Dr Glenda Cain 

Senior Lecturer, Literacy Coordinator
PhD, MED, BED, Dip.Teaching

Email: glenda.cain@nd.edu.au
Phone: 9433 0174

  • Biography

    Glenda Cain is currently working as Senior lecturer (Literacy-ECE and Primary) at the University of Notre Dame Australia, teaching in both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the School of Education. She has extensive teaching experience across all sectors as a classroom teacher in both early childhood and primary classrooms; a deputy principal; early childhood curriculum officer; and university lecturer.

    Glenda has completed her Ph. D. through the University of Notre Dame Australia. Her thesis was entitled "Service-learning as a way of developing pre-service teachers’ knowledge, perception and cultural awareness of Aboriginal Education”. Her interest in Aboriginal education and service-learning has seen partnerships develop with Clontarf Aboriginal College, the Tjuntjuntjara School and community, and the Department of Child Protection and Family Support.

    As a university lecturer in teacher education, Glenda has a comprehensive and up to date knowledge of educational research, issues and trends. Her effectiveness as a classroom teacher and university educator are demonstrated through the university evaluation system where student feedback has been very positive. In 2011 she was awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and School of Education Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence, in 2012.

    The ASPIRE Award for 2013, is a professional development award that enabled Glenda to present her doctoral studies at an international conference in New Orleans, in 2014.

  • Teaching areas

    Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Care)
    Bachelor of Education ( Primary) 
    Teaching in the Primary and ECE English units. 
    Diagnostic literacy clinic within service-learning context ( Aboriginal education) 
    Teaching also in the postgraduate studies ( Graduate Certificate in ECE)

  • Research expertise and supervision

    Research in Service-learning for pre-service teachers' knowledge, perceptions and cultural awareness of Aboriginal education. 
    Research on service-learning immersion to Aboriginal community of Tjuntjuntjara. 
    Supervision of students both in the Master of Education and doctoral courses. 
    Research on "Roots of Empathy" program implementation.

  • Book chapters

    Cain,G. (2014). "Support Staff and Indigenous Education". International Perspectives on Inclusive Education.Vol.4 (pp. 133 - 151)

  • Journal articles and proceedings

    • Lavery, S., Cain, G., & Hampton, P. (2018). Walk beside me, learn together: A service-learning immersion to a remote Aboriginal school and community.  Australian and International Journal of Rural Education, 28(1)
    • Cain, G. (2014). Service-learning as a way of developing pre-service teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and cultural awareness of Aboriginal Education (Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)). University of Notre Dame Australia. http://researchonline.nd.edu.au/theses/82
    • Cain, G., & Carnellor, Y. (2008). “Roots of Empathy”: A research study on its impact on teachers in Western Australia. Journal of Student Wellbeing, 2 (1).
    • Lavery, S., Cain, G. & Hampton, P. (2014). A service-learning immersion in a remote Aboriginal community: enhancing pre-service teacher education. International Journal of Whole Schooling. Vol. 10.

  • In the media

    Invited presenter on "Insight" SBS related to teaching of empathy (2014)

  • Professional affiliations

    Membership of:

    Early Childhood Australia (ECA)
    Australian Literacy Educators Association (ALEA)
    International Association for Research on Service-learning and Community Engagement (IARSLCE)
    Western Australian Institute for Educational Research (WAIER)
    Society for the provision of Education in Rural Australia ( SPERA)

  • Community engagement

    Red Cross Volunteer for the Soup Patrol
    Department of Child Protection and Family Support "Recreational Reading Project" Coordinator
    Tjuntjuntjara Service-learning Immersion Team member

  • Awards

    Society for the Provision of Education in Rural Australia (SPERA) Rural Education Award (2017)
    The Vice Chancellor’s Award for Initiatives that Enhance Student Learning (2016)
    Western Australian Institute for Educational Research (WAIER) Postgraduate Award (2013)
    ASPIRE Award (2013)
    School of Education Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence (2012)
    Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (2011)
    Lecturer of the Year (2009)
    John Lake Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the Master of Education Research Project 2008 (Curtin University)
    Faculty of Education Curtin Staff Award (2007)
    Curtin University Student Guild Award Excellence in Teaching (Humanities)
    National Excellence in Teaching Award 2001