Biography
Natalie Robertson is a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at Deakin University. Natalie has an overarching interest in teacher practice and professionalism of early childhood education. This interest, alongside her passion for children's play contributes to her teaching and learning at Deakin University as the Unit Chair and lecturer in units delivering curriculum and pedagogy, professional practice and teacher inquiry.
Through her research into teacher practice, Natalie has developed a strong interest in early childhood workforce issues, including the attraction, preperation and retention of teachers. Her work in this area is visible in her current projects with the Victorian Department of Education and Training that deliver the Early Childhood Professional Practice Partnerships (ECPPP) project and the Innovate ITE program: Accelerated Bachelor of Early Childhood Education. Natalie's has worked on projects nationally and internationally that are focussed on play-based learning in early childhood education.
Read more on Natalie's profileResearch interests
Natalie's field of research is positioned in early childhood education. Her specific interests in this field include;
- Play based teaching and learning
- Attraction and retention of the workforce
- Early childhood teacher education
Teaching interests
Natalie is the Unit Chair and lecturer in units focused on early childhood curriculum and pedagogy knowledge, professional practice and teacher inquiry
Knowledge areas
- Children's dramatic play
- Play based curriculum and pedagogy in early childhood
- Professional practice in early childhood
Conferences
Keynote Presentations:
Robertson, N. (2018). A case study of dramatic play in two preschools in China. Paper presented at the 85th Anniversary Yew Chung - Yew Wah Conference, Hong Kong.
Conference Presentations:
Robertson, N., Morrissey, AM., & Moore, D. (2019). Multiple methodologies examining multiple perspectives on outdoor playspaces. Paper Presentation at the 2019 Australian Journal of Early Childhood Research Symposium, Australian Catholic University.
Robertson, N. (2017). Teacher’s perspectives of child rights curriculum. Paper presented at the European Early Childhood Education Research Association 27th Annual Conference, Barcelona, Spain.
Robertson, N. (2015). Children’s play: An analysis of the complexity of children’s dramatic play skills. Paper presented at Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association 16th Annual Conference, Sydney, Australia.
Robertson, N. & Downes, N. (2015). Respect, reflect relate: A tool to assess children’s involvement in dramatic play. Paper presented at the European Early Childhood Education Research Association 25th Annual Conference, Barcelona, Spain.
Publications
The 'it' factor: expectations of 'good' early childhood teachers in Australia
A Nolan, N Robertson, K Bussey
(2024), pp. 1-15, Early Years, London, Eng., C1
"If we can't advocate for ourselves, nobody else will": Teacher agency during early childhood reform
N Robertson, K Bussey, A Morrissey
(2023), Vol. 48, pp. 281-293, Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, London, Eng., C1
Tools and Time for Noticing in Early Childhood Pedagogy Outdoors
Anne-Marie Morrissey, Llewellyn Wishart, Natalie Robertson, Deborah Moore, Virginia Kinnear
(2022), Vol. 5, pp. 125-147, Assessment and Data Systems in Early Childhood Settings Theory and Practice, Singapore, B1
Back to day one: The impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on the return to kindergarten in Australia
Katherine Bussey, Natalie Robertson, Deborah Moore
(2022), pp. 30-43, Early Childhood Education and Care in a Global Pandemic, London, Eng., B1
Group Music Activities in Chinese Kindergartens: Children's Engagement and Teacher Perspectives
N Robertson, H Yim, L Paatsch
(2022), Vol. 16, pp. 49-72, Asia-Pacific Journal of Research in Early Childhood Education, Seoul, Republic of Korea, C1
D Moore, A Morrissey, N Robertson
(2021), Vol. 191, pp. 933-951, Early Child Development and Care, C1
N Robertson, B Yim, L Paatsch
(2020), Vol. 190, pp. 376-389, Early child development and care, Abingdon, Eng., C1
From boats to bushes: environmental elements supportive of children's sociodramatic play outdoors
N Robertson, A Morrissey, D Moore
(2020), Vol. 18, pp. 234-246, Children's geographies, Abingdon, Eng., C1
J Ciuciu, N Robertson
(2019), Vol. 44, pp. 79-95, Australian Journal of Teacher Education, C1
Building a model of support for preschool children with speech and language disorders
N Robertson, S Ohi
(2016), Vol. 5, pp. 173-181, Journal of education and learning, Toronto, Ont., C1
N Robertson
(2016), Vol. 10, pp. 71-92, Asia-Pacific journal of research in early childhood education, Melbourne, Vic., C1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Other Public Sector Funding
Inclusive Practices for Children from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds in Early Childhood Education Settings in Victoria and Sichuan: An Exploration of Opportunities for Improved Lear
A/Prof Indika Liyanage, Dr Laura Gurney, A/Prof Bonnie Yim, Dr Natalie Robertson
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2017: $25,000
Early Childhood Professional Practice Partnerships.
Dr Natalie Robertson, Prof Andrea Nolan, AsPr Anne-Marie Morrissey, Prof Louise Paatsch, A/Prof Liz Rouse, Dr Deb Moore
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2021: $232,252
- 2019: $232,252
Deakin University - Professional Learning and Best Practice Resources to Support Differentiated Play-Based / Inquiry Learning for Foundation Teachers 2021.
Prof Andrea Nolan, Prof Louise Paatsch, AsPr Anne-Marie Morrissey, A/Prof Liz Rouse, Dr Virginia Kinnear, Dr Natalie Robertson, Ms Naomi David, Dr Kim Davies, Dr Deb Moore
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2021: $240,442
Accelerated Bachelor of Early Childhood Education for diploma qualified educators ("Accelerated BECE") student cohorts
Prof Damian Blake, Dr Natalie Robertson, Prof Amanda Mooney, A/Prof Liz Rouse, Ms Naomi David, Dr Rosemarie Scott
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2024: $50,000
- 2023: $102,000
- 2022: $698,000
- 2021: $1,120,000
Teachers deliberating practice: The Aurora School project
Prof Andrea Nolan, Prof Louise Paatsch, Dr Natalie Robertson
Aurora School
- 2023: $30,517
- 2022: $89,797
- 2021: $24,734
Early Childhood Professional Practice Partnerships.
Dr Natalie Robertson, Prof Louise Paatsch, Prof Andrea Nolan, AsPr Anne-Marie Morrissey, Dr Nicole Downes, Dr Llewellyn Wishart
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2023: $231,604
- 2022: $231,604
Deakin University Early Childhood Innovative Initial Teacher Education Program: Accelerated Bachelor of Early Childhood Education.
Dr Natalie Robertson, Prof Amanda Mooney, Dr Mandy Cooke
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2023: $1,124,000
- 2022: $522,000
Industry and Other Funding
Inclusive Practices for Children from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds in Early Childhood Education Settings in Victoria and Sichuan: An Exploration of Opportunities for Improved Lear
A/Prof Indika Liyanage, Dr Laura Gurney, A/Prof Bonnie Yim, Dr Natalie Robertson
Sichuan Normal University
- 2017: $22,727
Developing Intercultural Learning in Pre-service Early Childhood Teachers through Immersive Learning in Australia.
A/Prof Bonnie Yim, Dr Natalie Robertson
Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education
- 2023: $39,593
Supervisions
No completed student supervisions to report