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  • Associate Professor Matthew Byrne

    Associate Professor Matthew Byrne

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Associate Professor Matthew Byrne

Associate Dean (Primary)

Staff Member Details
Telephone: +61 8 6304 5470
Email: m.byrne@ecu.edu.au
Campus: Joondalup  
Room: JO8.224  
ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7335-8001

Matt is an Associate Dean (Primary) within the School of Education.

Background

Matt is an experienced teacher, teacher educator and researcher. He is involved in Aboriginal education and research and the development of cultural competency/responsiveness within the university, public and private sector as well as educational leadership.

Matt is an Honorary Research Fellow with the Telethon Kids Institute working with Professor Donna Cross and the Health Promotion and Education Research group and involved in the current Cyber Friendly Schools project.

Professional associations

  • 2021 - John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School Council
  • 2012 - Dianella Precinct Board (Chair)
  • 2012 - Swan valley Anglican Community School Council
  • 2011 - Wyemando Bequest
  • 2007 - Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE)

Research interests

  • Education and health for disadvantaged students and communities
  • Aboriginal education
  • Educational leadership
  • Behaviour management and positive learning through environments

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Edith Cowan University, 2009.
  • Bachelor of Education with First Class Honours, Edith Cowan University, 1995.

Research Outputs

2025

Conference Publications

  • Redmond, P., Christensen, R., Carvalho, AA., Martin, D., Byrne, M., Trevisan, O., Nykvist, S., Santos, I., Getenet, S., Egan, A., Willis , JM., Bower , M., Vaz-Rebelo, P. (2025). A global perspective on integrating technology into teacher education programs using measures of self-efficacy, attitudes and program experiences. Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (1396-1405). Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.

2024

Journal Articles

  • Adam, H., Byrne, M. (2024). ‘I’m not from a country, I’m from Australia.’ Costumes, scarves, and fruit on their heads: The urgent need for Culturally Responsive Pedagogy when sharing diverse books with children. The Australian Educational Researcher, 51(4), 1121-1140. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13384-023-00631-x.
  • Hill, S., Miller, M., Devine, A., Genoni, A., Wenden, E., Byrne, M. (2024). Supporting nutrition education in low socioeconomic schools in Western Australia. Issues in Educational Research, 34(1), 58-76. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuworks2022-2026/4083.
  • Rhodes, D., Byrne, M., Boron, J. (2024). Queering Primary Initial Teacher Education. Continuum, 38(3), 325-337. https://doi.org/10.1080/10304312.2024.2336186.

Conference Publications

  • Martin, D., Curtis, P., Redmond, P., Byrne, M. (2024). The 3C Model for Teaching Coding and Computational Thinking with an M in STEM Focus. Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (2162-2172). Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education. https://doi.org/https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/224275/.

2023

Journal Articles

  • Main, S., Byrne, M., Scott, J., Sullivan, K., Paolino, A., Slater, E., Boron, J. (2023). Primary specialisations in Australia: graduates’ perceptions of outcome and impact. The Australian Educational Researcher, 50(2), 371–390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13384-021-00496-y.
  • Hill, S., Byrne, M., Wenden, L., Devine, A., Miller, M., Quinlan, H., Cross, D., Eastham, J., Chester, M. (2023). Models of school breakfast program implementation in Western Australia and the implications for supporting disadvantaged students. Children and Youth Services Review, 145(February 2023), Article number 106770. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106770.

2022

Book Chapters

  • White, S., Anderson, P., Quin, A., Gower, G., Byrne, M., Bennet, M. (2022). Supporting the teaching profession to enable a culturally responsive curriculum. International Handbook on Education Development in Asia-Pacific (1-20). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-2327-1_82-1.

Journal Articles

  • Rees, J., Fu, SC., Lo, J., Sambell, R., Lewis, J., Christophersen, C., Byrne, M., Newton, R., Boyle, S., Devine, A. (2022). How a 7-Week Food Literacy Cooking Program Affects Cooking Confidence and Mental Health: Findings of a Quasi-Experimental Controlled Intervention Trial. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9(March 2022), Article number 802940. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.802940.

2021

Journal Articles

  • Rhodes, D., Byrne, M. (2021). Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQ+ issues in primary Initial Teacher Education programs. Social Inclusion, 9(2), 30-41. https://doi.org/10.17645/si.v9i2.3822.

2020

Journal Articles

  • Rees, J., Christophersen, C., Lewis, J., Lo, J., Sambell, R., Costello, L., Walker, C., Byrne, M., Boyce, M., Newton, R., Devine, A. (2020). The study protocol for a pseudo-randomised pre-post designed controlled intervention trial to study the effects of a 7-week cooking program on self-efficacy and biomarkers of health: The ECU lifestyle and biomarkers get connected study (ECULABJMOF) including the Jamie's Ministry of Food WA participant experience. BMC Public Health, 20(1), Article number 1037. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09124-3.

2019

Book Chapters

  • Byrne, M., Scott, A., Caverley, C., Wenden, L. (2019). What Matters Most in the Design of Universal Professional Learning for School Leaders. School Leadership That Works: Ideas from Around the World (5-30). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuworkspost2013/10794.

Reports

  • White, S., Anderson, P., Gower, G., Byrne, M., Bennet, M., Quin, A. (2019). Engaging and partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and caregivers. Australia. Office of Learning and Teaching/OLT - Innovation and Development Grant. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuworkspost2013/11980.
  • Byrne, M., Quinlan, H., Wenden, L., Hill, S. (2019). International School Leadership Program Evaluation Final Report November 2019. Australia. Western Australian Primary Principals Association.

2018

Reports

  • Byrne, M., Shean, M., Wenden, L. (2018). Investigation of the Impact of the Lifeworkz Social and Emotional Program. Australia. Lifeworkz.
  • Byrne, M., Hill, S., Wenden, L., Devine, A., Miller, M., Quinlan, H., Shaw, T., Eastham, J., Cross, D. (2018). Evaluation of the Foodbank WA School Breakfast and Nutrition Education Program. Australia. Foodbank WA, Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Regional Development. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuworkspost2013/11990.

2015

Journal Articles

  • Hackling, M., Byrne, M., Gower, G., Anderson, K. (2015). A pedagogical model for engaging Aboriginal children with science learning. Teaching Science, 61(1), 27-39.

2012

Book Chapters

  • Byrne, M., Munns, G. (2012). From the big picture to the individual student: the importance of the classroom relationship. Reform and Resistance in Aboriginal Education (304-334). UWA Publishing.
  • Gower, G., Byrne, M. (2012). Becoming a culturally competent teacher: beginning the journey. Reform and Resistance in Aboriginal Education (379-402). UWA Publishing.

2001

Journal Articles

  • Byrne, M., Berlach, R. (2001). Education for indigenous students: Which outcomes-based document set is best?. Issues in Educational Research, 11, 1-11.

Research Projects

  • John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School Attraction and Retention Research Project (2024), John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School, Attraction and Retention Projects (2024), 2024 ‑ 2025, $20,000.
  • Optimising social return on investment of the Foodbank WA School Breakfast Program through integrated, whole-school approaches to supporting disadvantaged students., Foodbank, Scholarships to support Industry Engagement PhD Projects, 2020 ‑ 2025, $45,000.
  • Evaluation of Foodbank WA s School Breakfast and Food Nutrition Program (01/2015FBWA), Foodbank, Grant, 2015 ‑ 2023, $180,000.
  • Investigation of the Impact of the New North Education Initiative, New North Education Initiative, Grant, 2018 ‑ 2022, $145,000.
  • An Evaluation of the Ethical Leadership Program: A Constable Care and Primary Ethics Initiative 2020-2021, Constable Care Child Safety Foundation Inc, Constable Care - Grant, 2020 ‑ 2021, $80,791.
  • Building Emotional Strength in Education, Sharon Faye Foundation, Grant, 2017 ‑ 2019, $7,500.
  • Investigation of Western Australia Primary Principals Association International School Leadership Program - Research and Evaluation, Western Australian Primary Principals Association Inc, Grant, 2017 ‑ 2019, $5,000.
  • Investigation of the Impact of Lifeworkz Social and Emotional Program at Hale School , Lifeworkz, Grant, 2017 ‑ 2018, $7,765.
  • Engaging and partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and community to improve student outcomes, Office for Learning and Teaching, OLT - Innovation and Development Grant, 2017 ‑ 2018, $14,274.
  • WA Adolescent Cooking and Food Literacy Study, Foodbank, Grant, 2014 ‑ 2015, $90,000.
  • School Breakfast Program 2014, Foodbank, Grant, 2015, $15,000.
  • Food Sensations 2014, Foodbank, Grant, 2015, $2,100.
  • Foodbank WA Healthy Food for All Strategy Research and Evaluation , Foodbank, Grant, 2014, $7,500.
  • Food for learning: Impact of the WA Healthy Food for All program in low SES schools, Edith Cowan University, ECU Industry Collaboration Grant - 2014 (Round 1), 2013 ‑ 2014, $39,062.
  • Foodbank WA Healthy Food for All Strategy Research and Evaluation: Food Sensations , Foodbank, Grant, 2014, $3,500.
  • Increasing School Engagement, Edith Cowan University, Grant, 2009 ‑ 2013, $11,964.
  • Engaging Aboriginal Children and their teachers with science, Edith Cowan University, ECU Industry Collaboration - Grant, 2011 ‑ 2012, $36,310.
  • Review of Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer Program, Department of Education and Training WA, Grant, 2008 ‑ 2011, $268,329.
  • High Achievers' Science Program for Aboriginal Students, Department of Education and Training WA, Grant, 2008 ‑ 2011, $72,606.
  • Effective Test Literacy Strategies for Aboriginal Student Success in the Western Australian Literacy and Numeracy Assessment, Aboriginal Education and Training Council, AETC - Grant, 2008, $33,705.
  • Effective Science Program Delivery for Remote Area Schools, Scitech, Grant, 2008, $7,273.

Research Student Supervision

Current Supervisions

Associate Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, What motivates and supports primary teachers to teach food and nutrition

Completed Supervisions

Associate Supervisor

  • Master of Education, Teaching Aboriginal curriculum content in Australian high schools
  • Master of Education, The role of good quality student-teacher relationships when working with students with challenging behaviours in mainstream primary schools in Western Australia
  • Master of Education, Narratives of families who speak English as an additional language or dialect on engaging with their children’s education during COVID-19

Assistant Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Teaching and learning indigenous histories and cultures: At the intersection of school culture and curriculum.
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