Associate Professor Cathy Little
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Associate Professor Cathy Little

PhD (Sydney), MEd(Special Education)(Sydney),MEd(Early Childhood)(UOW),GradCert(ASD)(QUT),MTeach(EC)(Macquarie), BEd(Sydney),
Associate Professor, Special Education, Executive Director, Initial Teacher Education
Phone
+61 2 93513685
Fax
+61 2 93512606
Address
A35 - Education Building
The University of Sydney
Details
Associate Professor Cathy Little

Cathy's areas of interest are autistic spectrum disorder, high support needs, and positive behaviour support. She lectures at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and is supervising a number of research students.

Prior to taking up her position at the University, Cathy was assistant principal of a four-class support unit attached to a regular primary school in the Western Sydney Region. She has had many years' experience teaching in early-childhood settings, primary schools and the special-education sector.

Cathy has taught students with autistic spectrum disorder, behaviour disorder and high support needs, in regular and support-unit classes. She continues to have a close relationship with several schools in Western Sydney Region.

Research on teaching and learning

  • Early childhood education
  • Special and inclusive education

Keywords: autism, teacher attitudes, social inclusion, early childhood, special education

  • An investigative study into regular teacher attitudes and the social inclusion of students with Asperger Syndrome.
  • Collaborative project with Srinakharinwhirot University, Bagkok investigating Thai teacher attitudes, knowledge and perceptions of students with ASD.

Joseph Varga School, Randwick - Board of Directors.

Australian Association of Special Education(AASE) - NSW Chapter Committee

NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA)–Assessment Board Committee

Successful Learning Conference- Organising Committee (2007 – present)

Australian Society for Autism Research(ASfAR) - member

International Society for Autism Research(InSAR) - member

Early Childhood Intervention Australia(ECIA) - member

Faculty of Education and Social Work Teaching Excellence Award, 2016

Faculty of Education and Social Work Teaching Excellence Award, 2010

Faculty of Education and Social Work, Thomas T Roberts Fellowship 2009

Project titleResearch student
Trauma-informed education in early childhood education: Educator understandings and practices in NSWLauren BEDFORD-ROLLESTON

Publications

Selected Grants

2023

  • Collaborations in Education: Perspectives and Experiences from Malaysia and Australia, Little C, Sydney Southeast Asia Centre/SSEAC Workshop Grant

2019

  • Disability Awareness; co-created with students content to enhance engagement, Spandagou I, Evans D, Little C, Zanuttini J, Spencer M, Villeneuve M, DVC Education/Small Educational Innovation Grant

In the media

Bonati, M., Little, C., Evans, D., & Spandagou, I. (12 November 2014). Separate curriculum or students with disability no good for anyone. The Conversation.