Duursma, Elisabeth E.

Top Publications

Year	Title
2014	The effects of fathers’ and mothers’ reading to their children on language outcomes of children participating in early head start in the United States Published in Fathering: a journal of theory and research about men as parents
2016	Who does the reading, who the talking? Low-income fathers and mothers in the US interacting with their young children around a picture book Published in First Language

Research Areas

13 - EDUCATION

Research Overview

My research focuses on two primary areas:

1) Father involvement
2) Early language and literacy development

My research focuses on father involvement. I am particularly interested in the role of fathers in the lives of young children and the impact father involvement has on child language and cognitive development.

Another research interest of mine is young children's language and literacy development in the early years focusing on home literacy activities, as well as on bilingualism.

I am particularly interested in working with vulnerable and culturally and linguistically diverse families.

Geographic Focus

Asia Pacific Continent
Australia Country
Europe Continent
South America Continent
United States of America Country

Available as Research Supervisor

Available for Collaborative Projects

Member Of

Centre for Research on Men and Masculinity Co-director 2015 -

Selected Publications

Journal Article

Year	Title
2018	Measuring interactional quality in pre-school settings: introduction and validation of the Sustained Shared Thinking and Emotional Wellbeing (SSTEW) scale Published In Early Child Development and Care
2018	There’s a reason your child wants to read the same book over and over again Published In The Conversation
2017	The impact of home literacy and family factors on screen media use among Dutch preteens Published In Journal of Child and Family Studies
2016	Fostering Effective Early Learning (FEEL) through a professional development programme for early childhood educators to improve professional practice and child outcomes in the year before formal schooling: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial Published In Trials
2016	Who does the reading, who the talking? Low-income fathers and mothers in the US interacting with their young children around a picture book Published In First Language
2014	Parental bookreading practices among families in the Netherlands Published In Journal of Early Childhood Literacy
2014	The effects of fathers’ and mothers’ reading to their children on language outcomes of children participating in early head start in the United States Published In Fathering: a journal of theory and research about men as parents
2011	Who’s reading to children in low‐income families? The influence of paternal, maternal and child characteristics Published In Early Child Development and Care
2008	Predictors and outcomes of low-income fathers’ reading with their toddlers Published In Early Childhood Research Quarterly
2008	Reading aloud to children: the evidence Published In Archives of Disease in Childhood

Chapter

Year	Title
2015	The framework for prevention Published In Prevention of Late-Life Depression

Conference Paper

Year	Title
2016	Fathering in the context of incarceration Published In The Future of Fathering: What’s next in fathering practice and research?

Other Publications

Year	Title
2018	Fostering Effective Early Learning (FEEL) Study: Final Report
2016	Fostering Effective Early Learning: A review of the current international evidence considering quality in early childhood education and care programmes – in delivery, pedagogy and child outcomes

Investigator On

Year	Title
2021	Virtual Fathering: An assessment of the use and impact of video-communication tools on fathering from prison Awarded by: Criminology Research Council Funding Scheme: Criminology Research Grant

Other Research Activities

Faculty of Social Sciences Seed Fund Development and testing of a literacy and numeracy intervention for the home environment CI 2018 - 2019
UOW Faculty of Social Sciences Seed grant: Investigation of parents' use of PAIR home books when reading to children Co-CI 2016 - 2017
UOW Global Challenges Seed Grant: Hands-on science to promote fine motor skills in early childhood Chief Investigator 2016 - 2017
UOW Global Challenges Seed grant. Antimicrobial resistance: a global challenge and a campus-wide call to arms researcher 2016 - 2017
Fostering Effective Early Learning 2015 - 2017
Global Challenges Seed Grant: Street Literacy CI 2015 - 2017
UOW Educational Strategies Teaching Fund: Evidence based evaluation of undergraduate student perceptions, engagement and learning outcomes with a blended model for the Bachelor of Education: The Early Years Co-CI 2015 - 2017
University of Wollongong Early Career Researcher Grant: Father engagement and the impact on children's language and cognitive development CI 2015 - 2017
Dutch Department of Education: Book buddies: the impact of tutor reading on the social-emotional competence of children in primary school CI 2011 - 2013
Dutch Reading Foundation: Reading aloud in families in the Netherlands CI 2010 - 2011
Noonan Foundation: Screening by the book. Early literacy behaviours among infants and toddlers at risk for autism Co-CI 2008 - 2010

Impact Story

Let's Share a Story - Literacy Support Project for Indigenous Children
Summary
Let's Share a Story - literacy support for Indigenous children project, targeting Indigenous children in the early childhood and primary age bracket, raised awareness of the importance of encouraging and promoting the joys of reading and yarning with children. The project was undertaken in consultation with Aboriginal services and organisations and key contacts within Aboriginal communities. The project complemented literacy programs in pre-schools, schools and child care centres and community centres.

Detail View

Detail View Summary View
Detail of Impact
The “Let’s Share a Story” project aimed to encourage and enhance reading and yarning for children from birth to 12 years of age and involved collaboration between the Illawarra South Coast Branch CBCA (ISCCBCA) and the UOW in consultation with local Aboriginal elders, services, organisations and children. The ‘Let’s Share a Story’ booklet is packed with facts and easy-to-follow tips to help children with their reading. Ideas cover children from babies to upper primary age. The benefits of yarning with children, and reading with parents, siblings, grandparents, Aunties and Uncles are also discussed. Let’s Share a Story continues to be a valuable resource in the community and, more generally. The booklet features elements from a commissioned painting “Captured Images of Culture” by well-known local Aboriginal artists Aunty Lorraine Brown and Aunty Narelle Thomas. In the words of the artists, “The Painting tells of images of the past and present A culture so old The past and present come together Our culture will always remain”. Following publication of the booklet, the painting was donated by the ISCCBCA to the UOW Art Collection, and is displayed prominently at Early Start, to inspire the students who are our future early childhood professionals. This resource was distributed as part of a literacy package to community health centres and pre-schools throughout the Illawarra, including:<ul><li>Woonona Early Childhood Health Centre/Family Care Cottage Woonona</li><li>Miinya Biynag Boori, Midwifery & Family Health Centre, Shellharbour Hospital</li><li>Nowra Early Childhood Health Centre</li><li>Binji Boori, Shoalhaven AMICHS, Nowra</li><li>Noogaleek Children’s Centre, Berkeley</li><li>Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service Medical Centre, Dapto and Wollongong</li><li>Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation Community Centre</li><li>Mount Warrigal Supported Playgroup</li><li>Koonawarra Supported Playgroup</li></ul> Delivery of packages to Noogaleek and the supported playgroups involved “share and read” sessions, were conducted by CBCA members, in collaboration with UOW education students with connections to the local Aboriginal community. These students were guided in visiting the centres, outlining key messages from the booklet and reading stories. Bookmarks providing links to resource material were produced for easy dissemination at local community events. Copies of the resource have been catalogued by UOW library, and the NSW State Library has archived the booklet to ensure access is preserved into the future. Let’s Share a Story continues to be a valuable resource in the community and, more generally, the booklet and bookmarks can be used as a ‘talking point’ to promote awareness about the benefits of reading to children. Let’s Share a Story also inspired and encouraged adults in the community to not only read to their children but also for their own enjoyment.Wollongong City Library was provided with a digital version of the resource, and funded the printing of an additional 1000 booklets, which will be distributed to local libraries into the future, ensuring the sustainability of this project. Since project completion, other community groups, including Careways Community, have requested, and been provided with, copies of the booklet. The project continues to be managed by our community partner, the ISCCBCA. Resource material and book packages have now been distributed between Helensburgh and Nowra, with plans in place to continue distribution further south. Aspects of the project are largely self-sustaining as the resource is freely available online. 
Field of Research
Countries / Regions
Beneficiaries

Beneficiary Quantification Description
External Partners
Evidence of Impact

Evidence Description
UOW Centres / Programs
UOW Researchers / Collaborators

Available as Research Supervisor

Potential Supervision Topics

Fatherhood

Early Childhood Education

Language development

Literacy development

Bilingualism

Teaching Activities

EDGY906: Minor research project Coordinator and instructor 2016 -
EDGZ921 (Introduction to Educational Research) Coordinator and instructor 2016 -
EDGZ931: Research proposal co-instructor 2015 -
EDGZ932: Advanced Research Seminar Instructor 2015 -
EYLL102: Language and Literacy in the Early Years Coordinator and instructor 2015 -
EYDC301: Birth to three, physical care and development tutor 2016
EYER301:Educators as researchers tutor 2015 - 2016
EDFE101 (Educational Foundations I) Tutor 2015

Advisees

Graduate Advising Relationship

Degree	Research Title	Advisee
Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated)	Teaching English Language at Primary Schools in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and Difficulties that English language teachers encounter.	Almansour, Sami
Doctor of Philosophy	The lived experience of Mothers with mental illness: an exploration of mother's narratives in supported playgroups	Burriel, Kristen
Doctor of Philosophy	Exploring parent-child shared book reading in the first three years of life: Characteristics and language outcomes	Ho, Cheryl Ho Jialing

Reviewer Of

American Journal of Public Health (Journal)
Applied Psycholinguistics (Journal)
Bilingualism (Journal)
British Journal of Developmental Psychology (Journal)
Child Development (Journal)
Developmental Review (Journal)
Early Child Development and Care (Journal)
Early Childhood Literacy (Journal)
Early Childhood Research Quartery (Journal)
Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology (Journal)
Journal of Marriage and the Family (Journal)
Learning and Individual Differences (Journal)

Professional Service Activities

Australian National Fatherhood Consortium Co-editor of Fatherhood Research Bulletin, University of Newcastle, Australia 2016 - 2019

Outreach And Community Service Activities

Aussie Books for Zim board member 2016 - 2019
Children's Book Council Australia, Illawarra Branch member 2015 - 2017

Education And Training

Doctor of Education in Human Development and Psychology, Harvard University, Graduate School of Education 2001 - 2007
M.A. in American Studies, University of Leiden, the Netherlands, English 1995 - 2001
Master of Education - Research in Education, University of Leiden, the Netherlands, Education 1993 - 1999

Awards And Honors

European Research Council Honorary Fellowship, conferred by University of Groningen, the Netherlands, 2013
Jeanne Chall Doctoral Travel Award, conferred by Harvard University Graduate School of Education, 2006
Advanced Doctoral Student Award, conferred by Harvard University Graduate School of Education, 2005
Certificate of Distinction in Teaching, conferred by Harvard University, 2004
University of Leiden Fund Fellowship Study Abroad, conferred by University of Leiden, the Netherlands, 1999 - 2000
LUSTRA Fellowship study abroad, conferred by University of Leiden, the Netherlands, 1999 - 2000

Teaching Overview

I teach language and literacy and early child development courses in the Bachelor of Education: The Early Years.

I also teach at the masters and postgraduate level in the areas of research methods

Orcid Id

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2112-4905 (confirmed)

Top Publications

Year	Title
2014	The effects of fathers’ and mothers’ reading to their children on language outcomes of children participating in early head start in the United States Published in Fathering: a journal of theory and research about men as parents
2016	Who does the reading, who the talking? Low-income fathers and mothers in the US interacting with their young children around a picture book Published in First Language

Research Areas

13 - EDUCATION

Research Overview

My research focuses on two primary areas:

1) Father involvement
2) Early language and literacy development

My research focuses on father involvement. I am particularly interested in the role of fathers in the lives of young children and the impact father involvement has on child language and cognitive development.

Another research interest of mine is young children's language and literacy development in the early years focusing on home literacy activities, as well as on bilingualism.

I am particularly interested in working with vulnerable and culturally and linguistically diverse families.

Geographic Focus

Asia Pacific Continent
Australia Country
Europe Continent
South America Continent
United States of America Country

Member Of

Centre for Research on Men and Masculinity Co-director 2015 -

Selected Publications

Journal Article

Year	Title
2018	Measuring interactional quality in pre-school settings: introduction and validation of the Sustained Shared Thinking and Emotional Wellbeing (SSTEW) scale Published In Early Child Development and Care
2018	There’s a reason your child wants to read the same book over and over again Published In The Conversation
2017	The impact of home literacy and family factors on screen media use among Dutch preteens Published In Journal of Child and Family Studies
2016	Fostering Effective Early Learning (FEEL) through a professional development programme for early childhood educators to improve professional practice and child outcomes in the year before formal schooling: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial Published In Trials
2016	Who does the reading, who the talking? Low-income fathers and mothers in the US interacting with their young children around a picture book Published In First Language
2014	Parental bookreading practices among families in the Netherlands Published In Journal of Early Childhood Literacy
2014	The effects of fathers’ and mothers’ reading to their children on language outcomes of children participating in early head start in the United States Published In Fathering: a journal of theory and research about men as parents
2011	Who’s reading to children in low‐income families? The influence of paternal, maternal and child characteristics Published In Early Child Development and Care
2008	Predictors and outcomes of low-income fathers’ reading with their toddlers Published In Early Childhood Research Quarterly
2008	Reading aloud to children: the evidence Published In Archives of Disease in Childhood

Chapter

Year	Title
2015	The framework for prevention Published In Prevention of Late-Life Depression

Conference Paper

Year	Title
2016	Fathering in the context of incarceration Published In The Future of Fathering: What’s next in fathering practice and research?

Other Publications

Year	Title
2018	Fostering Effective Early Learning (FEEL) Study: Final Report
2016	Fostering Effective Early Learning: A review of the current international evidence considering quality in early childhood education and care programmes – in delivery, pedagogy and child outcomes

Investigator On

Year	Title
2021	Virtual Fathering: An assessment of the use and impact of video-communication tools on fathering from prison Awarded by: Criminology Research Council Funding Scheme: Criminology Research Grant

Other Research Activities

Faculty of Social Sciences Seed Fund Development and testing of a literacy and numeracy intervention for the home environment CI 2018 - 2019
UOW Faculty of Social Sciences Seed grant: Investigation of parents' use of PAIR home books when reading to children Co-CI 2016 - 2017
UOW Global Challenges Seed Grant: Hands-on science to promote fine motor skills in early childhood Chief Investigator 2016 - 2017
UOW Global Challenges Seed grant. Antimicrobial resistance: a global challenge and a campus-wide call to arms researcher 2016 - 2017
Fostering Effective Early Learning 2015 - 2017
Global Challenges Seed Grant: Street Literacy CI 2015 - 2017
UOW Educational Strategies Teaching Fund: Evidence based evaluation of undergraduate student perceptions, engagement and learning outcomes with a blended model for the Bachelor of Education: The Early Years Co-CI 2015 - 2017
University of Wollongong Early Career Researcher Grant: Father engagement and the impact on children's language and cognitive development CI 2015 - 2017
Dutch Department of Education: Book buddies: the impact of tutor reading on the social-emotional competence of children in primary school CI 2011 - 2013
Dutch Reading Foundation: Reading aloud in families in the Netherlands CI 2010 - 2011
Noonan Foundation: Screening by the book. Early literacy behaviours among infants and toddlers at risk for autism Co-CI 2008 - 2010

Impact Story

Let's Share a Story - Literacy Support Project for Indigenous Children
Summary
Let's Share a Story - literacy support for Indigenous children project, targeting Indigenous children in the early childhood and primary age bracket, raised awareness of the importance of encouraging and promoting the joys of reading and yarning with children. The project was undertaken in consultation with Aboriginal services and organisations and key contacts within Aboriginal communities. The project complemented literacy programs in pre-schools, schools and child care centres and community centres.

Detail View

Detail View Summary View
Detail of Impact
The “Let’s Share a Story” project aimed to encourage and enhance reading and yarning for children from birth to 12 years of age and involved collaboration between the Illawarra South Coast Branch CBCA (ISCCBCA) and the UOW in consultation with local Aboriginal elders, services, organisations and children. The ‘Let’s Share a Story’ booklet is packed with facts and easy-to-follow tips to help children with their reading. Ideas cover children from babies to upper primary age. The benefits of yarning with children, and reading with parents, siblings, grandparents, Aunties and Uncles are also discussed. Let’s Share a Story continues to be a valuable resource in the community and, more generally. The booklet features elements from a commissioned painting “Captured Images of Culture” by well-known local Aboriginal artists Aunty Lorraine Brown and Aunty Narelle Thomas. In the words of the artists, “The Painting tells of images of the past and present A culture so old The past and present come together Our culture will always remain”. Following publication of the booklet, the painting was donated by the ISCCBCA to the UOW Art Collection, and is displayed prominently at Early Start, to inspire the students who are our future early childhood professionals. This resource was distributed as part of a literacy package to community health centres and pre-schools throughout the Illawarra, including:<ul><li>Woonona Early Childhood Health Centre/Family Care Cottage Woonona</li><li>Miinya Biynag Boori, Midwifery & Family Health Centre, Shellharbour Hospital</li><li>Nowra Early Childhood Health Centre</li><li>Binji Boori, Shoalhaven AMICHS, Nowra</li><li>Noogaleek Children’s Centre, Berkeley</li><li>Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service Medical Centre, Dapto and Wollongong</li><li>Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation Community Centre</li><li>Mount Warrigal Supported Playgroup</li><li>Koonawarra Supported Playgroup</li></ul> Delivery of packages to Noogaleek and the supported playgroups involved “share and read” sessions, were conducted by CBCA members, in collaboration with UOW education students with connections to the local Aboriginal community. These students were guided in visiting the centres, outlining key messages from the booklet and reading stories. Bookmarks providing links to resource material were produced for easy dissemination at local community events. Copies of the resource have been catalogued by UOW library, and the NSW State Library has archived the booklet to ensure access is preserved into the future. Let’s Share a Story continues to be a valuable resource in the community and, more generally, the booklet and bookmarks can be used as a ‘talking point’ to promote awareness about the benefits of reading to children. Let’s Share a Story also inspired and encouraged adults in the community to not only read to their children but also for their own enjoyment.Wollongong City Library was provided with a digital version of the resource, and funded the printing of an additional 1000 booklets, which will be distributed to local libraries into the future, ensuring the sustainability of this project. Since project completion, other community groups, including Careways Community, have requested, and been provided with, copies of the booklet. The project continues to be managed by our community partner, the ISCCBCA. Resource material and book packages have now been distributed between Helensburgh and Nowra, with plans in place to continue distribution further south. Aspects of the project are largely self-sustaining as the resource is freely available online. 
Field of Research
Countries / Regions
Beneficiaries

Beneficiary Quantification Description
External Partners
Evidence of Impact

Evidence Description
UOW Centres / Programs
UOW Researchers / Collaborators

Potential Supervision Topics

Fatherhood

Early Childhood Education

Language development

Literacy development

Bilingualism

Teaching Activities

EDGY906: Minor research project Coordinator and instructor 2016 -
EDGZ921 (Introduction to Educational Research) Coordinator and instructor 2016 -
EDGZ931: Research proposal co-instructor 2015 -
EDGZ932: Advanced Research Seminar Instructor 2015 -
EYLL102: Language and Literacy in the Early Years Coordinator and instructor 2015 -
EYDC301: Birth to three, physical care and development tutor 2016
EYER301:Educators as researchers tutor 2015 - 2016
EDFE101 (Educational Foundations I) Tutor 2015

Advisees

Graduate Advising Relationship

Degree	Research Title	Advisee
Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated)	Teaching English Language at Primary Schools in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and Difficulties that English language teachers encounter.	Almansour, Sami
Doctor of Philosophy	The lived experience of Mothers with mental illness: an exploration of mother's narratives in supported playgroups	Burriel, Kristen
Doctor of Philosophy	Exploring parent-child shared book reading in the first three years of life: Characteristics and language outcomes	Ho, Cheryl Ho Jialing

Reviewer Of

American Journal of Public Health (Journal)
Applied Psycholinguistics (Journal)
Bilingualism (Journal)
British Journal of Developmental Psychology (Journal)
Child Development (Journal)
Developmental Review (Journal)
Early Child Development and Care (Journal)
Early Childhood Literacy (Journal)
Early Childhood Research Quartery (Journal)
Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology (Journal)
Journal of Marriage and the Family (Journal)
Learning and Individual Differences (Journal)

Professional Service Activities

Australian National Fatherhood Consortium Co-editor of Fatherhood Research Bulletin, University of Newcastle, Australia 2016 - 2019

Outreach And Community Service Activities

Aussie Books for Zim board member 2016 - 2019
Children's Book Council Australia, Illawarra Branch member 2015 - 2017

Education And Training

Doctor of Education in Human Development and Psychology, Harvard University, Graduate School of Education 2001 - 2007
M.A. in American Studies, University of Leiden, the Netherlands, English 1995 - 2001
Master of Education - Research in Education, University of Leiden, the Netherlands, Education 1993 - 1999

Awards And Honors

European Research Council Honorary Fellowship, conferred by University of Groningen, the Netherlands, 2013
Jeanne Chall Doctoral Travel Award, conferred by Harvard University Graduate School of Education, 2006
Advanced Doctoral Student Award, conferred by Harvard University Graduate School of Education, 2005
Certificate of Distinction in Teaching, conferred by Harvard University, 2004
University of Leiden Fund Fellowship Study Abroad, conferred by University of Leiden, the Netherlands, 1999 - 2000
LUSTRA Fellowship study abroad, conferred by University of Leiden, the Netherlands, 1999 - 2000

Teaching Overview

I teach language and literacy and early child development courses in the Bachelor of Education: The Early Years.

I also teach at the masters and postgraduate level in the areas of research methods

Orcid Id

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2112-4905 (confirmed)

Overview

Top Publications

Research Areas

Research Overview

Geographic Focus

Available as Research Supervisor

Affiliation

Available for Collaborative Projects

Member Of

Publications

Selected Publications

Journal Article

Chapter

Conference Paper

Other Publications

Funding

Investigator On

Other Research Activities

Impact

Impact Story

Let's Share a Story - Literacy Support Project for Indigenous Children

Supervision

Available as Research Supervisor

Potential Supervision Topics

Teaching Activities

Advisees

Graduate Advising Relationship

Service

Reviewer Of

Professional Service Activities

Outreach And Community Service Activities

Background

Education And Training

Awards And Honors

Teaching Overview

Identity

Orcid Id

Overview

Top Publications

Research Areas

Research Overview

Geographic Focus

Affiliation

Member Of

Publications

Selected Publications

Journal Article

Chapter

Conference Paper

Other Publications

Funding

Investigator On

Other Research Activities

Impact

Impact Story

Let's Share a Story - Literacy Support Project for Indigenous Children

Supervision

Potential Supervision Topics

Teaching Activities

Advisees

Graduate Advising Relationship

Service

Reviewer Of

Professional Service Activities

Outreach And Community Service Activities

Background

Education And Training

Awards And Honors

Teaching Overview

Identity

Orcid Id

Visualisations

Research Areas

Geographic Focus