Dr Alicia Phillips

Biography

Dr Alicia Phillips is a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at the University of New England. Alicia’s professional career, spanning over two decades in the education sector, has been driven by her passion and commitment to improving the quality of the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector. She has worked in impactful roles in various education contexts such as universities, national government organisations, schools and early childhood services.

Alicia’s research focuses on improving the quality of ECEC both in Australia and internationally. She is particularly interested in factors that enhance or diminish quality ECEC such as government regulation and quality assurance mechanisms, initial teacher education programs and early childhood professional experience, and the early childhood workforce. In 2023, she was awarded the Faculty of Education Early Years Researcher of the Year at Southern Cross University for achieving the highest research productivity metrics.

Alicia has extensive experience developing and delivering professional learning aligned with her research interests and has been regularly invited to present at national and international conferences and professional learning seminars. She has been highly acknowledged for her excellence in teaching, receiving the following awards: 2020 SCU School of Education Professional Experience group teaching excellence award; 2016 SCU Teacher commendations: In recognition of excellence in contributing to student learning, student engagement and overall student experience; and 2015 University of Sydney Faculty of Education and Social Work Teaching Excellence Award.