ASSA Panel D (Education, Psychology & Public Health) committee meeting

This morning we held a short meeting of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia Panel D Committee (Education, Psychology & Public Health) 

• Professor Don Byrne Chair (Psychology) ACT, ANU 
• Professor Henry Jackson 2021 Deputy Chair (Psychology) VIC, UoM
• Professor Anne Castles Member (Psychology) NSW, MQ 
• Professor Kim Cornish Member (Psychology) VIC, Monash 
• Professor Russell Tytler Member (Education) VIC, Deakin 
• Professor Jenny Gore Member (Education) NSW, Newcastle 
• Professor Sharynne McLeod Member (Health Sciences) NSW, CSU 
• Professor Julie McLeod Member (Education) VIC, UoM 
• Professor Peng Bi Member (Health Sciences) 
• Zoe Perry 2026 2028 Manager – Fellowship, Governance & Awards

Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA) Panel D

I am a member of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA) Panel D: Education, Psychology & Public Health. Today we met for 2 hours to consider the Academy Fellowship nominations. It has been a fascinating discussion. The people on the Panel are: Don Byrne, Chair (Psychology), Helen Skouteris, Deputy Chair (Health Sciences), Anne Castles (Psychology), Kim Cornish (Psychology), Henry Jackson (Psychology), Russell Tytler (Education), Jenny Gore (Education), Sharynne McLeod (Health Sciences), Julie McLeod (Education), Peng Bi (Health Sciences). The committee is supported by Chris Hatherly (Academy National Office) and Zoe Perry (Academy National Office).

Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA) Panel D

Today I attended the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA) Panel D annual meeting.

"The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia represents almost 700 leading social science researchers. The Academy exists to recognise and champion excellence in the social sciences and to provide evidence-based advice on a range of social policy issues."

 

Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia - Panel D Fellowship Committee meeting

Today was my first meeting on the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA) - Panel D Fellowship Committee meeting. We considered carefully the impressive contributions of the nominees to become Fellows of ASSA. What a privilege to spend time with esteemed colleagues discussing the research of notable Australians.

Early childhood education and care: Productivity Commission Report

The Early childhood education and care: Productivity Commission Report has been tabled https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/childhood/report

From the website:

"This report outlines what a universal ECEC system would look like, and the significant reforms necessary to achieve it. These reforms tackle issues that affect ECEC availability, inclusion, affordability, quality and equity. The report's recommendations aim to remove barriers to ECEC access and support better outcomes for children and families." 

The review included consultation with children:

• Children’s Perspectives of Early Childhood Education and Care (PDF 3.8 MB)
• Making the Invisible Visible: Consulting with Children (PDF 5.0 MB)

I am so glad that Jane Delaney was able to represent speech pathologists' perspectives at the April 2024 Joint Roundtable with Academy of Social Sciences (volume 3, p. 20) since I was overseas at the time. Her input enhanced the submission made by Speech Pathology Australia. https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/childhood/report/childhood-volume3-appendices.pdf

Panel D Committee of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA)

I have been invited to be on the Panel D Committee of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA) https://socialsciences.org.au/ for a three-year term commencing from the AGM next month. What an honour. 

The Chair of the committee,  Emeritus Professor Donald Byrne wrote 

"The Committee's work is crucial to the overall functioning of the Academy in ensuring a broad voice for the disciplines of Education, Psychology and Health Sciences in all of the Academy's activities."

From the website

“The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia is an elected body of over 700 leading researchers and professionals across the social science disciplines…a peak body for the social sciences and a distinguished, independent membership organisation, gathering the best and brightest social science minds from universities, research institutes and policy agencies across the country. These are the people whose research shapes government decision-making, whose advice is called on by Australia’s leaders, and whose expertise has long played a key role in shaping our nation.” (https://socialsciences.org.au/academy/)

Invited presentation: Our 21st century brain at Government House Sydney

I was honoured to be an invited speaker at the following event

OUR 21st CENTURY BRAIN 

• Date: Thursday, 2 November 2023,  8.45 am–5.00 pm AEDT 
• Venue: Live stream from Government House Sydney 
• Information: https://royalsoc.org.au/events-news/gallery/rsnsw-and-learned-academies-forum-november-2023
  
• Brochure and Program:  Summary, Complete Program  
• CSU News story: https://news.csu.edu.au/latest-news/nsw-government-house-forum-focuses-on-childrens-communication
• YouTube Recording from the whole day: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYFFwCGj2FIY-x4zrvJUXcv1-k_APtRVo
• My presentation (begins at 14:30): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2S6HBitGfk&list=PLYFFwCGj2FIY-x4zrvJUXcv1-k_APtRVo&index=2 

Sharynne and Kate Margetson

Dr Susan Pond, President of Royal Society of NSW with Charles Sturt University students (Noah Secomb, Kate Margetson)

Prof Sharynne McLeod

Prof Sharynne McLeod presenting "Children's communication and the developing brain"

Kate Margetson, Sharynne McLeod, Noah Secomb at Government House

Summary of the day's program: The brain underpins our basic instincts and needs, and behavioural responses to the world around us. The brain mediates our compassion, reason, and imagination which are reflected in great works of the arts and sciences. Yet our brain is also the source of distress, dysfunction, and malice. Despite centuries of recurring impacts of tribalism, racism, dehumanisation, and exclusion of ‘outsiders’, we continue to inflict suffering on others. At the same time, the 21st century brings new challenges that extend well beyond immediate threats to very complex societal challenges such as global security, climate change, massive demographic shifts, resource management, information overload, and artificial intelligence. Have we reached the edge of our human capacity to respond effectively as either individuals or collective groups? 

The context and demands on our brains have been transformed by the very tools we have created, including new information technology platforms, and rapidly developing and deployed forms of artificial intelligence. Diseases of the brain are increasingly prevalent in our ageing population, as are the increasing mental health challenges that are evident across the human lifespan. Considerable progress across the sciences and humanities has deepened our understanding of genetic, environmental, and social factors that underpin brain development and function. Rising demands on our capacity to respond appropriately to globalised threats bring an urgent need to apply our scientific understanding to the development of just and sustainable solutions. 

This year’s Royal Society of New South Wales and Learned Academies Forum focusses on recent progress in unravelling the workings of the brain and opportunities to use our emerging understanding to promote human wellbeing well beyond the 21st Century. The Forum is held under the auspices of Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales. The Royal Society of New South Wales acknowledges the generous support by Her Excellency, the Academies, the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer, and Haus Holdings. @royalsocnsw #21stCenturyBrain

 The day was a wonderful time to connect with friends and colleagues including:

• Laureate Professor Anne Castles: https://www.acu.edu.au/about-acu/faculties-directorates-and-staff/faculty-of-education-and-arts/australian-centre-for-the-advancement-of-literacy/our-people/professor-anne-castles
  
• Prof Jakelin (Jaky) Troy: https://www.sydney.edu.au/research/our-researchers/academic-staff/jakelin-troy.html
• Prof Penny Van Bergen: https://scholars.uow.edu.au/penny-van-bergen

Prof Penny, Laureate Prof Anne Castles, Prof Sharynne McLeod, Kate Margetson

Prof Jakelin Troy, Prof Sharynne McLeod, Kate Margetson

Government House

Submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Early Childhood Education and Care

I was invited to be a member of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia experts who will write a submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Early Childhood Education and Care. The meeting was chaired by ASSA Fellow, Prof Susan Danby and included Prof Marilyn Fleer, Dr Tara Robertson, Dr Chris Hatherly (ASSA) and Dr Andi Verdich (ASSA). Prof Suzie Edwards, Prof Fiona Stanley are also on the team. We will work on this over the next month. It is a very important submission.

Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences of Australia

I had a wonderful evening in Melbourne celebrating my award of Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences of Australia with family and colleagues.

Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia

I have been elected a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia https://socialsciences.org.au/. 

Here is my citation: "For outstanding contributions to research on child speech development and advocacy for communication rights for children across language and cultures."

I am in Panel D: Education, Psychology and Public Health and I am grateful to my nominators Prof Lyndsey Nickels, Prof Sheena Reilly, and Prof Denis Burnham. 

Here is the ASSA announcement of the 34 new Fellows for 2022: https://socialsciences.org.au/news/34-leading-social-scientists-elected-to-the-academy/

‘These new Fellows represent the best and brightest minds from around the country. They are at the forefront of social science research and public policy,’ said Academy President Professor Richard Holden. ‘I congratulate the new Fellows on their election. It is one of the most prestigious forms of recognition of their enormous contribution to our society. ‘For 50 years, research and advice from Fellows of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia have helped shape the nation. In troubled times and in boom times Fellows are called on by Australia’s leaders to advise on government policy and apply themselves to the most challenging problems facing society. Their work helps all of us to better understand what it is to be human and to participate in our society and shape its institutions.’ ‘We welcome the new Fellows and are honoured to have them join the Academy.’

The CSU news story is here: https://news.csu.edu.au/latest-news/national-honour-for-world-leading-speech-language-academic

Here is the link to my 3 minute presentation to introduce myself to the Academy:

ASSA YouTube (start at 1:10:53): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmHP_3uSAU8

Link to my pre-recorded presentation: https://charlessturt.zoom.us/rec/share/4ua1SJkvojlDejtcKC7vYjmryO-HGS9veYpyXtvgOtgSp6-NTE1iobdTh87C-B1r.5HnkaMkr9pvRVLPl?startTime=1668147857000

Here is the description of ASSA from their website:

Established in 1971, the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia is an elected body of over 700 leading researchers and professionals across the social science disciplines. We are both a peak body for the social sciences and a distinguished, independent membership organisation, gathering the best and brightest social science minds from universities, research institutes and policy agencies across the country. These are the people whose research shapes government decision-making, whose advice is called on by Australia’s leaders, and whose expertise has long played a key role in shaping our nation. The breadth of the social sciences means that our elected members, known as “Fellows”, are experts in diverse fields from economics, history, education and law, through to psychology, linguistics, anthropology and statistics. The Academy works with a diverse range of academic, private, public and not-for-profit organisations to develop and advance shared agendas. We have a commitment to reconciliation (including through the election of Australia’s leading indigenous researchers), supporting early and mid-career researchers, and building strong international research linkages in the social sciences. Above all, we are focused on drawing on our experts and partnering with other organisations to advance and promote the conduct, awareness, translation, and uptake of social science research in ways that improve the lives of people and society, now and in the future. https://socialsciences.org.au/the-academy/

The Academy consists of an elected Fellowship of almost 700 distinguished Australian social science researchers and professionals who work together to: 

• Provide advice to governments on issues of national importance
  
• Promote understanding and awareness of the social sciences
  
• Coordinate international cooperation and collaboration in the social sciences. 

The five learned Academies in Australia are: 

• Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA)
• Australian Academy of Science (AAS)
• Academy of Humanities (AAH)
•  Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE)
• Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS)

The Academies cooperate through the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA).