Joy has worked for over 35 years as an educator, scholar, researcher and research supervisor at The University of New South Wales, The University of Sydney and Charles Sturt University. She has held appointments as visiting scholar and consultant to a number of Australian and international tertiary institutions. In 2004, Joy received a Member of the Order of Australia award for service to health science education through course development, academic and administrative contributions and research into teaching methods. She was awarded an Australian Teaching and Learning Council Fellowship in 2010. Joy is a member of the Australian Learning and Teaching Fellows Network. In 2015, Joy was appointed a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK. Professor Joy Higgs' key roles at CSU are promoting the advancement of professional practice and education through collaborations in research, scholarship, student supervision, education, organisational change and networking. Joy's research interests are linked to professional practice (the nature of practice across professions, practice wisdom, professionalism, the changing shape of professions in work and society), higher education (quality and innovations), professional education (pedagogies, socialisation, expectations of graduates), practice-based education (pedagogy, curriculum frameworks) and qualitative research strategies.