making; The Role of Courts in Democratisation; Constitutional Courts in Federal Systems; Federalism and Minority Rights; and Emergency Powers.ÌýAt Â鶹Éçmadou, I teach the following: (LAWS3167; JURD7567; LAWS8500) ²¹²Ô»åÌýÌý(LAWS8375/JURD7975); ²¹²Ô»åÌý). I also teach Principles of Public Law (LAWS1141).
I am interested in considering proposals for research supervision in the following areas: law and society; comparative constitutional law; law and governance; law and religion. This includesÌýIndonesian law (constitutional law, administrative law, criminal law, legal pluralism and Islamic law);ÌýMyanmar law (public law, legal pluralism and socio-legal studies); ²¹²Ô»åÌýSoutheast Asian law and legal traditions, comparative or socio-legal studies on the region. I am available to supervise LLB, LLM and PhD research thesis.
SupervisionÌý
Existing PhD supervision:
Tirtawening Parikesit, 'Access to Justice for Child Victims of Sexual Abuse in Indonesia' (LPDP scholarship)
Natasha Naidu, 'The System of Indian indentured labour in Fiji: A Socio-legal Analysis' (Westpac Asia Scholar)
Jessica Marpaung, 'The Eradication of Gender-Based Violence against Women in Indonesia' (Australia Awards scholarship)
Mohammad Ibrahim, 'Stealth Theocracy in Democratic Indonesia' (Â鶹Éçmadou scholarship)
Ali Salmande, The Role of Indonesian Domestic Courts in Promoting ASEAN Regional Integration' (LPDP scholarship)
Raisa Annisa, 'Conflict of Interest in Policy Responses during an Emergency in Indonesia' (Â鶹Éçmadou scholarship)
Abdul Halim, 'The Regulation of Judges in Indonesia' (Australia Awards scholarship)
Titis Anindyajati, 'The Enforcement of Indonesian Constitutional Court Decisions' (LPDP scholarship)
Supervision completions (PhD)
Mhd Abu Sayeed, 'Constitutionalism of the Other: Non-Sovereign Politics in Gandhi and Agamben' (Â鶹Éçmadou scholarship)
Chuhunvoleak Srun, 'Access to Justice in Cambodian Commercial Land Disputes' (Â鶹Éçmadou scholarship)
Ayesha Wijayalath, 'Constraining Abusive Constitutional ChangeÌýin Sri Lanka' (Scientia Fellow)
Maidina Rahmawati, 'Restorative Justice in the Criminal Investigation Process in Indonesia' (LLM) (Australia Awards)
Emma Dunlop, 'Justice in Exile: A study of stateÌýobligations to ensure refugees access to courts under international law' (Â鶹Éçmadou scholarship)
Ashraf Azad, 'Irregular Migration of Rohingya Refugees from Myanmar to Bangladesh and Malaysia' (Â鶹Éçmadou scholarship)
Nikki Edwards, 'Civil Society and Legal Activism in Southeast Asia' (external, USyd)
Mahaarum Kusuma Pertiwi, 'Religion and the Indonesian Constitutional Court' (external, Macquarie)
Luke Potter, 'Decentralised Government and Disaster Displacement ReductionÌýin Small Island States in the Pacific'
Indriaswati Dyah Saptaningrum, ‘Internet Regulation in Indonesia 1990-2018: An Inquiry into a Contested Regulatory Field' (Australia Awards)
Xu Zhuangsi, ‘The Implications of International Human Rights Law on China’s Protection of MinorityÌýLanguage Rights’Ìý
Milda Istiqomah, 'Factors Contributing to Terrorism Sentencing Outcomes in Indonesia' (LPDP scholarship)
Supervision completions (JD, LLB, LLM)
LLM research thesis, Maidina Rahmawati, 'The Role of Restorative Justice: A Case Study of Drug Offences in Indonesia'Ìý
LLM research thesis, Yance Arizona, 'Becoming Indigenous Citizens in Indonesia' (external, Onati)
JD research thesis: Sai Myint Aung, 'Law and Economic Development in Myanmar: A Case Study of the Central Bank'
LLB research thesis: Jarrod Mitchell, 'Community Stability and Adat Law in Indonesia';ÌýGoran Matic, 'Toward a Modern Egyptian Constitution'; Elsa Lo, 'A Constitutionally Islamic Malaysia'