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The Conversation

Cathy Byrne

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Lecturer, Education and Sociology, Southern Cross University

Cathy lectures in both Education and Sociology at Southern Cross University. Her research has focused on religion in government education (primary and secondary) and, for the past 7 years, she has been actively shaking the policy tree. Her book "Religion in Secular Education" was published in 2014 and she has multiple peer-reviewed articles.

From 2012 to 2014, Cathy was an advisor to ACARA on religion in the curriculum, and on the general capabilities of intercultural understanding and ethical behaviours.

Cathy has extensive experience in social science research, policy analysis and commentary.

CORE SKILLS
• Client Liaison and Consulting – great listening and needs identification
• Social Research – qualitative and quantitative design, implementation and analysis
• Communication – excellent report writing and academic publications record
• Collaboration – superior team skills and experience
• Teaching – especially critical thinking and academic writing
• Project Management – extensive international commercial experience prior to academia

" In 2013, as Project Manager for a 5-university research project into professional Doctorates, I undertook qualitative interviews and developed quantitative measures. I was responsible for all administration including ethics applications, co-ordination and logistics for meetings and events, literature reviews and library compilation, data analysis and drafting of publications, interview protocols, interviews, transcription and data management, coding, dissemination website development, stakeholder engagement and financial reports."

I had the 'best PhD supervisor ever' - and would be honoured to guide other HDR students.

Experience

  • 2014–2014
    Sociology Tutor, Southern Cross University
  • 2013–2013
    Research Project Manager, Southern Cross University
  • 2012–2012
    Research Fellow, Macquarie University

Education

  • 2013 
    Australian Catholic University, Diploma of Education
  • 2012 
    Macquarie University, PhD Sociology
  • 2007 
    Queensland University, Masters Studies of Religion
  • 1999 
    Queensland University of Technology, Certificate of Mgt Economics
  • 1989 
    Charles Sturt University, BA Communications

Publications

  • 2014
    Religion in secular education. What, in heaven's name are we teaching our children? (Leiden: Brill), Brill
  • 2012
    Ideologies of Religion and Diversity in Australian Public Schools. , Multicultural Perspectives, 14(4): 201–207.
  • 2012
    ‘Free, compulsory and (not) secular’: the failed idea in Australian education. , Religious History, 37 (1): 20–38.
  • 2012
    ‘Jeesis is Alive! He is the King of Australia’: segregated religious instruction, child identity and exclusion. , British Journal of Religious Education, 34(3): 317-331.
  • 2011
    Freirean critical pedagogy’s challenge to interfaith education: What is interfaith? What is education?, British Journal of Religious Education, 33(1): 47-60.
  • 2011
    Matter & Mind. A non-theist (Buddhist and Humanist) exploration of Paley’s God arguments., Compass Topical Theology, 45(1): 38-41
  • 2009
    Public School Religion Education and the ‘hot potato’ of religious diversity. , Journal of Religious Education, 57(3): 26-37.
  • 2007
    The One and Many Gods of Hinduism. , Crossroads, 1(2): 15-27.
  • 2006
    Would a Buddhist Freeze a Cane Toad? , Contemporary Buddhism, 7(2): 117-127.