Introduction to Education

Heather Sharp is an Associate Professor at the University of Newcastle. With a background as a high school History and English teacher, she has taught in education foundations since commencing her tertiary career in 2006. Her research currently examples, history education, citizenship, and civics education. Heather is a founding member of the HERMES research group. She has been an invited researcher at the Georg Eckert Institute, Germany, and Linnaeus University, Sweden. Heather has taught and coordinated education courses in the areas of education foundations, History curriculum and pedagogies, literacies, education as a professional career, assessment and professional experience, and leads international study tours. Jennifer Charteris is Professor of Education and Head of Department- Leadership, Pedagogy, Diversity and Inclusion in the School of Education at the University of New England. As a teacher educator with teaching experience in Aotearoa/New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom, Jennifer has worked with principals, teachers, students and school communities across the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors. Jennifer has provided professional learning for principals and teachers in strengthening school leadership and developing processes around effective assessment and culturally responsive pedagogies. Her research interests span pedagogy in innovative learning environments, practitioner inquiry, student voice, assessment for learning and teacher professional learning. Dr Sarah James is a senior lecturer and the Academic Lead Professional Experience at QUT. She has a vested interest in the quality and delivery of the programs preservice teachers undertake. Currently, Sarah's research interests extend to education policy, with a specific emphasis on understanding its implications for early career teachers in rural, regional, and remote areas. With two decades of teaching and learning experience, Sarah has contributed significantly in various capacities in the educations sector. Noelene Weatherby-Fell is an Associate Professor at the University of Wollongong. As Associate Dean Student Life within the Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, she provides leadership in supporting students in their academic progress and wellbeing, and continues to teach and coordinate education courses in curriculum and pedagogy. She has presented and written about her work nationally and internationally with the Response Ability Project (HIMH), was a project team member on the Office for Learning and Teaching project BRiTE (Building Resilience in Teacher Education), and continues to work with colleagues across the higher education sector with the Staying BRiTE project. Noelene represents schools and universities on state and national bodies that govern the standards for teacher education courses and their accreditation. Bernard Brown is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Canberra, where he teaches a range of units at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels focused on curriculum, education policy and leadership, and in the Masters Program in Hangzhou, China. He has worked in schools and universities both in Australia and abroad, and is a member of a number of educational committees. Jason Lodge is Associate Professor of Educational Psychology in the School of Education and Deputy Associate Dean (Academic) in the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Science at the University of Queensland. Jason conducts research on the translation of the learning sciences into practice in educational settings, particularly in digital learning environments and higher education. Lisa McKay-Brown is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne. She has worked in primary, secondary and special education settings, and specialist alcohol and other drug services. Lisa has been involved with a range of research projects in the fields of health and education. Internationally, she is researching the implementation of inclusive education in Ecuador and Peru. Tracey Sempowicz is Lecturer at the University of the Sunshine Coast. She has seventeen years' experience lecturing in the areas of Inclusive Education, Human Development and Learning, and Professional Experience at the University of the Sunshine Coast, and Queensland University of Technology. Her research interests include: student diversity including disability, inclusive education practices, trauma-aware education, and professional experience including mentoring preservice teachers. Rachel Buchanan is the Deputy Head of College, Human and Social Futures and Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of Newcastle. She lectures in educational foundations and educational leadership, and has published in the areas of educational philosophy, pedagogy, and education policy and politics. Her research centres on social justice and equity in education, leading to her work in projects on academic literacy, widening participation, educational policy and equity issues associated with the increased use of digital technologies. Her research project uses post-digital theory to explore the emerging frontiers of educational technologies. Scott Imig is a Professor in the School of Education at the University of Newcastle and Convenor for the Graduate Leadership and Management Program. Scott researches the ways principals and teachers create spaces of wellbeing and belonging for all students. In recent years, he has written three books about the ways educators support children and families with refugee and asylum-seeker experiences. In 2023, Scott was named a Carnegie Foundation Visiting Scholar based on this research. Michaela Vergano is a lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of Canberra. She is an Education Doctoral student, researching pedagogical content knowledge and teacher practice in personalised planning. Prior to entering academia, Michaela worked for over twenty-five years in Catholic, independent and tertiary institutions, predominantly in the secondary sphere in both New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Michaela was previously Inclusive Education Coordinator at a secondary college, and a Learning Support Curriculum Officer for Catholic Education - Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn. Michael Walsh has worked as a university lecturer, and has taught in numerous schools, both locally and internationally. Michael is currently involved in the Philosophy for Children movement and is a level 2 philosopher/educator.