Mathew White

Associate Professor Mathew White

Associate Professor

School of Education

Faculty of Arts

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor), but is currently at capacity - email supervisor to discuss availability.

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

My most recent work explores applications of positive psychology in education. I have published on issues related to leadership, governance and measurement of wellbeing. I have also published on the implementation of character strengths and virtues in middle and secondary teaching. I have co-edited three ground-breaking books on wellbeing education including Evidence-Based Approaches in Positive Education Implementing a Strategic Framework for Well-being in Schools (Springer, 2015), Future Directions in Wellbeing: Education, Organizations, and Policy (Springer, 2017) and Theology Encountering Positive Psychology (Wipf & Stock, 2017).

I welcome inquiries from Masters and PhD 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 the Program Director for the Master of Education in the School of Education at The University of Adelaide. My research focuses broadly on character education, international education, leadership, and wellbeing education. 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 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).

  • 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).

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  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2018 Associate Professor University of Adelaide, Adelaide
    2016 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 - 2009 International Baccalaureate Diploma Coordinator Geelong Grammar School
    1998 - 2009 Senior English Teacher Geelong Grammar School

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2017 Award National ACEL Leadership Award for 2017 Australian Council for Educational Leaders Australia —
    2017 Achievement 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
Date Project Number Investigators Funding Body Amount
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

2019

Contemporary Issues in Wellbeing Education

Masters (AFQ Level 9), EDUC 7071
2019 Introduction to Wellbeing in Education Masters (AFQ Level 9), EDUC 7964
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
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  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2019 Co-Supervisor An Appreciative Study: Factors that Influence Girls Retention in Stem Subjects for Senior Secondary Education Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Miss Catherine Anne Hamilton White
    2019 Co-Supervisor The Nature of Leadership in School Leadership Teams in South Australian Schools Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Carl Salt
    2019 Principal Supervisor Teacher Professional Development Efficacy and Improvement Processes Master of Philosophy Master Part Time Mr Glyn Roberts
    2019 Co-Supervisor Journeys of Strength: An Appretiative Study of Older Workers in Employment in Singapore Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Mohamed Fadhil Bin Mohamed Ismail
    2019 Co-Supervisor Character Education in Boarding Schools Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Darren Thomas Roylett
    2018 Co-Supervisor A Study of the Effectiveness of South Australian Independent Schools Character Education Programs and their Impact on Student Wellbeing Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Shaun Malcolm Oakey
    2017 Co-Supervisor Teacher's wellbeing in rural Jilin province China: an appreciative study Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Bo Cui
  • Position: Associate Professor
  • Phone: 83135706
  • Email: mathew.white@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Nexus 10 Tower, floor 8
  • Room: 8 26
  • Org Unit: School of Education
Connect With Me
External Profiles