Dr Susan Carter
Senior Lecturer, Registered Teacher, Mental Health First Aider, Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
Telephone: +61 734704558
Email: susancarter@usq.edu.au
Dr Susan Carter is internationally and nationally recognised. She is an award-winning educator, specialising in special educational needs, inclusion, wellbeing and leadership. She has significant leadership strategic experience in roles extending from school Principal to Director of the Master of Learning and Teacher, delivering quality learning and teaching outcomes across diverse educational contexts. She is passionate about inclusion with a focus on teacher, student and principal wellbeing, student voice, collaborative partnerships and creating a positive learning culture.
Dr Susan Carter is a Senior Lecturer and the Convenor for Special and Inclusive Education at the University of Southern Queensland She is a Mental Health First Aider and a Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). She has a PhD with her study in the area of school principals’ subjective wellbeing, a Master’s degree in special education and a second Master’s degree (Education Theology). She has presented at national and international conferences, been the recipient of an Australian Council of Educational Leaders State Research in Educational Leadership and Management Award. Her research is situated in field of education, specifically: inclusion; student, teacher and principal wellbeing; leadership; and special and inclusive education; case study; and Contributory Research Method (CRM). Her efforts contribute to a culture for excellence and world-class research that has a positive social impact.
Dr Lorraine Gaunt
Senior Lecturer, Registered Teacher
Telephone: +61 2 6582 9487
Email: lgaunt@csu.edu.au
Dr Lorraine Gaunt is an Education Lecturer in the School of Education at Charles Sturt University. Lorraine Completed her PhD at the University of Queensland in 2020 on the topic of supporting numeracy for adults with intellectual disability. Lorraine’s Masters Thesis topic was the numerical ability of young adults with Down syndrome. She also has a Bachelors degree in mathematics, and post graduate qualifications in secondary teaching and special education. Lorraine has over 25 years experience as a Secondary Mathematics, Special Education teacher, and Head of Special Education Services at a range of Queensland secondary schools. She has 12 years experience working in the tertiary education sector. Lorraine’s research interests include supporting numeracy development and promoting inclusive mathematics education in the secondary classroom. Additionally, Lorraine is passionate about improving the wellbeing of individuals with disabilities and promoting inclusive communities. Lorraine was awarded the Early Career Award for her research paper and presentation at the 2022 Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA) conference in Tasmania and was invited to attend the Science Meets Parliament event in 2023.
Cecily Andersen
Retired Executive Director of Schools. PhD Student.
Email: Cecily.Andersen@usq.edu.au
Cecily Andersen is an experienced educational leader. She has been an educator for over 40 years across a variety of roles, including teacher, school leadership and district and regional educational leadership, within primary, secondary, special education and First Nation communities across remote, rural, and regional areas. Since 2013, Cecily has worked at the University of Southern Queensland as a researcher and casual teacher in undergraduate education courses, Master of Learning and Teaching courses, Master of Education Courses and Upskills short courses. Cecily has developed courses in wellbeing, special education and coaching and mentoring for the University of Southern Queensland. She has also designed, developed, and delivered professional development programs in wellbeing, special education, coaching, mentoring, and feedback for the University of Southern Queensland and the Queensland Department of Education. She has presented at national and international conferences. Cecily is a life member and fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation. Cecily’s interests include inclusion, wellbeing promotion and how coaching and mentoring build capacity and wellbeing.
Jo Cains
Lead Teacher. PhD Student.
Jo Cains brings significant expertise and experience working in educational wellbeing and inclusion to her leadership as Leader of Diverse Learning at Cardijn College. Jo is a is Lead Teacher has a Master of Inclusive Education and a Bachelor of Social Work. As an educator and social worker, she has carefully developed a pedagogical and philosophical approach that strongly cares for the community, she is solution-focused and a systems thinker. She brings contemporary research in wellbeing and inclusion to the forefront of her leadership practice and has demonstrated the essential intersection between wellbeing, inclusion, and learning within the development of a whole school wellbeing framework and wellbeing curriculum.
Jo also has a keen research interest in bridging the research-to-practice gap for teachers and teacher leaders. She focuses on translating contemporary research findings into practical strategies that can be readily implemented in educational settings and school leadership practices. This dedication ensures that the latest evidence-based practices in wellbeing and inclusion are not just theoretical but are effectively integrated into daily educational systems.
