Mathew White

Associate Professor Mathew White

Head, School of Education

School of Education

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

My research focuses on character education, international education, leading change, strategic planning, and wellbeing education. I am particularly interested in how leaders establish school cultures to encourage positive learning and wellbeing environments.

My most recent work explores applications of wellbeing in education. I have published on leadership, governance and measurement of wellbeing. I have also published on implementing character strengths and virtues in middle and secondary teaching.

I have published six co-edited books: Wellbeing and Resilience Education COVID-19 and Its Impact on Education (with Faye McCallum, Routledge, 2021), Critical Perspectives on Teaching, Learning and Leadership: Enhancing Educational Outcomes (with Faye McCallum, Springer, 2020), Future Directions in Wellbeing: Education, Organisations and Policy (with Gavin Slemp and Simon Murray, Springer, 2017), Theology Encountering Positive Psychology (with Gillies Ambler, Matthew P. Anstey & Theo D. McCall, 2017) and Evidence-Based Approaches in Positive Education: Implementing a Strategic Framework for Wellbeing in Schools (with Simon Murray, Springer, 2015). My next book, co-authored with Faye McCallum, is Transforming Teaching: Wellbeing and Professional Practice will be published in 2022 (Springer).

I welcome inquiries from PhD and Masters candidates interested in: Applications of positive psychology in education, Education policy, International education, Educational governance, leadership and management, Leading positive change in education, Positive education, and Wellbeing education.

I am Deputy Head of the School of Education, Chair of the Wellbeing and Culture Research Group, Director of the Master of Education, and a member of the leadership team of the School of Education. My research focuses broadly on ARC FOR Code 390412 Teacher and student wellbeing and FOR Code 390403 Educational administration, management and leadership. In particular, I am interested in how leaders establish school cultures to enable positive learning and wellbeing environments. 

My current projects include:

  • Measurement of Employee and Student Wellbeing at the Moreton Bay Colleges, Queensland.

This Research Project is in response to a request from the Executive Principal and the leadership team at The Moreton Bay Colleges in Queensland. A mixed methods study co-designed with the College executive team will prioritise employee and student wellbeing for sustained health and wellbeing at two single-sex, amalgamated schools, Moreton Bay College (a school for girls) and Moreton Bay Boys’ College (a school for boys). The project will measure employee wellbeing (c. 250) and student wellbeing on both sites (Year 6-12 c. 900).

  • Measurement of Employee and Student Wellbeing at Upper Canada College, Toronto

This Research Project is framed in response to a request from the Principal and Dean of Student Life and Wellbeing at Upper Canada College, an all-boys school in Toronto, to undertake a study that prioritises and values employee and student wellbeing for sustained health and wellbeing at a College. A mixed methods approach developed co-designed with College executive team. The project will measure employee wellbeing (c. 250) and student wellbeing (Year 6-12 c. 800).

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2021 - 2022 Acting Head, School of Education University of Adelaide
    2018 - ongoing Associate Professor University of Adelaide, Adelaide
    2016 - ongoing Associate Professor and Principal Fellow The University of Melbourne
    2013 - 2016 Senior Fellow The University of Melbourne
    2011 - 2017 Adjunct Lecturer University of Adelaide, Adelaide
    2011 - 2017 Director of Wellbeing & Positive Education St Peter's College - Adelaide
    2009 - 2010 Director, Leadership & Training Teach for Australia
    2009 - 2009 Head of Positive Education Geelong Grammar School
    2006 - 2013 Fellow The University of Melbourne
    2005 - 2008 International Baccalaureate Diploma Coordinator Geelong Grammar School
    1998 - 2009 Senior School VCE and IB English, French, Theatre Arts, Theory of Knowledge Teacher Geelong Grammar School

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2021 Fellowship International Positive Psychology Fellow Award International Positive Psychology Association United States
    2020 Teaching Award 2020 Faculty of Arts Prize for Excellence in Teaching The University of Adelaide Australia
    2020 Award 2020 Australian Council for Educational Leaders (South Australia Branch) Distinguished Contribution to Research in Educational Leadership Award Australian Council for Educational Leaders (South Australia Branch) Australia
    2017 Award 2017 National ACEL Leadership Award Australian Council for Educational Leaders Australia
    2017 Achievement 2017 ACEL-SA Educational Leadership Medal Award Australian Council for Educational Leaders South Australian Branch (ACEL SA) Australia
    2016 Fellowship Fellow Australian College of Educators Australian College of Educators Australia
    2002 Fellowship Fellow Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce United Kingdom https://www.thersa.org/fellowship

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2004 - 2004 The University of New England Australia Graduate Certificate in Education Management (Boarding)
    2000 - 2004 University of Adelaide, Adelaide Australia PhD
    1996 - 1997 University of Adelaide, Adelaide Australia Master of Educational Studies
    1995 - 1995 The University of Adelaide Australia Graduate Diploma in Education
    1991 - 1994 Flinders University of South Australia Australia Bachelor of Arts

  • Research Interests
    Citizenship Education Education Policy Education systems Educational Administration, Management and Leadership Teacher Education and Professional Development of Educators
Date Project Number Investigators Funding Body Amount
2021 UA216991 Associate Professor Mathew White & Professor Faye McCallum Catholic Education West Australia $35,000
2021 UA216106 Associate Professor Mathew White & Professor Faye McCallum The Moreton Bay Colleges, Queensland $37,180
2019 UA193825 Associate Professor Mathew White & Professor Faye McCallum The Moreton Bay Colleges, Queensland $30,000
2018 - 2019 UA183363 Associate Professor Mathew White & Professor Faye McCallum Upper Canada College, Toronto $30,000
2018 UA183018 Associate Professor Mathew White Catholic Education South Australia $10,000

 

Date Course Course Level / Code
2022 Leading Positive Change Masters (AFQ Level 9), EDUC 7060
2022 Mentoring for Teachers Masters (AFQ Level 9), EDUC 7068
2022 Contemporary Issues in Wellbeing Education Masters (AFQ Level 9), EDUC 7071
2021 Introduction to Wellbeing in Education Masters (AFQ Level 9), EDUC 7064
2021 Contemporary Issues in Wellbeing Education Masters (AFQ Level 9), EDUC 7071
2021 Leading Positive Change Masters (AFQ Level 9), EDUC 7068
2021 Mentoring for Teachers Masters (AFQ Level 9), EDUC 7060
2020 Education Major Project Masters (AFQ Level 9), EDUC 7031
2020 Contemporary Issues in Wellbeing Education Masters (AFQ Level 9), EDUC 7071
2020 Leading Positive Change Masters (AFQ Level 9), EDUC 7068
2020 Introduction to Wellbeing in Education Masters (AFQ Level 9), EDUC 7064
2019 Leading Positive Change Masters (AFQ Level 9), EDUC 7068

2019

Contemporary Issues in Wellbeing Education

Masters (AFQ Level 9), EDUC 7071
2019 Introduction to Wellbeing in Education Masters (AFQ Level 9), EDUC 7064
2019 Educational Leadership in Diverse Contexts Masters (AFQ Level 9), EDUC 7013
2018 Reflective Practice Bachelors (AFQ Level 7) , EDUC 3001
2018 Educational Leadership in Diverse Contexts Masters (AFQ Level 9), EDUC 7013
2018 Educational Policy Studies Masters (AFQ Level 9), EDUC 7550

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2020 Principal Supervisor An investigation of teacher perceptions about the impact of motivation on wellbeing across teacher professional phases: a mixed-methods study Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Liwen Tan
    2020 Principal Supervisor Appreciative Case Studies of the Impact of Strength-based Teaching Practices on Primary School Student Literacy Master of Philosophy Master Part Time Mr Adam John Slater
    2020 Principal Supervisor The Impact of Culture on Australian LOTE Teachers’ Motivation to Teach and their Wellbeing: An Appreciative Mixed Methods Study Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Miss Tania Zebian
    2019 Co-Supervisor Experiences of following within Senior Leadership Teams in Independent Schools Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Carl Salt
    2019 Co-Supervisor Journeys of Strength: An Appreciative Study of Older Workers in Employment in Singapore Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Mohamed Fadhil Bin Mohamed Ismail
    2018 Co-Supervisor A study of South Australian Independent Schools programs in values education and their perceived impacts on student wellbeing Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Shaun Malcolm Oakey

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2017 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Teacher Wellbeing in Rural China: An Appreciative Mixed-Methods Study in Jilin Province Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Bo Cui
  • Position: Head, School of Education
  • Phone: 83135706
  • Email: mathew.white@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Nexus 10, floor 8
  • Org Unit: School of Education
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