Christine Robinson

Associate Professor Christine Robinson is a prominent academic in Early Childhood Education at Edith Cowan University's School of Education. With extensive leadership experience, she previously served as Associate Dean (Research) at the University of Notre Dame Australia's Faculty of Education and coordinated early childhood programs there for over a decade. Her career spans teaching in Catholic schools, holding roles like Assistant Principal, and leading research teams. She specializes in early childhood development, play-based pedagogies, and spirituality in education, with a focus on holistic and faith-based approaches. Her research employs qualitative methodologies like Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).

Education:

• Doctor of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame Australia (2017)

Research Interests: Christine's work explores the intersection of spirituality and education, particularly in Catholic contexts. She investigates how play and outdoor activities foster holistic child development, and advocates for policies that support educator well-being and faith-based pedagogy. Recent projects include analyzing NAPLAN's impact on teaching practices and promoting spiritual capabilities in early childhood.

Awards:

• 2019 Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) Citation
• 2019 Education Publishers Awards Australia
• 2017 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Initiatives Enhancing Student Learning

Advising & Grants: Leader of the 'Leading for Leaders in the Early Years' project ($32,629 grant, 2025–2027). She also coordinates the G.R.A.C.E initiative, fostering international collaboration in early childhood education. Though currently listed as having no active student supervisions, her research frequently engages pre-service teachers in reflective practices.

Labs/Teams: Convenor of G.R.A.C.E (Global Research and Action Collective in Education) and advisor to Melbourne Catholic Education and OMEP. She contributes to the Partners in Literacy and Numeracy (PLaN) initiative at ECU.