The de Lissa Early Childhood and Family Studies Research Group
The de Lissa Early Childhood and Family Studies Research Group, led by Professor Pauline Harris with Dr Elspeth McInnes as Deputy Director, comprises members from University of South Australia’s School of Education and elsewhere in the University as well as our department for education and Child development partners. Members include Dr Valerie Aloa, Dr Jenni Carter, Dr Glenn Cupit, Alexandra Diamond, Dr Christine Garnaut, A/Prof Sue Hill, Dr Janet McDowall, Martyn Mills-Bayne, Dr Chad Morrison, Dr Sue Nichols, Dr Jamie Sisson, Dr Christy Ward, Dr Jane Webb-Williams and A/Prof Victoria Whitington Our DECD partners include Miriam Daley, Harry Manatakis, Barbra Cooper and Margaret Sankey. Prof Deborah Harcourt (Australian Catholic University and Research Director/Goodstart) is also associated with the de Lissa Research group.
The broad vision of the de Lissa Early Childhood and Family Studies Group, as stated in its 2012-2016 Strategic Research Plan, is quite simply: ‘Children being valued and nurtured as diverse individuals to reach their full potential in whatever context.’ Our fundamental purpose, as stated in our Plan, is to implement and disseminate research and scholarship that builds knowledge that enhances the care, education, development and wellbeing of children and families; and ensures that children’s and families’ diverse perspectives and experiences are available to inform policy and practice.
Strengths: early literacy, early childhood educator identity, children's voices and participation in communities
Emerging themes: play and early childhood learning, IT and young children, children as citizens, environmental design for young children
Key Research Areas
Four key research priority areas of the de Lissa Early Childhood and Family Studies Group are:
- Children’s Voices and Participation as Learners and Citizens – led by Professor Pauline Harris with Dr Elspeth McInnes, Dr Sue Nichols, Dr Jamie Sisson, Dr Jane Webb-Williams, Harry Manatakis (DECD), Barbra Cooper (DECD), Margaret Sankey (DECD), Professor Deborah Harcourt (ACU and Goodstart) - This priority is framed by the United Nations on the Convention on the Rights of the Child and theoretical views of the child as social actor, active learner and valued citizen, which has strong national and international resonance. Two projects arising within this priority are Children’s democratic participation and citizenship in building child-friendly communities; and A Matter of Voice: Perspectives and experiences of children, families and educators in the nexus of early years literacy research, policy and practice
- Early Childhood Education, Development and Care Workforce Development – led by Dr Elspeth McInnes with Dr Jamie Sisson, Dr Jenni Carter, Dr Christy Ward (ECA), Dr Sue Hill, Dr Rochelle Woodley-Baker, Alexandra Diamond, Dr Sue Nichols, Chad Morrison, Dr Briony Carter, Dr Jane Webb-Williams. Research in this area explores issues relating to education and training, professional identity, recruitment & retention, practices and routines, and workplace culture.
- Contemporary contexts of early childhood – led by Dr Janet McDowall with Dr Glenn Cupit, Dr Susan Nichols, Jeff Meiners, Martyn Mills-Bayne, Leigh Disney, Lesley-Anne Ey, Toni Deer. This work focuses on the complex contexts of contemporary Australia in which young children are immersed in an array of media and information and communication technologies, with special interest in children’s participation in consumer culture and experience of the media, and the commercialisation of childhood.
Environmental Design for Young Children – led by Dr Victoria Whitington with Prof Pauline Harris, Alexandra Diamond, Miriam Daley (DECD) and Dr Christine Garnaut. Research in this area focuses on environments for young children in terms of architecture, interior design as well as the natural environment including gardens, bush and landscaping. This work strongly connects with international research and aligns with the work we are doing in UNICEF’s Child Friendly City Framework.
Members
Pauline Harris (Group Leader)
Elspeth McInnes (Deputy Group Leader)
Christy Ward
Eleni Giannakis
Jamie Sisson
Jane Webb-Williams
Janet McDowall
Lesley Anne-Ey
Martyn Mills‐Bayne
Trevor Feder
Valerie Aloa
Victoria Whitington
Alexandra Diamond (Affiliate)
Sue Hill (Affiliate)
Sue Nichols (Affiliate)
External members
Barbra Cooper (DECD)
Miriam Daley (DECD)
Deborah Harcourt (Australian Catholic University and Good Start)
Harry Manatakis (DECD)
De Lissa PhD Scholarship Holders:
Amy Farndale
Julie Zrna
Areas of study and research
-
Health
SciencesResearch institutes
- Health Research
Research centres
- Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA)
- Centre for Cancer Biology
- Centre for Drug Discovery and Development
- Centre for Population Health Research
- Centre of Research Excellence for the Prevention of Chronic Conditions in Rural and Remote High Risk Populations
- International Centre for Allied Health Evidence
- Medicine and Device Surveillance CRE
- Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre
-
UniSA
Business School
School
- Commerce
- Law
- Management
- Marketing
Research institutes
- Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science
-
Education, Arts
and Social SciencesSchool
- Art, Architecture and Design
- Communication, International Studies and Languages
- Education
- Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy
Research institutes
- Hawke Research Institute
Research centres
- Asia Pacific Centre for Work Health and Safety
- Australian Centre for Child Protection
- Barbara Hardy Institute
- Centre for Research in Education
- Hawke EU Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence
- Centre for Islamic Thought and Education
- International Centre for Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding
- Research Centre for Languages and Cultures
- Zero Waste SA Research Centre for Sustainable Design and Behaviour (sd+b)
-
IT, Engineering and
the EnvironmentResearch institutes
- Future Industries Institute
-
UniSA
College