Dr Webb-Williams gained her PhD in & Education & Psychology from Cambridge University, UK
Dr Jane Webb-Williams is a leading early childhood expert, highly experienced social researcher and an Academic at the University of South Australia. Jane’s career in education spans over 25 years in a variety of roles including Program Director of Master of Learning & Teaching, Deputy School Principal and Early Years Teacher.
Dr Webb-Williams is recognised Nationally and Internationally as a leader in the field of Play. She is a member of the high profile team writing the National Statement for Play for Australia, she sits on the National Board of Play Australia and is a member of the Play Australia SA... Read more
About me
Dr Webb-Williams gained her PhD in & Education & Psychology from Cambridge University, UK
Dr Jane Webb-Williams is a leading early childhood expert, highly experienced social researcher and an Academic at the University of South Australia. Jane’s career in education spans over 25 years in a variety of roles including Program Director of Master of Learning & Teaching, Deputy School Principal and Early Years Teacher.
Dr Webb-Williams is recognised Nationally and Internationally as a leader in the field of Play. She is a member of the high profile team writing the National Statement for Play for Australia, she sits on the National Board of Play Australia and is a member of the Play Australia SA committee.
Jane is well known her advocacy and expertise in Play. She regularly promotes play through keynotes, invited lectures and professional development sessions to schools, NGOs, teachers, librarians, community groups and families. She regularly works in an advisory and research capacity with councils, landscape architects and education settings, and she has worked with organisations including Parks and Leisure Australia, Nature Play and Recreation SA.
In 2017 Jane was awarded an Academic Excellence Award by the Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences in recognition of her research with industry partners.
Jane is a passionate advocate for play within schools and communities to benefit children’s social and emotional wellbeing. A highly experienced leader, Jane leads undergraduate teacher education courses in Learning Through Play (600 + students per year) as well as postgraduate courses in Play, Learning and Development.
Jane's research focuses on play, playful pedagogies and playspace design to support focuses on improving children's wellbeing and social & emotional development. She has been a Chief Investigator on a number of significant projects tackling a diverse range of global issues including ‘Young and Well CRC: Safe and Well Online’ which examined at the role of technology to improve youth mental health and ‘Preschool Children’s Participation and Education as Valued Active Citizens’.
Recent research projects Jane has led include 'Children’s Voice in Playspace design’, Co-Constructed Student-Led Pedagogies for Engagement & Learning in the Early Years of School”, ‘Children’s Voices in Play’ and ‘Community Connectedness through Play’ which focused on the role of play to promote community connectedness in disadvantaged, multicultural communities.
About me
American Educational Research Association
Australian Association for Research in Education
Early Childhood Australia
British Educational Research Association
Play Australia
About me
Doctor of Philosophy University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Master of Education University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Children's Discovery Garden @ Adelaide Botanic Garden, Board of the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, 01/07/2023 - 31/01/2025
Play in Early Adolescence, Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia, 01/12/2019 - 01/03/2022
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2023 |
Open access
|
| 2022 |
|
| 2021 |
Open access
6
5
3
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2019 |
|
| 2019 |
1
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2021 |
Open access
6
5
3
|
| 2020 |
Open access
3
|
| 2018 |
Open access
47
36
|
| 2014 |
Open access
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
|
| 2023 |
Open access
|
| 2022 |
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2021 |
Open access
|
| 2017 |
Open access
|
| 2016 |
Open access
|
| 2016 |
Open access
|
| 2016 |
|
| 2015 |
|
Academic Excellence Award 2017 – End User Research Industry Engagement Commendation. Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences, University of South Australia, 2017. This award recognises outstanding contribution to engagement which was evaluated via a competitive application process.
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Queensland University of Technology | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Wyoming | UNITED STATES |
| Western Sydney University | AUSTRALIA |
| Zuni | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Board MemberPlay Australia South Australia (PASA) |
2021 |
National Board MemberPlay Australia |
2021 |
National Reference Group on PlayEarly Childhood Australia (ECA) |
2021 |
Board MemberPlay Australia South Australia (PASA) |
2020 |
National Board MemberPlay Australia |
2020 |
National Reference Group on PlayEarly Childhood Australia (ECA) |
2020 |
Board MemberPlay Australia South Australia (PASA) |
2019 |
National Board MemberPlay Australia |
2019 |
National Reference Group on PlayEarly Childhood Australia (ECA) |
2019 |
Board MemberPlay Australia South Australia (PASA) |
2018 |
MemberEarly Childhood Australia |
2018 |
MemberAmerican Educational Research Association (AERA) |
2018 |
MemberAustralian Association for Research in Education (AARE) |
2018 |
MemberBritish Educational Research Association (BERA) |
2018 |
National Board MemberPlay Australia |
2018 |
Best Reviewer, Outstanding ContributionIAFOR (The International Academic Forum) |
2017 |
Board MemberPlay Australia South Australia (PASA) |
2017 |
Education Board Committee MemberScotch College Adelaide |
2017 |
MemberEarly Childhood Australia |
2017 |
MemberAustralian Association for Research in Education (AARE) |
2017 |
MemberBritish Educational Research Association (BERA) |
2017 |
MemberAmerican Educational Research Association (AERA) |
2017 |
National Board MemberPlay Australia |
2017 |
Board MemberPlay Australia South Australia (PASA) |
2016 |
Senior ReviewerIAFOR (The International Academic Forum) |
2016 |
TRB Accreditation Panel MemberTeachers Registration Board |
2016 |
TRB Accreditation Panel MemberTeachers Registration Board |
2015 |
Invited Expert Panel Member - Nature, Children and Play SpacesNatural Resources Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges in conjunction with Nature Play SA |
2014 |
TRB Accreditation Panel MemberTeachers Registration Board |
2014 |
Invited Speaker, The meaning, value and role of play, 21st century perceptions at Shifting the Paradigm of Outdoor Play SpacesEarly Childhood Organisation and Parks and Leisure Australia |
2013 |
TRB Accreditation Panel MemberTeachers Registration Board |
2013 |
Play in Early Childhood and Primary School Settings
Educational Psychology: particularly the self-constructs of self-efficacy and social comparison
Teacher Education
Research Methods
Teaching & student supervision
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| Teacher self-efficacy and practice: a case study of eight South Australian reception teachers | Completed |
