Dr Helen Edwards
Lecturer, Faculty of The Professions, School of Education
Qualifications
PhD (UNE); Grad Dip ContEd (UNE); MEd (UNE); B Occ Thy (UQ)
Contact
| Email: | helen.edwards@une.edu.au |
| Room: | E6- 7 |
| Phone: | 02 6773 2078 (or +61 2 6773 2078 overseas) |
Helen is a member of the Early Childhood group within the School of Education.
Affiliations
Early Childhood Australia
Australian Vocational Education and Training Association
Centre for Research into Aboriginal and Multicultural Studies.
Areas of Teaching
- PDEC 340 Young Children Developing and Learning
- PDEC 388 Inclusive Early Childhood Education
- PDEC 488 Young Children with Exceptional Development
Research interests
My research interests include Aboriginal education; quality assurance in early childhood settings; early intervention; clumsy children; adult and life long learning; learning in rural and remote environments.
My MEd thesis was a comparative study of three Kindergarten physical education curricula.
My PhD thesis, ‘Quality assurance in Aboriginal early childhood education: a participatory action research study’ was a study presented in narrative form of the implementation of a quality assurance program in an Aboriginal preschool.
Current research
Early school literacy for rural children with and without access to preschool education: problematising development [2001 – to date.]
Other Achievements
Jean Denton Memorial Scholar 2002. My experience in early childhood includes preschool, early intervention, sensory integration, physical education, family day care, and toy libraries. I taught for almost a decade in the NSW TAFE Child Studies program (face-to-face and externally).
Publications
Presentations:
Edwards, H. 2003 ‘Continuing the emergence of quality in a preschool setting’, Early Childhood Residential School, UNE, Armidale.
Edwards, H. 2003 ‘Knowledge-in-(inter)action’ at Annual Adult Education Doctoral School, UNE, Armidale.
Power, K., Reid, J. & Edwards, H. 2003 ‘Early school literacy for rural children with and without access to preschool education: problematising development’ at Country Children’s Services Conference, Canberra.
Carey, J. & Edwards, H. 2003 ‘Working in collaboration to achieve quality preschool goals’ at Australian Early Childhood Conference, Hobart.
Edwards, H. 2002 ‘Examining preschool quality: Fractured perspectives’, poster presentation at Faculty of Education, Health and Professional Studies Research Day, UNE, Armidale.
Edwards, H. 2002 ‘Accreditation journeylines’, presented at Adult Education Doctoral School, UNE, Armidale.
Edwards, H., Carey, J. & Fisher, L. 2002 ‘Journeying with culture in a preschool setting’, presented at Early Childhood Residential School, UNE, Armidale.
Edwards, H. 2002 ‘How did I get to where I am?’ presented at Adult Education Masters’ Residential School, UNE, Armidale.
Fisher, L., Carey, J. & Edwards, H. 2002 ‘Workplace Learning: Explicating Local Storylines’ presented at Challenging Futures Conference, UNE, Armidale.
Edwards, H. & Somerville, M. 2001 ‘Journeying with Kulai culture’, presented at Fiery Cottage Seminar Series, UNE, Armidale.
Edwards, H. 2001 ‘Learning through partnerships: A framework for (co)participation in early childhood workplace training’, presented at Annual Education Doctoral School, UNE, Armidale.
Edwards, H. 2001 ‘Qualitative research: Which way forward?’ presented at Adult Education Masters’ Residential School, UNE, Armidale.
Edwards, H. 2000 ‘Quality Assurance: Stages according to banksia’, poster presentation at Faculty of Education, Health and Professional Studies Research Day, UNE, Armidale.
Edwards, H. 2000 ‘Use of metaphor in an Indigenous early childhood education setting’, presented at Fiery Cottage Seminar Series, UNE, Armidale.
Edwards, H. 2000 ‘Work-based training needs of staff in Aboriginal preschools’, presented at Adult Education Doctoral School, UNE, Armidale.
Edwards, H. 2000 ‘Rethinking professional development through partnerships in early childhood workplace training’, presented at Adult Education Masters’ Residential School, UNE, Armidale.
Publications
Sole author
Edwards H 1998 ‘Assessment procedures’, in Occupational Therapy for children with special needs, eds, E. Wilson, H. Edwards, J. Nicklin, J. Bennett & C. McDerment, Whurr, London.
Edwards, H.E. (nd) ‘Learning through partnerships: A framework for (co)participation in early childhood workplace training’. In Partnerships: People, perspectives and participation, eds D Roberts, M Somerville, K Power & H Edwards (eds) unpublished document.
Edwards, H.E. 1991 ‘The role of evaluation in program development’. Unpublished manuscript, University of New England, Armidale.
Edwards, H.E. 1990 ‘Evaluation of development during the Child's first year at school’. Proceedings of 10th International Congress, World Federation of Occupational Therapists, Melbourne.
Joint author
Edwards, H., Llewellyn, G. & Nicol, P. 1990. ‘New England early childhood services: Going forward into the nineties’, Developmental Disabilities Service, Tamworth.
Edwards, H., Somerville, M. & Carey, J. 2002 ‘Journeying with cultural knowledges at Kulai’. Unpublished AIATSIS research project report.
Fisher, L., Carey, J. & Edwards, H. 2002 ‘Workplace Learning: Explicating Local Storylines’, at Challenging Futures Conference proceedings online http://scs.une.edu.au/CF/Papers/index.htm
Power K, Reid J & Edwards H ‘Early literacy education in rural communities: Situating development’, submitted for publication in Australian Journal of Language and Literacy.
Sturmey, R. & Edwards, H. 1991 ‘The survival skills training package: Community services and health workforce in rural and remote areas: Needs and recommendations study’. Commonwealth Department of Community Services and Health, Canberra.
Wilson, E., Edwards, H., Nicklin, J., Bennett, J. & McDerment C. (eds) 1998 Occupational Therapy for children with special needs. Whurr, London
Wilson, E., Edwards, H., Nicklin, J. & Bennett, J. 1994 A chance for children: Occupational Therapy for children with problems in learning, coordination, language and behaviour. Wilson, Binnaway.