Associate Professor Christine Johnston

• Biography
• Areas of Research / Teaching Expertise
• Grants / Current Projects
• Selected Publications
• Professional Activities
• Contact Details

Biography

Associate Professor Christine Johnston convenes the Special Education Programs within the School of Education. She teaches primarily in the areas of early childhood intervention and evidence-based practice.

She has a proven record as a project co-ordinator and extensive experience in the use of multi-method approaches and the ecocultural paradigm as a research tool. A strong thread throughout her research program is that of linking research to practice. This was notably the case in the ARC Vision and Living Skills (VaLS) Project in partnership with Royal Blind Society. The project combined both a strong theoretical base and a concern for practical applications and intervention. The project culminated in the production of a training package for parents and professionals which has been translated into four European languages. She is currently involved in a multidisciplinary ARC study entitled Diabetes Research on Adolescent Transitions (the DRAT! Project) which is exploring the psychosocial factors which affect self-management in young people with Type 1 diabetes.

Christine maintains a strong involvement in the early childhood intervention field both nationally and internationally through her teaching, her work with professional groups and her research.

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Areas of Research / Teaching Expertise

Early childhood intervention; self-concept and disability; psychosocial determinants of self-management; inclusion; evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence.

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Grants / Current Projects

Practice-based evidence: meaning and Impact with Helen Lunn of Mission Australia.

Evaluation study of the impact of professional learning on teacher capacity in implementing curriculum planning and assessment frameworks (COGS). Costley, D., Johnston, C. & Sawyer, W. NSW DET. 2008-2009.

Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: Determining Critical Pathways to Self-Management. ARC Linkage Grant. Johnston, C., Marsh, H.W., Smith, L. & Overland, J. with Diabetes Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals. (2006 - 2008).

Barriers and Facilitators of Early Childhood Education in the Blue Mountains: Enhancing Access and Equity. Woodrow, C., Johnston, C., Ashton, J. & Wangmann, J. UWS Community Partnership Grant with Tanya James of Blue Mountains City Council (2006).

Parent Information Packs in conjunction with Mission Australia. Funded by Families First. (2005)

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Selected Publications

Journal articles

Hatherly K, Smith L, Overland J, Johnston C, Brown-Singh L, Waller D, Taylor S. (2010). Glycemic control and type 1 diabetes: the differential impact of model of care and income. Pediatric Diabetes (available online prior to its publication in journal doi: 10.1111/j.1399-5448.2010.00670.x)

Campbell, J. & Johnston, C. (2009). Challenges in Interaction for Parents Whose Children Are Blind. Parenting: Science and Practice, 9, 216-227.

Hatherly, K., Overland, J., Smith, L., Taylor, S. & Johnston, C. (2009). Providing optimal service delivery for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: A systematic review. Practical Diabetes International, 26, 4, 154-159.

Ashton, J., Woodrow, C., Johnston, C., Wangmann, J., Singh, L. & James, T. (2008). Partnerships in learning: Linking early childhood services, families and schools for optimal development. Australian Journal of Early Childhood.

Sawyer, W., Singh, M., Woodrow, C., Downes, T., Johnston, C. & Whitton, D. (2007). Robust hope and teacher education policy. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 35,3, 227-242.

Chapters in books

Johnston, C. (2003). Australia: Networks. In S.L. Odom, M.J. Hanson, J.A. Blackman & S. Kaul (eds). Early Intervention: Practices from around the world. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.

Astill, F., Bratel, J. & Johnston, C. (1999). Giving children a voice: The challenge of disability. In J. Breckinridge & L. Laing (eds). Challenging Silence: Innovative responses to sexual and domestic violence. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.

Marsh, H.W. & Johnston, C.F. (1993). Frames of reference: Self-concept and the child with a learning disability. In F.E. Obiakor & S. Stile (eds). Self-Concept in Exceptional Children. Dubuque, IO: Kendall Hunt.

Reports

Dockett, S., Perry, B., Whitton, D., Vickers, M., Johnston, C. & Sidoti, C. (2006). Sydney Region Transition Project. Sydney: NSW Department of Education and Training. [Online] www.youth.nsw.gov.au/data/page/1205/DET_transition_finalreport.pdf

Teaching/training packages

Salter, G., Johnston, C. & Lunn, H. (eds). (2005). Does this child need help? Identification and early childhood intervention.(2nd ed.). Sydney: AEIA (NSW) ISBN 0 646 16170 9.

Flavel, R., Lunn, H. & Johnston, C. (eds.) (2002). Do It Yourself: Encouraging Independence in Children who are Blind. Sydney: Royal Blind Society and The University of Sydney.

Johnston, C. (co-writer) (1997). Recommended Practices in Family-Centred Early Intervention. In R. Treloar (ed). (1998). Partners Training Package, Sydney: Ageing and Disability Department.

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Professional Activities

• Member of the Early Years Learning Framework Consortium (2008-2009) which reported to the Federal Government with respect to a national framework for early childhood education in Australia.
• Inaugural National President, Australian Early Intervention Association, 1994-1996. Involvement with ECIA has been maintained at a high level.
• Member of the National Advisory Council for CBeebies (the UKTV Preschool Channel in Australia)

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