Children and Families Research Centre

Children and Families Research Centre | 1

Children and Families

Research Centre A Macquarie University Centre

Institute of Early Childhood

2 | Children and Families Research Centre

CFRC Mission Statement:

To conduct high quality interdisciplinary research that contributes to

knowledge about the learning and development of children and families

with a commitment to applying research to policy recommendations and

outreach activities in a variety of communities.


Contents

Introduction 4

Management of the Centre 5

CFRC Advisory Board 5

CFRC International Advisory Board 6

CFRC Management Committee 6

CFRC Members 7

Staff at the Centre 8

PhD Scholarship Students 13

Research Activities at CFRC in 2008 14

Centre-based Research Projects 14

Research by CFRC Members 17

Research Grants 17

Publications 18

Conference Presentations 20

Research Colloquia 23

Community Outreach 24

Learning about Parenting Conference 24

Parents as Teachers Training 25

Contribution to Teaching 26

Visitors to the Centre 27

Funding for CFRC in 2008 28

Community Links and Research Collaboration 30

Awards and Recognition for CFRC Members 31


Introduction Professor Jennifer Bowes Director

From 2009, the Children and Families Research Centre has had the status of a Macquarie University Centre. It was one of the aims of the CFRC when it began as a Division research centre to reach this status within two years and we are all delighted that this has been achieved. With University recognition we will have administrative support over the next five years to build the CFRC to the point where we can apply, in conjunction with other centres with a similar agenda, to become a national centre devoted to research on children and families.

To achieve university centre research status after only 18 months of formal operation is a great credit to all the members of the centre and our management and advisory boards. Everyone has been involved in setting the strategic direction of the centre for the past two years and in helping to implement new programs of research as well as continuing current research.

Special thanks for their vision and support go to Sir John Carrick for his long-term encouragement, Mr John Pascoe AO (Chair, Management Committee) and Professor Alan Hayes (Chair, Advisory Board).

Within the centre, many thanks to Associate Professor Julie Fitness (Deputy Director), Cheryl Murray (Administrative Officer), Dr Rebekah Grace (Postdoctoral Fellow), Dr Wayne Warburton (Postdoctoral Fellow) and Colm Halbert (Faculty Research Manager) for their contribution to the application for University status for the CFRC.

This Annual Report documents the achievements of the Children and Families Research Centre in 2008. We are entering a new phase of consolidation after a period of establishment and growth in 2008 and look forward to the achievements and challenges ahead.

Professor Jennifer Bowes,

CFRC Director


Management of the Centre

The external Management Committee chaired by Mr John Pascoe AO and the Advisory Board chaired by Professor Alan Hayes each met in March and September 2008 to advise the research centre on its establishment and strategic directions. The Members of the research centre met on a monthly basis to discuss the research agenda and implementation of the Management Committee and Advisory Board’s recommendations.

Professor Alan Hayes (Left)

Chair of the CFRC Advisory Board

CFRC Advisory Board

Professor Alan Hayes - Director, Australian Institute of Family Studies, Melbourne (Children and Families Research Centre Chair)

Professor Jennifer Bowes - Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University (Children and Families Research Centre Director and Founder)

Associate Professor Judy Cashmore - Faculty of Law, University of Sydney

Ms Delma Davison - NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (NSW AECG)

Dr Andrew Dowling - Australian Council for Educational Research

Mr Victor Evatt - President, Australian Association for Infant Mental Health

Associate Professor Julie Fitness - Department of Psychology and the Vice-President of Academic Senate and Children and Families Research Centre Deputy Director

Professor Cathrine Fowler - Centre for Midwifery, Child & Family Health, University of Technology, Sydney

Dr Rob Simons - Head of Research and Evaluation, The Smith Family

Ms Lyn Stewart - Treasurer, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Childhood Services Advisory Group (ATSIECSAG)

Mr Carlo Svagelli - President, NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group

Ms Jayne Meyer Tucker – National Director, Good Beginnings

Professor Graham Vimpani - President, National Investment for the Early Years (NIFTeY)

Dr Peter Walsh - Director, Department of Community Services (DoCS), NSW

Dr John Eastwood - School of Public Health & Community Medicine, University of NSW and Dept of Paediatrics, SSWAHS


CFRC International Advisory Board

Professor Carol Aubury - Director of

Research, Institute of Education,

University of Warwick, UK

Professor Ann C Crouter – Professor,

Department of Human Development

Studies and Dean, College of Health and

Human Development Pennsylvania State

University, USA

Dr Silvia Lopez Larossa - Department of

Psychology and Education, University of

La Coruna, Spain

Dr Nirmala Rao - Faculty of Education,

University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Dr Seyed Jalal Sadrossadat - Head of

Research Faculty, University of Social

Welfare and Rehabilitation Services, Iran

CFRC Management Committee

Mr John Pascoe AO - Chief Federal

Magistrate, Federal Magistrate’s Court

(Children and Families Research Centre

Chair)

Professor Jennifer Bowes - Institute of

Early Childhood, Macquarie University

(Children and Families Research Centre

Director and Founder)

Associate Professor Julie Fitness -

Department of Psychology and the Vice-

President of Academic Senate, Macquarie

University (Children and Families

Research Centre Deputy Director)

Professor Elizabeth More - Deputy Vice

Chancellor, Development and External

Relations, Macquarie University

Ms Caroline Trotman – Deputy Vice

Chancellor, Development and External

Relations

Professor Max Coltheart – Professor of

Psychology and Director of Macquarie

Centre for Cognitive Science

Professor Alan Rice - Dean, Australian

Centre for Educational Studies, Macquarie

University

Associate Professor Jane Torr - Head,

Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie

University

Mr Mark Ellis - Manager, Research

Office, Macquarie University

Ms Ginie Udy - Chief Executive Officer,

SDN Children’s Services

Mr Colm Halbert - Division Research &

HDR Manager, Linguistics and

Psychology, Macquarie University


CFRC Members Dr Maria Amigo – Children and Families Research Centre, Macquarie University

Professor Jennifer Bowes - Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University (CFRC Director and Founder)

Emeritus Associate Professor Ailsa Burns - Dept of Pyschology, Macquarie University

Ms Siu Mui Chan - PhD Student, Macquarie University

Dr Kathy Cologon - Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University

Dr Sheila Degotardi - Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University

Ms Michelle Dickson - Dept of Psychology, Macquarie University

Dr Marianne Fenech – Children and Families Research Centre, Macquarie University

Associate Professor Michael Fine - Department of Sociology, Macquarie University

Associate Professor Julie Fitness - Department of Psychology and the Vice-President of Academic Senate, Macquarie University (CFRC Deputy Director)

Ms Loraine Fordham - PhD Student, Macquarie University

Dr Frances Gibson - Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University

Emeritus Professor Jacqueline Goodnow - Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University

Dr Rebekah Grace – Children and Families Research Centre, Macquarie University

Dr Linda Graham – School of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney

Dr Linda Harrison - School of Teacher Education, Charles Sturt University

Dr Marina Harvey - Institute for Higher Education Research and Development, Macquarie University

Dr Kerry Hodge - Children and Families Research Centre, Macquarie University

Dr Coral Kemp - Special Education Centre, Macquarie University

Dr Rozanne Lilley – Associate Member

Associate Professor Julian Leslie - Dept of Statistics, Macquarie University

Dr Catherine McMahon - Dept of Psychology, Macquarie University

Dr Anne McMaugh - School of Education, Macquarie University

Dr Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett - Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University

Dr Nick Parr – Department of Business, Macquarie University

Dr Emma Pearson - Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University

Dr Naomi Sweller – Children and Families Research Centre, Macquarie University

Dr Alan Taylor - Dept of Psychology, Macquarie University

Ms Rosalind Walsh - PhD Student, Macquarie University

Professor Manjula Waniganayake - Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University

Dr Wayne Warburton - Children and Families Research Centre, Macquarie University

Dr Peter Whiteman - Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University

Dr Shirley Wyver - Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University


Staff at the Centre

From L-R Bottom Row: Prof Jennifer Bowes, Dr Maria Amigo, Dr Marianne Fenech Top Row: Dr Kerry Hodge, Dr Rebekah

Grace, Ms Cheryl Murray, Dr Naomi Sweller Absent: A/Prof Julie Fitness and Dr Wayne Warburton

Professor Jennifer Bowes: Director.

Professor Jennifer Bowes is a Professorial Fellow at the Institute of Early Childhood,

Macquarie University and founding Director of the CFRC. In 2009 she became Associate

Dean, Research for the Faculty of Human Sciences. She has a research background in

educational and developmental psychology and is leader of two longitudinal Child Care

Choices research projects, a longitudinal investigation of the effects of multiple and

changeable child care in the first three years of life on the development of young children

and an investigation of the child care choices and attitudes of Indigenous families, both

funded by the NSW Department of Community Services. Professor Bowes leads a DEEWR

funded project on access and equity in early childhood education and supervises PhD

students and postdoctoral fellows at the Children and Families Research Centre.


Associate Professor Julie Fitness: Deputy Director.

Associate Professor Fitness is a social psychologist in the

Department of Psychology and the Vice-President of Academic

Senate. Her current research interests focus on betrayal, rejection,

punishment and forgiveness in marital and family settings, with an

emphasis on the emotional and motivational features of each of

these relationship-related phenomena. As Deputy Director, Dr

Fitness contributes to Centre planning and decision-making. She

also supervises HDR students on relationship-related topics and

works with various researchers in the Centre.

Professor Jacqueline Hayden (from 2009)

Jacqueline Hayden specializes in the analyses of macro socio-

political and policy impacts upon young children and their families,

with an emphasis on the role of early childhood programs as entry

points to social inclusion and as models of social justice,

citizenship and democracy – especially in resource poor, post

conflict, emergency and other extreme contexts. Key research foci

include health and wellbeing of children experiencing

discrimination and stigma, cross national and comparative policy

studies, and global issues in early childhood development and

education. Jacqueline has recently returned to academia after

spending several years as the (foundational) Manager for Social Inclusion and Respect for

Diversity at the Bernard van Leer Foundation, The Netherlands. The foundation distributes

over $35 million AU dollars annually to support disadvantaged populations in 21

nations (See www.bernardvanleer.org). In this role Jacqueline was responsible for

(international) programs which investigate, model and support social inclusion as a

fundamental component of early childhood service development and delivery.

Dr María Florencia Amigó: half-time Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Dr. Amigó was awarded a Ph.D. in Sociocultural Anthropology from

the University of Sydney in 2005. Dr. Amigó specialises in the

anthropology of children and childhood, which touches several

subareas of anthropology such as cultural anthropology, economic

anthropology, the anthropology of development and the

anthropology of migration. Before coming to Macquarie Dr. Amigó

worked as a tutor and lecturer at the University of Sydney, the


University of Newcastle and the University of Western Sydney. She has taught courses on

Anthropology, Indonesian Studies and Qualitative Research Methods. Her research project

at Macquarie University focuses on child migrants from Spanish-speaking and Indonesian-

speaking backgrounds and their life experiences as they migrate to an unfamiliar setting and

start school.

Dr Marianne Fenech: ARC Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Dr Fenech was awarded an Australian Research Council postdoctoral fellowship in 2008 to

undertake research in a multi-modal investigation of current and proposed structures and

processes that determine and sustain quality in long day care

settings. This research is a collaborative project between Charles

Sturt and Macquarie Universities. Marianne completed her PhD in

2006 after being awarded an Australian Postgraduate (Industry)

Award from the Australian Research Council. Her thesis topic was

Optimising quality long day care through regulation: “Teachers

perceptions and a critical analysis of the NSW regulatory

environment.” In this thesis, Marianne used a Foucauldian lens to

analyse teachers' perceptions of the impact of the regulatory

environment on quality and professional practice in long day care,

and to critique regulatory policy. Findings from this research have

been cited in a recent report of the Expert Advisory Panel on Quality Early Childhood

Education and Care, for the Australian Government. Marianne's research interests are in

early childhood policy, the regulation of early childhood services, quality early childhood

education and care, advocacy, and the industrial context within which early childhood

teachers' practice.

Dr Rebekah Grace : Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Dr Grace was awarded her PhD from the Department of

Psychological Medicine, University of Sydney in 2002. Since then

she has worked as a researcher in the Faculty of Health Sciences at

the University of Sydney, where she was involved in a number of

large research projects, primarily relating to children with disabilities

and their families. Dr. Grace has also worked as a lecturer in

research methods and was 2005 and 2006 course convenor for a

‘Developmental Difference and Disability’ unit in the Institute of Early

Childhood at Macquarie University. Her Postdoctoral research is

funded by the Department of Community Services and is entitled


Barriers to Participation: The Experiences of Disadvantaged Young Children, their Families,

and Professionals in Engaging with Early Childhood Services.

Dr Linda Graham: Macquarie University Fellow (from 2009)

Dr Linda Graham was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in Education with Queensland

University of Technology in September, 2007. Her doctoral research investigated the

relationship between educational policies, pedagogical practice

and the increase in diagnosis of behaviour disorder in school aged

children. The major contribution of this work has been to foster

understandings of the role played by various discourses and

practices of schooling in the description, identification and

classification of children who are difficult to teach. Dr Graham’s

research has mounted a significant challenge to the medical

conceptualisation of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

(ADHD) and continues to question the logic of medicating children

for challenging behaviour in schools. Since moving from QUT to

take up a postdoctoral fellowship in Child & Youth Studies with the Faculty of Education and

Social Work at the University of Sydney, Dr Graham has extended the knowledge gained in

her doctoral research to investigate the placement trends of students with disabilities in New

South Wales government schools and has identified significant growth in non-normative

categories of disability over the last decade. In 2007/08 she was chief investigator in a

project investigating the views of primary school principals on inclusive education in New

South Wales. In October 2008, Dr Graham was awarded one of 6 highly competitive

Macquarie University Research Fellowships (MURF) to support her international

comparative project investigating the political economy of special educational needs across

four international contexts: New South Wales, England, Finland and Alberta (with Assoc Prof

Markku Jahnukainen, University of Alberta, Adjunct Prof, University of Turku and Prof Roger

Slee at the IOE, University of London).

Dr Kerry Hodge: half-time Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Kerry was awarded a PhD through the Macquarie University Special

Education Centre (MUSEC) in 2005 for a thesis entitled Issues in the

identification of giftedness in young children, for which she studied a

group of potentially gifted preschoolers and followed them into the

early years of school. Kerry worked at MUSEC as a Research Fellow

and an Associate Lecturer in gifted education before being employed

by the Children and Families Research Centre to conduct research

in the DEEWR funded project on access and equity in early


childhood education. Her current research investigates the views of teachers in prior-to-

school settings regarding giftedness and their experiences regarding gifted children and their

parents. This project is part of her wider research interest in recognising giftedness in young

children, especially those gifted in the non-verbal domain, and in responding appropriately to

giftedness at home and in educational settings.

Dr Naomi Sweller: Post Doctoral Research Fellow

Naomi completed a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons I) in 2003,

followed by a PhD entitled “Learning and decision processes in

classification and feature inference”, both at UNSW. From 2006 –

2008 she was a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Psychology at

the University of Sydney. Naomi began at the CFRC in March 2008.

Her research interests began in cognitive development, with a focus

on concept learning and decision processes in both children and

adults. She continued with work into complex decision making,

including applications to decision making by Firefighters. More

recently her research has expanded to include applications of

cognitive processes to educational psychology, in particular special education. Naomi’s

current research is examining methods of teaching concepts to children with autism.

Dr Wayne Warburton: Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Wayne primarily studies aggressive behaviour. His specific focus is

on the development of aggressive patterns of thought (particularly

those that link the notions of aggression and control), the effects of

violent media, aggressive driving, links between personality styles

and aggressive behaviour, and the links between social exclusion

and aggression. Wayne also examines the development of a range

of maladaptive patterns of thinking, and the home environments and

parenting styles that are linked with these patterns. Wayne is

currently examining the development of aggressive thought patterns

in children from violent homes, the thought processes underlying

domestic violence and child abuse, the pro-social and anti-social effects of video games, and

the comparative effects of violent music and violent visual media.


Ms Cheryl Murray: Administrative Officer

Cheryl is the Full-time Administrative Officer for the Children and

Families Research Centre and is part of the Macquarie Alumni with a

Master of Policy and Applied Research. She is the editor of the CFRC

Newsletter and has produced and designed the CFRC annual reports

for 2007 and 2008, together with a brochure for the centre. Cheryl was

also a member of the Learning about Parenting Conference

Committee and is a key organiser for the CFRC visiting scholar

program.

Research Assistant Staff

Ms Cathy Stirling: Project Officer, Child Care Choices Extension Project

Ms Lihua Chen: Research Assistant, Child Care Choices Extension Project

Ms Michelle Trudgett: Research Assistant, Child Care Choices of Indigenous Families

Project

Mr Toby Honig: Research Assistant, Barriers to Participation: The Experiences of

Disadvantaged Young Children, their Families, and Professionals in Engaging with Early

Childhood Services Project.

PhD Scholarship Students

Loraine Fordham is currently completing her PhD on: Family-centred practice in early

intervention: How do families of young children with special needs experience family-centred

practice?

Sui Mui Chan has now completed her PhD on: Socialisation of emotion in Chinese children

in Hong Kong, Institute of Early Childhood.

Rosalind Walsh commenced her PhD in 2007 on: Catering for the needs of intellectually

gifted children in childhood settings: Developing successful intervention strategies.

The recipients of two CFRC PhD scholarships began in 2008 but both withdrew for personal

reasons. The scholarships were re-advertised at the end of 2008.


Research Activities at CFRC in 2008

Investigating Quality in Long Day Care

Dr Marianne Fenech and Professor Jennifer Bowes are principal investigators on a research

team that gained an ARC Discovery Grant with the CSU-based team of Dr Linda Harrison,

Professor Jennifer Sumsion and Frances Press. The grant provides a three-year post-

doctoral fellowship and project funds for a multi-modal investigation of current and proposed

structures and processes determining and sustaining quality in Australian centre-based child

care. Marianne began work on her post-doctoral fellowship at the Children and Families

Research Centre in January 2008.

In the first 12 months of the project Marianne conducted a literature review of empirical

research investigating quality childcare. Findings from the 338 articles analysed are being

finalised for publication. In

addition, Marianne recruited 73

long day care centres from the

Child Care Choices study to be

involved in the Investigating

Quality project. Data pertaining

to these centres' provision of

quality education and care

(ECEC), as measured by

observation tools and Australia's

national accreditation system,

are being analysed. Centres

identified as providing high

quality ECEC will be invited to

participate in the case study phase of the project. This phase will involve an exploration of

the elements that support and sustain high quality in these centres. A pilot study conducted

in 2008 with one high quality centre in Sydney highlighted a number of process elements key

to the provision of quality. These findings were presented at the 2008 Australian Association

for Educational Research conference and are currently being developed for publication.

Investigation of an Integrated Service for Disadvan taged Families

A research team from the CFRC was successful in gaining a Macquarie University External Collaborative Grant for a joint project with Uniting Care Burnside: Exploring the Efficacy of

an Integrated Child and Family Service Model in a Disadvantaged Area: Child, Parent and

Professional Outcomes. Research team members are Dr Rebekah Grace, Dr Frances

Gibson, Dr Anne McMaugh, Dr Sheila Degotardi and Professor Jennifer Bowes. Research

on the project was undertaken in 2008, with a follow-up data collection planned for early

2009.


Access and Equity in Early Childhood Education

DEEWR has funded CFRC over three years to begin a research program on four groups

who are either under-represented in early childhood education or not receiving the full

benefits of early childhood education: gifted children, Indigenous children, children of new

arrivals in Australia and children with disabilities. Progress during 2008:

Theoretical Framework A paper outlining the theoretical framework for the four areas of

research has been prepared and approved by the research centre. It was developed into a

paper for publication by Dr Kerry Hodge and Dr Rebekah Grace and submitted for review in

May 2009.

Gifted Children and Early Childhood Education Dr Kerry Hodge continued work on

this project as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (half-time). An application was made for a

Macquarie New Staff research grant entitled Gifted children and early childhood education:

Teacher perspectives in prior-to-school settings,

which involves surveying preschool and childcare

teachers regarding their beliefs about giftedness

and their experiences with gifted children and

their parents. In addition, up to 20 teachers who

report especially positive or problematic

experiences will be interviewed. The findings will

inform professional development of early

childhood teachers and directions for further research.

Rosalind Walsh continued to work on her PhD thesis (by publication) entitled Catering for the

needs of intellectually gifted children in early childhood settings: Developing successful

intervention strategies. Rosalind has submitted a paper to the International Journal of Early

Childhood and is working on a second paper to be submitted to a journal in gifted education.

Her supervisors are Professor Jennifer Bowes, Dr Coral Kemp and Dr Kerry Hodge, who are

all CFRC members.

Indigenous Children Dr Rebekah Grace began work in the

research centre in July 2007 as a Postdoctoral Research

Fellow funded by the NSW Department of Community Services

to conduct research into Barriers to Participation: The

experiences of disadvantaged young children, their families,

and professionals in engaging with early childhood services.

Participation rates in early childhood services are low for socio-

economically disadvantaged families despite research and

policy supporting the benefits of engagement for both children

and their carers. In light of recent federal initiatives

emphasising the participation of all children in early childhood


services it is essential to explore the barriers and facilitators of engagement for

disadvantaged families. One hundred parents across NSW will be interviewed. A new

methodology will facilitate the children’s telling of their own experiences. This research also

examines professional perspectives on the barriers to access for disadvantaged families and

the professional supports required to provide quality services.

Her research will include a sample of Indigenous families. Her research on Indigenous families will build on the results of Professor Jennifer Bowes’ research, Child Care Choices

of Indigenous Families, also funded by the NSW Department of Community Services and

currently nearing completion.

Children of Recent Arrivals María F. Amigó has been conducting research on the

cultural adjustments of young migrant

children as they enter school, as well as

the roles of their parents and teachers

during this period. She wants to explore

how migrant children experience

simultaneous immersion into an unfamiliar

culture and the schooling system and is

particularly interested in obtaining

ethnographic data on these processes.

Child-centred studies exploring how

migrant children experience the double transition into the new culture and the schooling

system (the attitudes they embrace and the choices they make), and the roles of parents

and teachers during this time, are pivotal to identifying the needs of these children and the

best ways to address them. Dr. Amigó will be working with Spanish and Indonesian speaking

communities; these two languages are amongst the twenty most spoken ones in NSW

primary schools.

Domestic Violence

Wayne’s current project “The role of control-aggression schemas in family violence: Origins,

development, effects and treatment” is a collaborative

investigation with the NSW Department of Community Services

that extends his previous research by examining the

development of control-aggression schemas in children from

violent homes, and also investigates the role of control-

aggression schemas in the perpetration of family violence.

Wayne continues to have an interest in a number of other

research areas, including the origins of road rage, the

development of overt versus covert personality styles,

narcissism-aggression links, shame-aggression links, and the

effects of violent media exposure on aggressive thoughts, feelings and behaviours.


Research by CFRC Members

Grants – 2008

Bowes, J. M., Grace, R., Gibson, F., McMaugh, A., & Degotardi, S. (2008). Exploring the efficacy of an integrated child and family service model in a disadvantaged area: Child, parent and professional outcomes. Macquarie University External Collaborative Research Grant in partnership with Uniting Care, Burnside. ($77,387.00).

Fenech, M. (2008). A case study investigation of current and proposed structures and processes determining and sustaining high quality in centre-based child care. Macquarie University New Staff Grant. ($19, 986).

Gibson, F. & McMahon C. (2008). Multiple birth and the experience of early parenthood. Macquarie University New Staff Grant. ($14,792).

Grace, R. (2007-2010). Barriers to participation: The experience of disadvantaged young children, their families, and professionals in engaging with early childhood services. Awarded by DoCS towards postdoctoral fellowship. ($195,000).

Grace, R . (2008). Barriers to participation: the experiences of disadvantaged young children, their families and professionals engaging with early childhood services. Macquarie University New Staff Grant. ($19,584).

Harris, E., McMahon, C ., Vimpani, G., Matthey, S., Dockett, S., Perry, R. & Anderson, T. (2007-2011). CI Harris - managed through UNSW, ARC Discovery Grant. Early childhood sustained home visiting: Outcomes at 4 years and the transition to school. ARC Discovery Grant. ($452,820).

Harrison, L., Press, F., Sumsion, J., Bowes, J. , & Fenech, M. (2008-2010). A multi-modal investigation of current and proposed structures and processes determining and sustaining quality in Australian centre-based child care. (APD) ARC Discovery Grant. ($257,196).

McArthur, G., Robbins, R., Castles, A., Crain, S., Rapee, R., Thornton, R.,

Lyneham, H., Cupples, L., Bowes, J., Palermo, R., Brock, J., Porter, M., Johnson, B., Warburton, W ., Kohnen, S., & Jensen, B. (2008). Kids’ Science Club: A children’s research register at Macquarie University. Research Infrastructure Block Grant (RIBG). ($32,858.28).

McLeod, S., Harrison, L., & McAllister, L. (2007–2009). Children with speech impairment: A population study of prevalence, severity, impact and service provision. ARC Discovery Grant. ($218,600)

McMahon, C., Gibson, F., Fisher, J., Boivin, J., & Saunders, D. (2007-2009). Age at first birth, mode of conception and adjustment to early parenthood. ARC Linkage in partnership with IVFAustralia and Melbourne IVF -also in collaboration with Key Centre for Women’s Health University of Melbourne and Psychology Department, Cardiff University. IVFAustralia ($153,000). MelbourneIVF ($405,000). ARC ($255,000).

National Family Day Care Assn 2, KU Children's Services. Sumsion, J., Harrison, L., Press, F., McLeod, S., Bradley, B. & Goodfellow, J. (2008 – 2011). What's life like for babies and toddlers in childcare? Understanding the 'lived experience' of infants through an innovative mosaic methodology. ARC Linkage Industry Partners 1. IP ($66,000). IP In-Kind ($70,000). ARC ($250,000).

Semann, A., Slattery, C., Waniganayake, M., Degotardi, S., Grace, R., Madden, L., & Shepherd, W. (2009). Development of the Municipal Early Years Plan for the City of Melbourne (Contract No.1527). The City of Melbourne Municipal Council, Victoria. ($43,500).

Warburton, W . (2007-2010). The role of control-aggression schemas in family violence: Origins, development, effects and treatment. Awarded by DoCS towards postdoctoral fellowship. ($195,000).

Warburton, W . (2008). Identifying and minimising the detrimental impact of negative thinking patterns in children from violent homes. Macquarie University New Staff Grant. ($19,865).


Publications - 2008 Research centre members published articles on a range of topics involving children and families in 2008:

Bundy, A., Tranter, P., Luckett, T., Naughton, G., Wyver, S., Spies, G. & Ragen, J. A. (2008). Playful interaction: Occupational therapy for 'all' children on the playground. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62(5), 522-527.

Cornish, A., McMahon, C., & Ungerer, J. (2008). Postnatal depression and the quality of mother-infant interactions during the second year of life. Australian Journal of Psychology, 60, 142-151.

Chen, Z., Williams, K., Fitness, J., & Newton, N. (2008). When hurt won't heal: Exploring the capacity to relive social and physical pain, Psychological Science, 19, 289-295.

Crawford, K., & Whiteman, P . (Eds.). (2008). CERC Occasional papers, 1. Ourimbah, NSW: Centre for Education, Research and Children.

Degotardi, S. (2008). Looking out and looking in: Reflecting on conducting observational research in a child-care nursery. The First Years Tga Tua Tuatahi: New Zealand Journal of Infant and Toddler Education, 10(2), 15-19.

Degotardi, S., & Davis, B. (2008). Understanding infants: Characteristics of early childhood practitioners' interpretations of infants and their behaviours. Early Years: An International Journal of Research and Development, 28(3), 221-234.

Degotardi, S., Torr, J., & Cross, T. (2008). He's got a mind of his own: A framework for determining mothers' beliefs about their infants’ minds. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 23(2), 259-271.

Fenech, M., Sumsion, J., Robertson, G., & Goodfellow, J. (2008). The regulatory environment: A source of job (dis)satisfaction for early childhood professionals? Early Child Development and Care, 178(1), 1-14.

Fenech, M., Sumsion, J. & Goodfellow, J. (2008). Regulation and risk: Early childhood education and care services as sites where

‘the laugh of Foucault’ resounds. Journal of Education Policy, 23(1), 35-48.

Fitness, J. (2008). Fear and loathing in the workplace, Research Companion to N. Ashkanasy & C. Cooper (Eds.), Emotions in the Workplace, (pp.127-152). London: Edward Elgar

Fitness, J., & Peterson, J. (2008). Punishment and forgiveness in close relationships: An evolutionary, social psychological perspective. In J. Forgas & J. Fitness, (Eds.), Social relationships: Cognitive, affective, and motivational perspectives. (pp. 255-269). New York: Psychology Press

Fitness, J. (2008). The art of friendship and intimacy. Proceedings of the Eighth Annual Workshop of the Victorian Brain Injury Association Inc., Melbourne, 3-11.

Forgas, J. P., & Fitness, J . (2008). Evolutionary, socio-cultural and intrapsychic influences on personal relationships: An introduction, In J. Forgas & J. Fitness, (Eds.), Social relationships: Cognitive, affective, and motivational perspectives. (pp. 4-20). New York: Psychology Press

Forgas, J. P. & Fitness, J . (Eds.), (2008). Social relationships: Cognitive, affective and motivational perspectives. New York: Psychology Press.

Goodnow, J. J. (2008). Research and action. A socio-cultural perspective. In G. Robinson, U. Eickelkamp, J. Goodnow & I. Katz (Eds.), Contexts of development: Culture, policy and intervention. Darwin: Charles Darwin University Press.

Goodnow, J. J. (2008). The benefits of cross-cultural behavior. In National Research Council, International collaborations in behavioral and social sciences. 47-63. Washington DC: National Academies Press

Goodnow, J. J. & Lawrence, J. A. (2008). How should people act in inheritance situations? Specifying differences in expectations. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 32 (2), 1-10.

Grace, R., Llewellyn, G., Wedgewood, N., & McConnell, D. (2008). Far from ideal: Everyday experiences of parents and


teachers negotiating an inclusive early childhood experience in the Australian context. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 28(1), 18-31.

Grant, K. A., McMahon, C ., & Austin, M. P. (2008). Maternal anxiety during the transition to parenthood: A prospective study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 108, 101-111.

Harrison, L. J., Ungerer, J., Smith, G., Zubrick, S., & Wise, S. with Press, F., Waniganayake, M., and the LSAC Research Consortium (in press, 2008). Child care in Australia: An analysis of the longitudinal study of Australian children. Social Policy Research Paper Series.

Harrison, L. J . (2008). Does child care quality matter? Associations between socio-emotional development and non-parental child care in a representative sample of Australian children. Family Matters, 79, 14-25.

Harvey, M. (2008). A review of work and family research: From a challenge to a collision. Journal of the Home Economics Institute of Australia, 15, 2-11.

Hayes, B. K., McKinnon, R., & Sweller, N . (2008). The development of category-based induction: Re-examining conclusions from the Induction then Recognition (ITR) paradigm. Developmental Psychology, 44, 1430-1441.

Hodge, K. (2008). [Review of the book Gifted children: A guide for parents and professionals]. Educational Review, 60(1), 107-124.

Hodge, K. (2008). “I didn’t want to ask for help.” What respite has meant for one family. Early Links, 12(2), 10-21.

Hodge, K . & Kemp, C. (2008). From the editors. Early Links, 12(2), 3.

Johnson, N., & McMahon, C. (2008). Sleep problems in preschool aged children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49, 765-773.

Jones, A., & Fitness, J. (2008). Moral hypervigilance: The influence of disgust sensitivity in the moral domain. Emotion, 8, 613-627.

Kemp, L., Harris, E., McMahon, C., Matthey, S., Vimpani, G., Anderson, T., & Schmied V. (2008). Miller Early Childhood Sustained Home-visiting (MECSH) trial: Design, method and sample description. BMC Public Health 8:424.

Kishida, Y., Kemp, C. R ., & Carter, M. (2008). Revision and validation of the Individual Child Engagement Record: A practitioner-friendly measure of learning opportunities for children with disabilities in early childhood settings. Journal of Intellectual and Development Disability, 33, 158-170.

Little, H., & Wyver, S. (2008). Outdoor play: Does removing the risks reduce the benefits? Australian Journal of Early Childhood, 33(2), 33-40.

McCarthy, M., & McMahon, C. (2008). Acceptance and experience of treatment for postnatal depression in a community mental health setting. Health Care for Women International, 29, 618-637.

McMahon, C., Trapolini, T., Cornish, A., & Ungerer, J. (2008). Postnatal depression and child cognitive development at four years. The Australian Educational and Developmental Psychologist, 25, 49-61.

McMahon, C., Trapolini, T., & Barnett, B. (2008). Maternal state of mind regarding attachment predicts persistence of postnatal depression in the preschool years. Journal of Affective Disorders, 107, 199-203.

McMahon, C., Gibson, F., Fisher, J., Hammarberg, K., Boivin, J., & Saunders, D., (2008, August). Age at first birth, ART conception and pregnancy adjustment in Australian women: Preliminary findings.

McMaugh, A ., Saltmarsh, D., & Sumsion, J. (2008) Editorial. Researching teacher education: Looking forwards in changing times, Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 36(4), 257-259.

Meares, S., Shores, E. A., Taylor, A. J., Batchelor, J., Bryant, R. A., Baguley, I. J., Chapman, J., Gurka, J., Dawson, K., Capon, L., & Marosszeky, J. E. (2008). Mild traumatic brain injury does not predict acute postconcussion syndrome. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 79, 300-306.


Mulligan, J., Mitchelmore, M. C., Kemp, C., Marston, J., & Highfield, K. (2008). Encouraging mathematical thinking through pattern and structure: An intervention in the first year of schooling. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom, 13(3), 10-15.

Saltmarsh, D., Sumsion, J., & McMaugh, A. (2008) Editorial. Theorising teacher education, Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 36(2), 73-77.

Sumsion, J., McMaugh, A ., & Saltmarsh, D. (2008) Editorial. Ranking teacher education journals, Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 36(1), 1-3.

Trapolini, T., Ungerer, J., & McMahon, C. (2008). Maternal depression: Relations with maternal caregiving representations and emotional availability during the preschool years. Attachment and Human Development, 10, 73-90.

Waniganayake, M ., Harrison, L., Cheeseman, S., De Gioia, K., Burgess, C., & Press, F. (2008). Practice potentials: Impact of participation in professional support activities on quality outcomes in early childhood. Sydney: ACCESS Macquarie.

Warburton, W. A ., Edwards, P., Hossieny, T., Pieper, L., & Yip, T. (2008). Factors that mediate the narcissism-aggression link. In S. Boag (Ed.), Personality down under: Perspectives from Australia. 215-233. New York: Nova Science Publishers.

Warburton, W. A ., Gilmour, L., & Laczkowski, P. (2008). Eminem v. Rambo: A comparison of media violence effects for auditory versus visual modalities. In S. Boag (Ed.), Personality down under: Perspectives from Australia. 255-273. New York: Nova Science Publishers.

Whiteman, P. (2008). Young children's constructions of the musical knowledgeable other. In L. Thompson & M. R. Campbell (Eds.), Diverse methodologies in the study of music teaching and learning. (pp.25-43). Charlotte, NC: Information Age.

Wyver, S. (2008). [Review of the book Play = Learning: How play motivates and enhances children's cognitive and social-emotional growth]. Educational Psychology, 28(2), 226-227.

Wyver, S. (2008) [Review of the book Risk and resilience: Adaptations in changing times]. Educational Psychology, 28(2), 223-224.

Conference Presentations - 2008 Bowes, J ., Harrison, L., Taylor, A., & Wise, S. (2008, July). Does early exposure to common communicable illnesses in childcare have a lasting effect on child health? 20th Biennial Conference of the International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development, Würzburg, Germany.

Bowes, J. (2008 July). Grandparents’ involvement in regular part-time care of their young grandchildren. Grandparenting Forum NSW, Sydney.

Bowes, J ., (2008, July), Childcare choices of Australian families. Institute of Education, University of Warwick, UK.

Bundy, A., Naughton, G., Tranter, P., Wyver, S ., & Ragen, J. (2008, September). The risk is that there is "no risk": A simple, innovative intervention to increase children's activity levels. OT Australia 23rd National Conference, Sydney.

Calabria, B., & Fitness, J. (2008), Sex differences in emotional and behavioural responses to betrayal in friendship: The roles of friendship closeness and hurt-proneness. 8th Annual Conference of the Australian Psychological Society’s Psychology of Relationships Interest Group, Melbourne.

Degotardi, S. (October, 2008). Early childhood practitioners’ interpretations of infants: Characteristics and variation. Early Childhood Australia Biennial Conference, Canberra, ACT.

Fenech, M ., Harrison, L ., Sumsion, J., Press, F., & Bowes, J. (December, 2008). A multi-perspective approach to quality in long day care: Considerations for the National Quality Framework. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Australian Association for Research in Education, Brisbane.


Fitness, J . (November, 2008) Betrayal, rejection, and forgiveness in couples. Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, International Symposium on Positive Pathways for Couples and Families: Meeting Existing and Emerging Challenges of Relationships, Melbourne.

Fitness, J. (2008, August). Family favourites and black sheep. Paper presented at Children and Families Research Centre Learning about Parenting Conference, Sydney.

Fisher, J., Hammarberg, K., McMahon, C., Wynter, K., & Gibson, F. (October, 2008). Pregnancy health behaviors after assisted conception: Preliminary evidence from the Parental Age and Transition to Parenthood Australia (PATPA) study. Paper presented at the meeting of Fertility Society of Australia, Brisbane.

Fordham, L. (2008, August). Parenting young children with disabilities: Families know exactly what they need. Paper presented at Children and Families Research Centre Learning about Parenting Conference, Sydney.

Gerber, J. G., & Warburton, W. A., (November, 2008). Person and situation moderators of rejection effects. Paper presented at the Australian Conference on Personality and Individual Differences, Gold Coast.

Harrison, L, Bowes, J., Sweller, N., Murray, E., Stirling, C ., & Hutchesson, R. (2008, September). The Child Care Choices (CCC) study at school-age: Examining personal, interpersonal, home and classroom correlates of children's adjustment to the first year of school. Paper presented at the Australian Association for Educational Research International Education Conference, Brisbane.

Harvey, M. (2008, November). The role of participatory action research in leading the development of engaging assessment. Refereed paper presented: ATN Assessment Conference, Adelaide.

Hodge, K., & Grace, R. (2008, November). Beliefs of early childhood professionals about vulnerable culturally diverse families: What do we know and need to know?

Queen Elizabeth Centre 5th Biennial International Conference, Melbourne.

Hodge, K. (2008, August). Parents and young gifted children: Negotiating the early years of school. Paper presented at Children and Families Research Centre Learning about Parenting Conference, Sydney, Australia.

Kinsella-Ritter, A., Gibson, F ., & Wyver, S. (2008, May). The clinical use of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition, in Australia. Paper presented at Reflecting connections: A joint conference between New Zealand Speech Language Therapists Association and Speech Pathology Australia, Auckland, New Zealand.

Kitson, R., Moffatt, L., Bowes, J ., Simpson, T., & Smith, M. (2008, October). Improving the future for Indigenous children. Biennial Conference of Early Childhood Australia, Canberra.

Little, H., Wyver, S., & Gibson, F. (2008, January). Individual differences in children’s risk perception and appraisals of outdoor play environments. 17th International Play Association World Conference, Hong Kong.

Little, H., Wyver, S ., & Gibson, F. (2008, September). Thrills (and spills?) in the playground: 4-5 year old children's physical risk-taking in early childhood environments. 18th European Early Childhood Educators Research Association Annual Conference, Stavanger, Norway.

Lilley, R. (2008, August). The politics of educating parents with autistic children: An Australian case study. Paper presented at Children and Families Research Centre Learning about Parenting Conference, Sydney.

McMahon, C., Gibson, F ., Fisher, J., Hammarberg, K., Boivin, J., & Saunders, D., (2008, October). Impact of maternal age and ART conception on physical health and wellbeing in pregnancy: Preliminary findings, from the Parental Age and Transition to Parenthood Australia (PATPA) study. Paper presented at the meeting of Fertility Society of Australia, Brisbane.

McMahon, C., Gibson, F., Fisher, J., Hammarberg, K., Boivin, J., & Saunders, D.


(2008, November). Age at first birth, ART conception and pregnancy adjustment in Australian women: Preliminary findings. Paper presented at COGI - Controversies in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Infertility. Paris, France.

McMaugh, A ., & Saltmarsh, D (2008, July). Understanding teachers of the future: A longitudinal investigation of the background, experience, and career progression of teacher education students at Macquarie University, Australian Teacher Education Association 2008 Conference Proceedings, Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

Spedding, S., & Whiteman, P . (2008, January). Equipping children for multidimensional citizenship. Paper presented at the Making a Difference: Multidimensional Citizenship Education in a Changing World. Social Educators Association of Australia Biennial Conference, Newcastle.

Swiatek, H., & Fitness, J. (2008) It’s not whether or not you win, or is it? An investigation of the roles of dispositional envy and attitudes toward competition in parents’ responses to their children’s perceived failures, relative to other children. 8th Annual Conference of the Australian Psychological Society’s Psychology of Relationships Interest Group, Melbourne.

Warburton, W. A. (2008, August). Parenting style, parent gender, and the development of maladaptive and aggressive patterns of thinking. Paper, presented at Children and Families Research Centre Learning about Parenting Conference, Sydney.

Warburton, W. A. (2008, May). Boundaries, self-care and other issues for counsellors. Invited paper, presented at Financial Counsellors Association of NSW Annual Conference, Sydney, Australia.

Whiteman, P . (2008, April). Type, function and musical features of preschool children's spontaneous songs. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New York.

Whiteman, P. (2008, April). Picture it! - Children as researchers. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New York.

Wyver, S ., Bundy, A., Luckett, T., Naughton, G., Tranter, P., Ragen, J., Singleton, E, & Spies, G. (2008, September). Use of unstructured materials to promote playfulness, activity and risk taking in a school playground. 18th European Early Childhood Educators Research Association Annual Conference, Stavanger, Norway.


Research Colloquia

The research centre has conducted a

series of research colloquia in 2008 to

further the research training of centre

members. These have been held as

seminars within the research centre.

Speakers and topics are set out

below. The colloquia were advertised

to interested people within and

beyond Macquarie University.

• Early childhood education and care as a resource for low-income children and mothers.

Dr Rebekah Levine Coley (pictured above right with Professor Jennifer Bowes CFRC

Director), Associate Professor of Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology at

Boston College USA, 1 May.

• Ecocultural theory. Dr Rebekah Grace, Children and Families Research Centre, 28

February.

• What does ‘segmented assimilation’ for migrants mean? Professor Jacqueline Goodnow,

28 March.

• Children working in the tobacco industry in Indonesia. Dr Maria Amigo, Children and

Families Research Centre, 27 June.

• Understanding the worlds of kids: The children of African refugee and local families.

Associate Professor Jeanette Lawrence, School of Behavioural Science, University of

Melbourne, 18 September.

• Understanding construction and re-construction of children and families under conditions

of violence and abuse. Associate Professor Annaliza Jackson Adjunct, John Curtin

Institute of Public Policy, Curtin University, 7 November.

• Differences in socioeconomic outcomes and subjective wellbeing in adulthood by the

number of siblings and other aspects of the family of origin. Dr Nick Parr, Department of

Business, Macquarie University, 21 November.


Community Outreach Learning about Parenting Conference

The CFRC Learning about Parenting conference was held at Macquarie University (MGSM

Caltex Theatre) on the 28th and 29th of August 2008. It was opened on the first day by the Vice

Chancellor of Macquarie University Professor Steven Schwartz and on the second day by

Maxine McKew MP (pictured below), Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education

and Child Care and the Member for Bennelong.

The conference featured keynote addresses from Dr Carol Crill Russell, a researcher from

Canada's Invest in Kids Foundation, and Professor Cathrine Fowler, Professor in Child and

Family Health Nursing at University of Technology Sydney. Presentations across the

conference addressed practice and research in:

• Approaches to parent education

• Parent education provided explicitly, combined with other services and as co-

constructed by practitioners and parents

• Parenting information for specific groups

The finale was a panel discussion of implications for policy in parent education involving Ms

Allyson McKenzie, from the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and

Indigenous Affairs, Dr Peter Walsh from the NSW Department of Community Services and Dr

Rob Simons from The Smith Family.

For recordings of conference presentations visit: http://www.iec.mq.edu.au/cfrc_cnf.aspx


Parents as Teachers Training

In 2008 the Children and Families Research Centre continued to offer, through Access MQ,

one-week training sessions on the Parents as Teachers Program. A major community outreach

program at CFRC is Parents as Teachers (PAT) ™. CFRC is the Australian Centre for PAT

International, providing all PAT training for government and non-government agencies in

Australia. PAT is designed to enhance a child’s development and achievement, educating

parents via home visits and group meetings.

PAT equips parents with skills and understanding through parent-child activities, support and

information on how best to promote their child’s development. Studies have shown PAT

children to be more advanced in social and cognitive development, with parents gaining

confidence and becoming more involved in their child’s education.

CFRC also runs seminars and conferences for researchers and policy makers. Through its

research, CFRC has the ability to inform government policy at a strategic level. In doing so,

CFRC makes a stand for Australian families and our future generations.

Demand for the training grew in 2008. Four training weeks were provided for caseworkers from

the NSW Department of

Community Services

(DoCS). This was part

of a 2007 contract with

DoCS for over $900,000

to provide Parents as

Teachers training to all

350 of their caseworkers

in NSW. The program is

being used to offer

disadvantaged families

support in parenting as

part of Brighter Futures,

a program designed to

prevent child abuse and

neglect. A further four

workshops were

conducted in 2008 for staff from a range of non-government organizations including UnitingCare

Burnside, The Benevolent Society and other government departments such as NSW Health,

again as part of the NSW Brighter Futures Program. There is a continuing demand for this

training in 2009.


Contribution to Teaching by CFRC Research Staff Teaching in the Institute of Early Childhood

Bowes, J.

ECH228 Child Development 3-8 Years: Approaches to Theory and Practice, guest lecturer

A critical overview of current theory and practice in the study of child development during the preschool and early school years. The cognitive, social/emotional, language and physical development of children aged 3-8 years is discussed. Particular attention is paid to the implications of research and theory for early childhood educators within the Australian social/cultural context.

Bowes, J.

ACES 800 Research Methods in Early Childhood 1, guest lecturer

A basic understanding of the research methods used to explore contemporary issues in a variety of education settings (e.g. Early Childhood, School, Workplace, Technical and Further and Higher Education).

Fenech, M.

ECH315 Management 1, guest lecturer

An examination of management structures found in early childhood settings and key areas of accountability for teachers and managers, including government guidelines, regulations and professional considerations.

Fenech, M.

ECH417 Early Childhood Policy, guest lecturer

Examines the influence of Australian social policy and social systems on the lives of young children and families; explores the prevailing socio-economic, industrial and political framework within which services are planned, funded and operated. Attention is given to current State, national and international policy trends to assist students to gain an understanding of the context in which they will work as advocates, teachers and leaders in early childhood.

Grace, R.

ECH326 Families and Communities in a Culturally Diverse Society, guest lecturers

A study of early childhood, family conditions, neighbourhood and social policies, and the implications for early childhood professionals. Approaches to the study of families; issues for children related to the structural and cultural diversity of families in Australia, including single parenthood, step-families and extended families. Interconnections between families and communities are examined in a number of areas including State care of children, child abuse and neglect, and family isolation.

Hodge, K. and Grace, R.

ECH320: Developmental Difference and Disability, guest lecturers

Principles of child development, developmental processes and the way these processes are affected by biological, environmental and/or clinically-manifested risk factors resulting in a difference or a disability are investigated with reference to current theory and practice. The needs of families and how these are met through social policy, service provision, early intervention programs and inclusive education are emphasised.

Hodge, K.

ECH416: Advanced Studies in Child Development, guest lecturer

Focuses on the analysis of current issues, questions and debates that are influencing research in child development in the areas of social, emotional, communicative and intellectual development. Implications are drawn for the application of developmental principles, practice and parenting during the early childhood years

Teaching in the Department of Psychology

Warburton, W.

PSY104: Introduction to Psychology - Human Personality - Aggressive Behaviour

PSY234: Personality and Social Psychology - Aggressive Behaviour


Visitors to the Centre

Dr Carol Crill Russell

Dr Carol Crill Russell, a Senior Research Associate from the Invest in Kids Foundation in

Toronto, Canada spent a week as a visiting scholar at the Children and Families Research

Centre in August. During her time in Australia, she addressed policy advisors in Canberra from

the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) and the

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, (FaHCSIA). She

also travelled to Melbourne to speak with senior policy advisors from the Victorian Office for

Children and Early Childhood Development. Her research evidence about children’s

development in Canada and parent’s needs for information and support were found to be very

relevant for Australia.

Dr Russell’s visit culminated in a keynote address at the CFRC’s Learning about Parenting

Conference on 28 August 2008. Her presentation is available on the CFRC website at

http://www.iec.mq.edu.au/cfrc_pod.aspx and further information on the research of Invest in

Kids Foundation is available on its website: www.investinkids.ca


Funding for CFRC in 200(Excluding Research Grants and Scholarships)

Income DEEWR – Contribution to new research centreNSW Department of Community Services sponsorship FaHCSIA – Conference sponsorshipDVC Research - Contribution to new research centreBluesands Foundation donationAustralian Centre for Educational Studies (ACES)contribution Parents as Teachers ProgramLearning about Parenting Conference

Expenditure Salaries Post Doctoral Fellow/Statistician Post Doctoral Fellow (Half Time)Post Doctoral Fellow (Half Time)Administration Officer

Children and Families Research Centre

nding for CFRC in 200 8 (Excluding Research Grants and Scholarships)

ontribution to new research centre Department of Community Services – Conference

Conference sponsorship Contribution to new research centre

donation Australian Centre for Educational Studies (ACES)

Parents as Teachers Program profit Learning about Parenting Conference Registration Fees

Post Doctoral Fellow/Statistician

Post Doctoral Fellow (Half Time)

Post Doctoral Fellow (Half Time)

DEEWR

DoCS

FaHCSIA

DVC Research

Bluesand Foundation

ACES

Prof Development

Conference

250,000.00

10,000.00 10,000.00 25,000.00 10,000.00

2,500.00 19,784.00 12,870.00

337,654.00

59,155.00 35,290.00 42,168.00 71,208.00

FaHCSIA

DVC Research

Bluesand Foundation

Prof Development

Conference


Funding for CFRC in 2008 cont Stationery 5,065.00 Equipment (computers, photocopier) 13,189.00 Furniture 894.00 University Building Maintenance (painting of office s and research centre meeting room) 1,100.00 Conference travel support 862.00 Travel and accommodation for visiting scholars 4,523.00 Printing 4,930.00 Conference costs 16,825.00 Office Consumables 240.00

255,449.00

Balance of Funds (carried over to 2009 as Part of D EEWR 78542.00 3-year Contribution to research centre)


Community, Links and Collaboration Bowes, J., Harrison, L., Sweller, N., Neilsen-Hewitt, C., & Taylor, A. Research Links with NSW Department of Community Services.

Bowes, J., Grace, G., Gibson, F., McMaugh, A., & Degotardi, S. Collaboration with UnitingCare Burnside.

Harrison, L. Research Links with the National Family Day Care Association and KU Children's Services.

Hodge, K . Involvement in the STaR Inclusive Early Childhood Association's applications for funding of programs for young children at educational risk (children with disabilities or who are gifted).

Hodge, K., Kemp, C., and Wyver S. Members of editorial board and occasional editor of Early Links, online magazine for professionals and parents of young children at educational risk, published through Macquarie University Special Education Centre.

Hodge, K. Professional development for Early Learning Resources Australia for childcare/ preschool teachers about identifying and working with young gifted children.

McMahon, C. Multi-institutional research team in partnership with the ART industry IVFAustralia, Melbourne IVF, and Key Centre for Women’s Health, University of Melbourne and Cardiff University.

McMahon, C. Centre for Genetics Education, (CGE) University of Sydney. Cathy McMahon is a member of a team, including psychologists, genetic counselors, embryologists and infertility specialists who are investigating the psychological impact of Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis on psychological adjustment of women during pregnancy.

McMahon, C. Research links with Centre for Health Equity Training and Research

(CHETRE), University of NSW – jointly involved in two ARC Grants.

McMahon, C. Research links with St John of God Hospital through Professor Marie-Paule Austin – joint supervision of PhD student investigating parenting experiences and parenting styles in mothers with Bipolar Disorder.

Pearson, E. Consultancies for UNICEF - Vanuatu and to UNICEF - North Korea. Providing assistance in developing Early Learning and Development Standards.

Pearson, E. Research collaboration with SDN Children’s Services.

Waniganayake, M. Board of Directors, LaSallian Foundation Asia-Pacific Region. Field work in India and Sri Lanka.

Waniganayake, M. Collaboration with Semann and Slattery, early childhood consultants in Sydney.

Warburton, W. Research Links with NSW Department of Community Services.

Warburton, W. Consumer advocate on the Telstra Credit Management Working Group.

Warburton, W. Counsellor training in the areas of self care, professional boundaries, working with clients with serious mental health issues, and dealing with aggressive clients.

Warburton, W . Consumer Director on the Council of the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.

Wyver, S. Collaboration with Associate Professor Geraldine Naughton - Australian Catholic University.

Wyver, S. Collaboration with Dr Paul Tranter - University of NSW.

Wyver, S. Collaboration with Professor Anita Bundy - University of Sydney


2008 Awards and Recognition for CFRC Members

Kemp, C . Macquarie University Community Engagement Award 2007 (awarded and presented in 2008). Board member of the STaR Inclusive Early Childhood Association and Director of the STaR Inclusive Early Childhood Project. Member of Shepherd Centre’s Education Service Development and Research Committee

Fitness, J. Winner of the Division of Linguistics & Psychology Award for Excellence in Research Supervision, 2008.

Warburton, W. Finalist (top 10) in Society for Personality and Social Psychologists Outstanding Research Award – Division 8 of American Psychological Association. (World-wide). The submission was ranked #1 by one of the three reviewers.

Wyver, S . 2008 ACES Award for Excellence in Research and Higher Degree Research Supervision.

Children and Families Research Centre

Documents

Transcript of Children and Families Research Centre