Dr Cathy Kaplun

Position

Research Fellow
Transforming early Education and Child Health (TeEACH) Strategic Research Initiative,
School of Nursing and Midwifery | School of Education

Affiliated with TReSI, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical research and Maridulu Budyari Gumal, Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE).

Biography

Cathy has over 10 years’ experience researching with families including families experiencing complex support needs, families with low English proficiency and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. Prior to working in research I have worked with families and children in educational and health services. Special interests lie in the links between education and health; children’s experiences and perspectives; and in strengthening families to promote children's early learning and optimal health as an antecedent to a successful transition to school and the foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing.

Cathy's research is at the interface of health and education. Particular areas of interest are centred on times of transition, particularly for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander families and families experiencing vulnerabilities. Her research focuses on: the impacts of the Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home-visiting (MECSH) program, an evidenced-based program that supports families as they transition to parenthood and over the first two years of a child's life; and educational transitions, documenting children's early educational attainment and experiences from the perspectives of all stakeholders in children's transition from home and early childcare services to school. Her research takes a strong social justice perspective and supports child-directed and child-led research where children document their ideas, insights and experiences, and are change-makers in the communities in which they live and grow.

Research Interests

• Maternal and child health (perinatal & postnatal)
• Early childhood health/education
• Transition from home/early childhood education to primary school

Qualifications and Recognition

• PhD Charles Sturt University
• BEd (ECE) (Hons) Macquarie University

Research and Publications

• Kaplun, C., Dockett, S., & Perry, B. (2017). The Starting School Study: Mothers’ perspectives of transition to school. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood 42 (4).
• Kaplun, C., Grace, R., Knight, J., Anderson, J., West, N., Mack, H., Comino, E., & Kemp, L. (2017). ‘Everybody Has Got Their Own Story’: Urban Aboriginal Families and the Transition to School. Families and Transition to School, pp67-82.
• C Kaplun, J Knight, R Grace, S Dockett, B Perry, E Comino, et al. (2016). Gudaga goes to school study: methods used in understanding school transitions and early education experiences of an urban Aboriginal cohort. Educational Studies 42 (1), 54-71.

For a complete list of my publications please see my publications page (opens in a new window)

Contact Details