Dr Honan has worked as a tenured academic in Australian Universities for more than 15 years. She began her academic career as a project officer and research assistant while studying for her PhD which was awarded in 2001. Her work in the field of education began in primary (elementary) education in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Dr Honan has been involved in research related to the use of digital texts in literacy classrooms, the development of professional learning models for teachers working in remote and isolated areas, and consultancies evaluating curriculum implementation. She has worked in cross-cultural research teams, on both large and small scale research projects, using both qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Dr Honan has supervised more than 15 doctoral students in their research projects, from a number of countries including Indonesia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Samoa, New Zealand, Taiwan, and Nigeria. Her students have won awards for their theses and published books and journal articles drawing on their doctoral research.

Dr Honan has published more than 20 book chapters, 25 articles in international peer-reviewed journals, and 30 presentations at national and international conferences. She has been invited to deliver more than 10 keynote addresses and seminars. Dr Honan has also published in more informal contexts including publications aimed at practising teachers, newsletters and newspaper articles, and blog posts and online news journals.

Dr Honan serves on Editorial Boards of international peer-reviewed journals and journals for teacher practitioners. She has acted as a peer-reviewer for more than 15 journals as well as reviewing abstracts submitted to conferences.