Kate Johnstone

Dr Kate Johnstone is a Lecturer in Education (Pedagogy and Curriculum) at the School of Education, Faculty of Arts and Education, Deakin University, located at Melbourne Burwood Campus. She holds ORCID identifier 0000-0003-2016-9447 and maintains active engagement in teaching, research, and doctoral supervision within educational sciences.

Her research centers on transition dynamics from primary to high school, broader educational transitions, middle years pedagogy, and rural education contexts, utilizing qualitative and mixed-methods approaches. This work reflects her commitment to addressing systemic challenges in educational continuity and equity, particularly for underserved rural communities.

Recent publications analyze teacher education frameworks including multi-provider professional practice models in regional Victoria and the pedagogical complexities of global initiatives like Teach For All, revealing consistent themes in curriculum innovation, mentorship structures, and context-responsive teaching methodologies across diverse educational settings.

Her scholarly contributions have been recognized with:

• Vice Chancellors Award: Safer Learners (2023)
• University Award for Teaching Excellence: Education & Employability Award for curriculum development reflecting disciplinary mastery

Dr Johnstone currently supervises Anne Lucy Brady-Clark's doctoral research on neurodivergence in teaching/learning and recently completed Rhonda Burns' PhD on Christian schooling experiences (2024). Her research is supported by significant Victorian Department of Education grants including 'Implementing a Multi-Provider Professional Practice Model in Victorian Regional Communities' ($208,330, 2023-2024) and 'Improving Mentoring in Teacher Education' ($150,000, 2022-2023), both examining collaborative teacher preparation in regional contexts.