Kerry Staples

• Biography
• Areas of Research / Teaching Expertise
• Grants / Current Projects
• Awards and Recognition
• Selected Publications
• Conference Presentations
• Contact Details

Biography

Kerry has viewed firsthand the way children’s services enhance children’s well-being and development as well as add value to the community, build social cohesion and connectedness. Prior to joining UWS, she worked extensively in the early childhood field, managing a range of intervention services for young children and their families. These experiences have significantly influenced her teaching which focuses on the inclusion of children with disabilities and early intervention and prevention in early childhood contexts. Her PhD research will examine how early childhood teachers and consultants support the inclusion of children with disabilities in early childhood settings.

Qualifications: MEdn (Sydney); GDip EdSt (Sydney CAE); Dip Teach (EC) (SKTC);

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Areas of Research / Teaching Expertise

Early Childhood Education; Early Childhood Intervention; Inclusion; Family-Centred Practices; Early Intervention and Prevention

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Grants / Current Projects

PhD research: Supporting the inclusion of young children with disabilities in early childhood education settings through collaboration.

Member of the Futuro Infantil Hoy Project team - this unique project brings together the University of Western Sydney, the Chilean National Early Childhood Board (JUNJI), the INTEGRA Foundation and the Escondida Mining Foundation to enhance early childhood services in the mining port city of Antofagasta, on the edge of the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile. With an emphasis on the importance of building relationships between communities, families, children and educators, this project acknowledges that the development of an authentic curriculum does not happen in isolation, rather it is constantly evolving and is responsive to the child’s experiences, learning and socio-cultural context.

Next Practice - Ubiquitous ICT Access Pilot. This project focuses on the impact of use of ubiquitous online access and associated collaborative technologies, infrastructure and software on student teacher’s learning and practice.

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Awards and Recognition

In 2008 Kerry was awarded an RTS place to conduct a PhD study on “Supporting the inclusion of young children with disabilities in early childhood education settings through collaboration”.

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Selected Publications

Salter, G., Johnston, C., Lunn, H. (Eds.). (2005). Does this child need help? ( 2nd Ed.). Sydney: ECIA (NSW Chapter).
Kerry contributed to the original 1993 and later 2005 edition of this training package, which aims to enhance the provision of early childhood intervention services for young children with disabilities and their families.

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Conference Presentations

2010 European Conference on Educational Research, Helsinki. Title: Presentation Identifying Young Children with Additional Needs: Learning On-line for Skill Development with Associate Professor Christine Johnston

2008 8th Biennial National Early Childhood Intervention Australia Conference, Sydney. Title: Identifying children with additional needs: Student teachers, self-paced learning and skill development.

2004 6th Biennial National Early Childhood Intervention Australia Conference, Melbourne. Title: Innovative Intervention with Sue Cairns and Robin Treloar.

2004 Early Childhood Intervention Australia NSW State Conference, Sydney. Title: Welcoming Aboriginal Families with Danielle DeCosta.

2004 Aboriginal ECSSU State Conference, Durras. Title: Does this Child Need Help?

2002 Early Childhood Intervention Australia NSW State Conference, Sydney. Title: The Fit Between Individual Educational Plans and Individual Family Service Plan with Sarah Gatt and Innovative Intervention - Sharing the Journey with Sue Cairns and Robin Treloar.

1998 DEC Early Childhood Conference on Children with Special Needs, Chicago, Illinois Preschool Inclusion and Parental Expectations with Assoc Prof Christine Johnston, Catherine Bell and Jane Wheeler.

Projects

Steering Committee for Does this child need help? DVD
Early Childhood Intervention Australia (NSW Chapter).

Advisory Committee for Starting School – Stories from parents of children with disability DVD. Lady Gowrie Child Centre.

Transition Advisory Committee for the Starting School Poster and Booklet
NSW Department of Education and Training.

Membership

Early Childhood Intervention Australia (ECIA NSW Chapter)

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