Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett

Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett is a Professor at the University of Wollongong's School of Education and Academic Director of The Early Years. She specializes in early childhood education, pedagogical leadership, and professional development for educators. Her roles include leading the Early Start Pedagogy Practice Strategy and advising national bodies such as the National Early Childhood Development Council and NSW Department of Education.

She holds a PhD in Child Development from Macquarie University and has held academic positions including Associate Professor (2019–2023) and current roles as Honorary Professor at Tung Wah College (Hong Kong) and Apiary Fellow at The Front Project. Her research focuses on early self-regulation, assessment tools, and service integration in early years education.

Key projects include the Fostering Effective Early Learning (FEEL) study, the PRSIST Program, and development of the Early Years Toolbox. Her work emphasizes translating research into practical tools for educators and policymakers, with a focus on equity and evidence-based practice.

Recent grants include funding for motor development assessments and evaluation of educator-family digital communication platforms. She supervises PhD candidates researching topics such as refugee children's school transitions and early language assessment tools.

Her leadership extends to roles in international advisory groups, including Yew Chung College (Hong Kong) and Community Early Learning Australia (CELA). She is a prominent voice in shaping early childhood policy and pedagogy both nationally and globally.