Dr Linda Mahony has over 30 years’ experience in education. She is a leader in her field of research and has presented at seminars and lectures related to her research interests both nationally and internationally in schools, Universities, and at conferences.
Linda has had the privilege of working with teachers to develop an understanding of their pedagogical practices for working with children and families experiencing parental separation and divorce and other challenging family circumstances with the aim to promote wellbeing and learning for children and families. She has explored how teachers and other adults can use pedagogical tools such as children’s picture books to support children and families during, what may be, unsettling family and life events. Linda has worked with parents and carers of children who have experienced parental separation and divorce to explore their perceptions of the collaboration and communication with their children’s teachers and schools so that we can work together to promoting wellbeing and learning.
Linda has worked with initial teacher education students to explore their experiences of working across prior-to-school and school sectors during practicum placements. She has worked with employers to explore their perspectives of how well-prepared initial teacher education graduates are for the workforce, and explored what employers consider should go in an initial teacher education degree.
Professional Memberships
- Pedagogy, Education and Praxis Network (PEP)
- Early Childhood Australia (ECA)
- Australian Council of Deans of Education: Australian Early Childhood Teacher Education Network (AECTEN)
- Australian Literacy Educators’ Association (ALEA)
- Primary English Teaching Association Australia (PETAA)
Professional Social Media
Research areas
- Teachers’ pedagogical practice
- Promoting social and emotional wellbeing and learning of young children experiencing family and life challenges; promoting equity and social justice
- Professional experience
Teaching areas
- Professional Experience
Research Publications
- Mahony, L. & Fenton, A. (2021). Teachers supporting young children experiencing parental separation and divorce: A strengths approach. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage. https://doi.org/10.1080/10502556.2021.1993008
- Mahony, L., Nutton, G., Hazard, H., Disney, L., & Griffiths, S. (2020). Early childhood preservice teachers’ experiences straddling multiple worlds. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 45(2), 183-196. https://doi.org/10.1177/1836939120918501
- Boyd, W., Wong, S., Fenech, M., Mahony, L., Warren, J., Lee, I-F., & Cheeseman, S. (2020). Employers’ perspectives of how well prepared early childhood teacher graduates are to work in early childhood education and care services. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 45(3), 215-227. https://doi.org/10.1177/1836939120935997
- Mahony, L., Lunn, J., Petriwskyj, A., Walsh, K. (2015). The decision-making processes of early childhood teachers when working with children experiencing parental separation and divorce. Early Childhood Development and Care, 185(7), 1088-1108 https://doi-org.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/10.1080/03004430.2014.980405
- Mahony, L., Walsh, K., Lunn, J., Petwiwskyj, A. (2015). Teachers facilitating support for young children experiencing parental separation and divorce. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24(10), 2841-2852. doi: 10.1007/s10826-014-0088-0