Rate My Professor Belinda Harrison

Belinda Harrison is a Lecturer in the School of Accounting and Finance within the College of Business and Law at Adelaide University. She holds the key role of supervisor and co-manager of the UniSA Tax teaching clinic, a vital community service that delivers free and confidential tax advice to individuals without professional representation. The clinic's core mission encompasses education, representation, advocacy, and practical guidance for diverse taxpayer groups, including recent migrants to Australia learning to prepare their own tax returns, entrepreneurs establishing new businesses, and those grappling with multiple overdue lodgements and associated debts. This initiative not only supports underserved communities but also provides students with immersive, practical training in tax compliance and client interaction.

Bringing over two decades of hands-on experience in the tax and accounting profession, gained across Australia and international settings, Harrison imparts a comprehensive and pragmatic skill set to both clinic operations and academic instruction. Her expertise as a registered tax agent, affiliated with the clinic since 2019, enables the program to function under the full registered tax agent model, handling complex cases such as determinations of taxable supplies under GST, interpretations of assessable income, personal services income classifications, and deductibility of losses or outgoings. In 2023, the clinic, under her involvement, extended outreach to the Kiribati community in Naracoorte working under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme, demonstrating commitment to regional and migrant support. Academically, she contributes to student development by teaching specialized courses including ACCT 3017 Tax Clinic in 2024 and 2025, and ACCT 5032 Tax Clinic M in 2025, fostering research, logical reasoning, and professional readiness for tax consulting careers. Harrison co-authored a significant publication, 'Slipping through the cracks: deficiencies in the Australian taxation office's application of its compliance model,' appearing in the Australian Tax Review (53(3), 1-19, 2024) with C. Vitale, D. Castelyn, and R. Whait, critiquing ATO compliance practices. Her work aligns with the National Tax Clinic Program, enhancing access to tax services and professional education.