QUT's Centre for Child & Family Studies

An Interview with Cathy Nielson, Centre Manager

TQKP: What is the main focus of your Centre’s research?

Cathy Nielson: The Centre for Child & Family Studies represents QUT’s multidisciplinary research strength in childhood and parenting research, and the childhood workforce. With over 40 active members, our research group focuses on conducting and disseminating innovative child and family research that advances knowledge across education, health, community services and society.

Our Centre members include leaders in Child Development and Self-Regulation, Child Safety, Trauma-Aware education, Child Voice (using methodologies that actively promote children’s voice), and Early Childhood Workforce. Our current key research priorities include Health, Development and Learning; Resilience, Risk and Protection; Transitions; Child and Family Services and Community Engagement; Professionals; and Child Voice, with a mission to conduct high-quality research that elevates and transforms the lives of children and families.

Our Centre research team works in close alliance with research end-users including government, non-government, and service provider organisations, to build pathways for co-design of research and knowledge translation. For example, working with eSafety Commissioner, members of our research centre developed a Best Practice Framework for Online Safety Education. The final framework will support schools to guide best practice and assess the quality of programs and approaches to teaching online safety.

TQKP: Can you tell us about some recent published work and the main findings?

CN: Centre members recently worked with Education Queensland State Schools to better understand teachers and children’s perspectives on being global learners in the classroom. The project developed a framework of practices to support participation, communication and belonging in the classroom. An output of this joint project resulted in two websites which house free eLearning modules for educators to expand their knowledge in this area and gain insights into children’s views of being a global learner. The websites can be accessed here and here.?

Centre research has recently established the effectiveness of a rhythm and movement music-therapy based program (Rhythm and Movement for Self-Regulation; RAMSR), delivered by early childhood teachers. Findings showed that children who received 8 weeks of RAMSR, compared to peers who did not, had steeper growth in self-regulation, enhanced school readiness and impulse control, enhance prosocial skills, and reduced behavioural problems, compared to children who did not receive RAMSR. Online RAMSR training is now available for all adults working with your children. View more here.?

TQKP: What research projects are coming through next?

CN: Centre researchers are engaged in a range of projects, often in partnership with research end-users. For example, we are currently analysing 12 waves of data from the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children (LSIC) to produce a report for the Australian Department of Social Services about what supports primary school experiences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children. Centre members are also involved in the current review and update of the national Early Years Learning Framework, and a range of projects are underway in the area of child safety, trauma, program evaluation, and early childhood workforce.?

TQKP: How do you think we can strengthen research into practice in Queensland?

CN: Strengthening research into practice requires ongoing and mutually beneficial relationships among research end-users and researchers, as well as fit-for-purpose knowledge translation approaches. The Centre contributes to this work by engaging strongly with our partners, contributing to multiple consortia and panels (including TQKP), and producing innovative knowledge translation products that are taken up widely (e.g. online professional learning resources). Further, we respond to policy in a timely manner, for example through our policy briefing on the recent 10-year plan for the early childhood education and care workforce.

TQKP: How can we follow your research?

CN: The QUT Centre for Child and Family Studies is available for evaluation and consultancy work and provides professional development opportunities, policy and research analysis, along with briefings to support stakeholders to achieve their mission and purpose. Keep up to date with our current projects by following our website or LinkedIn page, or join our mailing list to stay in touch.?

QUT Centre for Child and Family Studies

Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice

Level 4, E-Block, 151 Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059

Email: [email protected]