Helen Adam is an Associate Professor and Early Career Researcher
in the School of Education at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia.
Helen has been the Course Coordinator for the Master of Teaching- Primary for
the past five years. Helen also the leads the literacy education discipline
within the primary education program. Helen’s research focuses on promoting
equitable education through publication and use of authentically diverse
literature to help break down barriers of prejudice and misunderstanding. Her
work is published in internationally renowned journals. She is frequently called on for expert media
comment and as a presenter to diverse audiences of educators and academics. In
2023, Helen undertook a Churchill Fellowship to the USA and UK meeting with
leading international academics investigating ways to enhance expertise in
children's books as vehicles for disrupting prejudice and discrimination. Helen
is the president of the Board of Directors for the Primary English Teaching
Association of Australia.
Sally Murphy is a Senior Lecturer in Literacy in the School
of Education at Curtin University in Western Australia. Sally is an award-winning
children's author and poet, with her published works including verse novels,
picture books, junior fiction, non-fiction, and educational titles. Her
research interests include the importance of integrating children's literature
across the curriculum and increasing engagement with reading and
writing. Sally’s academic work includes focus on creative practice and
writing as well as supervision of HDR students. In 2022 Sally was awarded an
OAM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her contributions to children’s
literature and education. Sally is the current Chair of the Board for The
Literature Centre in Fremantle Western Australia.
Yvonne Urquhart lectures at Edith Cowan
University. She has successfully completed three tertiary qualifications from
three different Western Australian universities: Dip Teach (WACAE, now known as
Edith Cowan University), BEd (Dist) (Curtin University), MEd (University of
Notre Dame). At a tertiary level she has taught across a
wide spectrum of units with expertise in literacy. She is passionate about post-graduate and
under-graduate students learning how to support the next generation. Yvonne’s research is focused on children’s
literature, predominantly how picture books can add to our quest for fairness and
equity for all students with a range of diverse situations and needs. Yvonne has been the only recipient of the
Education Faculty Network Teach Award for the Student Choice Award for
Outstanding Staff member and she has won the Vice Chancellor’s Award for
Inspirational Individual-Integrity.
