Study grant provides Fiona opportunity to answer burning questions

Congratulations to Federation member Fiona Beasley, who has been awarded Federation’s 2023 Eric Pearson Study Grant.

Trauma-informed practice in classrooms – which has been recognised as important in improving student outcomes and experiences – will be the subject of Fiona’s research and report.

Fiona hopes the study will identify the core components of effective trauma-informed practice and the benefits of such an approach. She seeks to ascertain from teachers the essential features that will ensure sustainability and support the culture change required within the school to become trauma informed.

“In the past five or so years my interest in supporting students who have experienced trauma has increased as government pressure to improve academic outcomes and to measure and collect data has grown. All the while, government has been giving only lip service to the wellbeing of the whole child and having them come to school being ready to learn, let alone able to achieve system-based targets.”

Fiona is a trauma-informed practice facilitator for the Department of Education and assistant principal (learning and support) for the Batemans Bay Network of Schools, based at Bodalla Public School.

The Eric Pearson Study Grant is awarded annually to a Federation member who is committed to examining a topic of industrial and professional relevance to the union and our members.

Fiona may spend up to $23,000 for travel, accommodation and expenses associated with the study. She plans to visit people and educational institutions within Australia and overseas to inform her research.