Cathy Little

Associate Professor Cathy Little is an academic in Special Education at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Education and Social Work. She holds roles as Executive Director of Initial Teacher Education and is a member of the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre. With degrees including a PhD (Sydney) and multiple master's qualifications, her expertise spans autism spectrum disorder, early childhood education, and inclusive education. Her research focuses on social inclusion, teacher attitudes, and educational interventions for students with disabilities. Current projects include studies on Thai teacher perceptions of autism and Malaysian parental challenges. Awards include multiple teaching excellence distinctions and a fellowship. She collaborates internationally with institutions like Srinakharinwirot University and Beijing Normal University. Advising two PhD students, her work emphasizes policy-driven educational equity and culturally responsive practices.

• Education:
  • PhD in Special Education (University of Sydney)
  • MEd (Special Education), MEd (Early Childhood), BEd (University of Sydney)
  • GradCert (ASD, QUT), MTeach (EC, Macquarie)
• Research Interests:
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder interventions
  • Social inclusion in schools
  • Teacher training for diversity
  • Early childhood special education
• Key Projects:
  • Australian-Thai teacher attitude collaboration
  • Malaysian parental experiences study
  • China-Australia rural child welfare research
• Affiliations:
  • Australian Association of Special Education (AASE)
  • International Society for Autism Research (InSAR)
  • NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA)

Her publications emphasize peer-mediated interventions, cross-cultural educational practices, and policy frameworks for inclusion. She has authored influential texts such as *Supporting Social Inclusion for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders* (2017) and *Inclusive Education in Schools and Early Childhood Settings* (2020). Her work bridges academic research with practical classroom strategies to enhance educational equity globally.