Katrina Barker

Katrina is a multi-award winning senior lecturer in Educational Psychology and is the Director of Academic Program for the Master of Teaching (Primary). She received her PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Western Sydney in 2007. Her research focus links well to her teaching as it relates to student motivation, self-concept, inclusive education, positive learning environments, classroom management and school retention. Most of her research employs mixed methods approaches and uniquely employs sophisticated quantitative analyses. Prior to being employed at Western Sydney University, Katrina completed a teaching degree and worked as a primary school teacher. Research: Katrina has successfully completed 2 large-scale longitudinal mixed methods Australian Research Council Linkage grants. These projects have centred on student engagement and behaviour. She recently completed the "Play Positive Program" designed to bolster the prosocial behaviour of young disadvantaged children funded by the Collier Charitable Fund and is currently working on "Improving PNG teacher training to advance inclusive education for students with disabilities" in partnership with Kokoda Track Foundation (KTF) and funded by DFAT. Katrina is leading a team evaluating the Resilient Families program developed at Deakin University. She is an advisory member for the KTF and Excelsia College a member of the Marketing and Communications Technical Advisory Network for beyondblue’s National Education Initiative. Teaching: Katrina in a multi-award winning educator. In 2016 she received the Vice-Chancellor's Excellence in Teaching Award. She has been recognised nationally for her teaching expertise with a citation for outstanding contributions to student learning from the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (2010). She has been nominated UniJobs Australia Top 10 lecturer of the Year on consecutive occasions 2008-2010 and 2013-2014. She has received highly commended for the Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2010 and won the College of Arts teaching citation in 2009.