Meet the Team
Professor Sue Walker
Leader, Early Years Research Lab
Professor Susan Walker’s research interests concern children's developmental outcomes and the role of early intervention in early childhood. Susan has extensive expertise in survey methodology and quantitative data analysis.
Associate Professor Michelle Neumann
Deputy Leader, Early Years Research Lab; Honours Course Coordinator
Associate Professor Michelle Neumann (Gold Coast Campus) is an academic in the field of early childhood education, literacy, and educational technology. Michelle has had over 10 years’ experience working as a primary and secondary school teacher and is a registered Teacher with Education Queensland.
Associate Professor Wendy Boyd
Associate Dean (Education)
Wendy Boyd joined Southern Cross University in February 2009 with professional expertise in early childhood education and care. She taught for 25 years leading a large early childhood centre that was continuously assessed as high quality.
Dr Charmaine Bernie
Vice-Chancellor Senior Research Fellow
Dr Charmaine Bernie is a Vice-Chancellor Senior Research Fellow in the Faculty of Education's Early Years Research Lab at Southern Cross University. Charmaine is passionate about early years care and research for children and their families.
Miss Amy Mills
Associate Lecturer
Amy is an Associate Lecturer in Early Childhood Education and Care
Dr Alicia Phillips
Early Childhood Course Coordinator
Alicia Phillips joined Southern Cross University in 2015 with a wealth of teaching experience in educational contexts ranging from early childhood education and care settings, primary schools and tertiary education.
Jubilee Smith
Primary Course Coordinator, Lecturer
Jubilee Smith is currently completing her PhD with Southern Cross University investigating early childhood educator decision making with digital technology. Jubilee has presented and published from the initial research which led to her PhD topic.
Kelly Simpson
Associate Lecturer
Kelly is a Higher Degree Research candidate for a PhD with Southern Cross University, investigating outcomes of initial teacher education programs for early childhood teachers. She has extensive teaching experience in early childhood and vocationally, and a deep interest in initial and ongoing teacher education.