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Dr Debra Williams

Program Convenor (Early Childhood)

Biography

Debra Williams is the early childhood program convener in AC's School of Education. She has over four decades' experience in early childhood education and care. She completed an MEd (Macquarie) in 1995 and a PhD (Avondale) in 2020, with a thesis on the implementation of critical reflection in early childhood education.

Qualifications

PhD (Avondale University), An Inquiry into the Implementation of Critical Reflection in Early Childhood Education and Care: A Faith‑based Case Study – 2020

M.Ed. (Macquarie University) – 1995

Grad Cert Research (James Cook University) – 2014

B.A. Dip. Ed. (Early Childhood Education) (Macquarie University) – 1981

  • Research Publications

  • Internal and External Grants

  • Presentations

    • 2022
      • Critical Reflection – Impact and Implementation (2022), Early Childhood Teachers Association webinar, Australia, 18 May 2022
    • 2021
      • Embedding Be You’ following an Inquiry into How to Implement Critical Reflection (2021), Early Childhood Australia, Australia, 01 Jun 2021
    • 2019
      • Pedagogy and Practice through a Christian Lens (2019), Australian Early Childhood Christian Educators Association, Australia, 07 Sep 2019
      • A Model for Implementation of Critical Reflection in Early Childhood Education and Care (2019), 2019 Child Aware Conference, Brisbane International Convention Centre, 16 May 2019
    • 2018
      • Community Engagement – Embedding Critical Reflection in Practice: Why and How? (2018), International Early Childhood Symposium, International Convention Centre, Sydney, 20 Apr 2018

  • Engagement Publications


    Journal Articles
    • 2022
      • Williams, D. (2022). Partnering with Families Connected Community. ‘Be You’, 2022. | External link
      • Williams, D. (2022). How a Culture of Critical Reflection can be a foundation for Belonging, Being, Becoming and Collaborating (Part 3). Community Early Learning Australia Rattler, 138. | External link
    • 2021
      • Williams, D. & Beamish, P. (2021). Impact and Implementation Considerations in Early Childhood Education and Care. TEACH, 15 (1).
      • Williams, D. (2021). Critical Reflection Part 2 How to Implement using a SCHEMED Approach. Community Early Learning Australia Rattler, 136. | External link
      • Williams, D. (2021). What Critical Reflection Means for Your Service and What Should Be Considered?. Community Early Learning Australia Rattler, 135. | External link

  • Professional Memberships


    Chair of the Australian Christian Early Childhood Educators Association (since 2018)

    Integricare (since 2025)



  • Teaching

    EDU433 Curriculum Studies in Early Childhood
    EDU435 Early Childhood Leadership, Management and Research
    EDU434 Building Partnerships with Families and Communities
    EXP431 Professional Experience 1
    EDU431 Early Childhood Practice and Pedagogy
    EDU430 Early Childhood Perspectives Past and Present
    EXP432 Professional Experience 2
    EDU113 Wellbeing and Care
    EDU115 Brain Development from a 21st Century Perspective

  • Supervision