Jodie is the course coordinator for multiple undergraduate and masters courses in the Early Childhood programs including professional experience in the birth – three setting, professional experience in preschool sites and play learning and development. She currently tutors in birth to three development, reconceptualising early childhood education, curriculum specialisation and contemporary contexts in early childhood education. Previous teaching at the university has included a range of course across both the primary and early childhood programs.
Jodie is a graduate of the Early Childhood program at Magill having completed her degree with honours. Her honours research was titled ‘developing social competence in toddlers – an investigation of toddler conflict events and educator responses’ and was centred around peer conflict and the important role it plays in the development of social and emotional competence. Jodie is a PhD candidate, and her current doctoral research is centred around educators’ perceptions of social and emotional learning in the prior to school context.
Prior to teaching at UniSA Jodie spent over 15 years teaching in early years settings, mainly in the prior to school settings across both department and independent sites in South Australia and independent sites in Queensland. During her teaching career Jodie has been employed in both teaching and leadership positions. Jodie has an ongoing interest in advocating for the prior to school settings and the importance of early years education for future wellbeing.