Education problem solvers receive grants for vital research

Some of Queensland’s brightest minds in education research have been granted a combined $1 million in Palaszczuk Government funding to respond to modern challenges in education and build solutions that will benefit Queenslanders for generations to come.

Education Minister Grace Grace today announced the 14 successful projects to receive Education Horizon grants for high-quality early childhood and school education research for 2022 – 10 of which are led by women.

“We are always looking to improve outcomes for all Queensland students,” Ms Grace said.

“The Education Horizon grants are more than just funding to support quality research, they are an investment in our students’ futures.

“This Palaszczuk Government investment supports good jobs in our universities, and is part of our strategy to provide better services for Queensland students, enhancing the great lifestyle we have in this state.

“I’d like to congratulate all of the successful applicants. It’s heartening to see so many women represented among the grant recipients as well.

“You can’t be what you can’t see, and it’s so important Queensland girls and young women see these role models succeeding in their respective fields.

“These research projects cover a wide range of education matters, from health and wellbeing, to leadership, to learning in a rapidly changing modern world.

“For example, Susan Hopkins from the University of Southern Queensland is researching how we can empower students to be literate and critical users of social media.

“This research project will look at how schools can address the potential harms from social media use and educate students on how to safely navigate the online world.

“Griffith University’s Dawn Adams is researching barriers to both learning and wellbeing for students on the autism spectrum.

“This project will look at how the physical environment, such as lighting and sound, can negatively impact on children with autism who have sensory processing challenges and how schools can make their learning environments more inclusive.

“The Queensland University of Technology’s Kate Williams is researching how neuroscience can be used to influence and enhance early childhood education practices.

“This project will help to bridge the gap between neuroscience and its application in an educational environment, to benefit the development, learning and wellbeing of Queensland children in early childhood.”

Each of the 14 projects were selected by a departmental panel from a total of 42 applicants, with the successful projects to be delivered over a six-month period.

Minister Grace said the Education Horizon grants were first launched in 2016, with this the fifth grant round to be awarded.

“As with previous years, this year’s research projects will create valuable resources for schools and inform improvements across the education system,” Ms Grace said.

“For example, Dr Linda Dianne Willis from the University of Queensland was awarded a Horizon grant in 2017 - $200,000 over two years - to research and identify best-practice parent and community engagement in our schools.

“We know there is a strong link between positive parent and community engagement and better academic and social outcomes for students.

“Dr Willis worked with schools and P&Cs Queensland to identify what effective engagement looked like in our schools.

“She went on to create a toolkit for our principals to help them to develop strong relationships and engagement with parents and carers, and their local communities.”

The full list of 2022 Education Horizon grant recipients:

• Louise Phillips – Southern Cross University
• Susan Hopkins – University of Southern Queensland
• Michael Cowling – Central Queensland University
• Matthew Roy Sanders – University of Queensland
• Natasha Matthews – University of Queensland
• Rebecca Armstrong – University of Queensland
• Francisco Perales – University of Queensland
• Dawn Adams – Griffith University
• Tasha Riley – Griffith University
• Jennifer Cartmel – Griffith University
• Stephen Billett – Griffith University
• Claire Wyatt-Smith – Australian Catholic University
• Margaret Kettle – Queensland University of Technology
• Kate Williams – Queensland University of Technology

More details here.

ENDS

Media contact: Bryce Heaton 0434 575 237