Overview
Background
Jenny is the Deputy Director (Training) at Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland. In this role Jenny leads the development and implementation of ISSR's training programs. This includes professional short courses aimed at Industry, tailored capability training for industry, Higher Degree Training, external and internal internships/placements, internal staff capability training, and teaching opportunities for ISSR staff in the schools including Honours supervision. In addition to leading this portfolio of work and teaching professional short courses, Jenny continues to lead a Research Group (Social and Educational disadvantage), contribute as an Associate Investigator to research for the ARC Centre of Excellence on Families and Children over the Life Course (the Life Course Centre), and supervise HDR students. She is a Psychologist and obtained her BA Honors, MA and PhD from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in South Africa. Before coming to ISSR, Jenny worked as a Chief Researcher at the Human Sciences Research Council in South Africa in the area of Education effectiveness.
Jenny’s research focuses on education effectiveness, parent engagement, student wellbeing, evidenced-based practice, and research that impacts policy and practice. She has extensive experience in large scale mixed methods evaluations, using administrative data together with survey and qualitative data. Jenny has worked closely with Government Departments and Ministries both in Australia (e.g., Tasmania DHHS; Australian DoE; Qld DoE; CESE NSW; Australian DSS; Qld DCSSD; Department of Home Affairs) and internationally (e.g., South Africa, Eritrea, Cambodia and the Solomon Islands) to gather research evidence from a wide range of disadvantaged communities to inform policy. Jenny is a Chief Investigator on an ARC Linkage project which investigates how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous children experience Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) using elicitation methods and a longitudinal qualitative research design to provide evidence to improve service agencies’ understanding of children’s experiences in OOHC and how agencies can best support families, carers and communities to promote the social, emotional, and cultural well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous children in OOHC. This research will improve service provider capability and test Government reform interventions. In addition to leading large commissioned evaluations and academic grants, Jenny is continues to build her research focusing on understanding why and how some schools located in disadvanatged areas are more effective at parent engagement than others and how improving parent engagement in these schools effects the learning and wellbeing of students living in these communities over their life course.
Availability
- Associate Professor Jenny Povey is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Arts, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
- Masters (Coursework), Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
- Doctor of Philosophy, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Research interests
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School leadership
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School culture
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Parent engagement
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Child well-being
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Intergenerational transfer of education aspirations, values and attitudes
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Disadvantaged communities
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Evidenced based policy and practice
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Cross-cultural research
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social policy evaluation
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Psychometrics
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Innovative methods and techniques
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Survey methodology
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Quantitative data analysis methods
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Qualitative data analysis methods
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Education effectiveness
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Mixed methods
Works
Search Professor Jenny Povey’s works on UQ eSpace
2021
Other Outputs
The Student Equity in Higher Education Evaluation Framework
Robinson, Mark, Tomaszewski, Wojtek, Kubler, Matthias, Johnstone, Melissa, Clague, Denise, Zajac, Tomasz, Povey, Jenny and Salom, Caroline (2021). The Student Equity in Higher Education Evaluation Framework. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Institute for Social Science Research.
2021
Other Outputs
Queensland School Business Managers’ Wellbeing Longitudinal Survey - final report 2021. Prepared for the School Business Managers Association.
Povey, Jenny, Cook, Stephanie, Bellotti, Melindy, Zulfiqar, Asma, Austerberry, Sophie and San Martin Porter, Macarena (2021). Queensland School Business Managers’ Wellbeing Longitudinal Survey - final report 2021. Prepared for the School Business Managers Association.. Brisbane, Australia: Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland.
2021
Conference Publication
Queensland School Business Managers’ Wellbeing Survey 2021, Presentation of Findings
Povey, Jenny, Cook, Stephanie, Bellotti, Melindy, Zulfiqar, Asma, Austerberry, Sophie and San Martin Porter, Macarena (2021). Queensland School Business Managers’ Wellbeing Survey 2021, Presentation of Findings. The School Business Managers’ Association Queensland Conference, Online, 3 November 2021.
2021
Other Outputs
Building capacity for quality teaching in Australian schools: Queensland replication study progress report June 2021
Povey, J., Kennedy, E. , Potia, A. H., Bellotti, M., Cook, S., Tomaszewski, W. and Staton, S. (2021). Building capacity for quality teaching in Australian schools: Queensland replication study progress report June 2021. Building capacity for quality teaching in Australian schools Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR): The University of Queensland.
2021
Other Outputs
Try, Test and Learn Evaluation - Final Report. Prepared for Department of Social Service
Baxter, Janeen , Povey, Jenny , Burger, Sarah-Ann , Cook, Stephanie , Tseng, Yi-Ping , Polidano, Cain , Kalb, Guyonne , Mamun, Abdullah , Ahmad, Shabbir , O'Flaherty, Martin , Borland, Jeff , Plage, Stefanie , Bellotti, Melindy , Kennedy, Elizabeth , Tomaszewski, Wojtek and Western, Mark (2021). Try, Test and Learn Evaluation - Final Report. Prepared for Department of Social Service. Institute for Social Science Research - Publications Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland, Institute for Social Science Research.
2021
Other Outputs
Learning through COVID-19: What do children, young people and families say about needs, and impact of COVID-19?: Pillar 2 Report
McDaid, Lisa, Povey, Jenny, Tomaszewski, Wojtek, Cleary, Anne, Plage, Stefanie, Cook, Steffi, Xiang, Ning, Zajac, Tomasz, Ridgway, Tyrone and Western, Mark (2021). Learning through COVID-19: What do children, young people and families say about needs, and impact of COVID-19?: Pillar 2 Report. Learning through COVID-19 St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2021
Book
Principal leadership for parent engagement in disadvantaged schools: What qualities and strategies distinguish effective principals?
Willis, Linda-Dianne, Povey, Jenny, Hodges, Julie and Carroll, Annemaree (2021). Principal leadership for parent engagement in disadvantaged schools: What qualities and strategies distinguish effective principals?. Singapore: Springer Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-16-1264-0
2021
Book Chapter
Presenting Key Player Findings
Willis, Linda-Dianne, Povey, Jenny, Hodges, Julie and Carroll, Annemaree (2021). Presenting Key Player Findings. Principal Leadership for Parent Engagement in Disadvantaged Schools. (pp. 45-54) Singapore: Springer Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-16-1264-0_4
2021
Book Chapter
Reviewing the Literature on Principal Leadership for Parent Engagement
Willis, Linda-Dianne, Povey, Jenny, Hodges, Julie and Carroll, Annemaree (2021). Reviewing the Literature on Principal Leadership for Parent Engagement. Principal Leadership for Parent Engagement in Disadvantaged Schools. (pp. 13-23) Singapore: Springer Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-16-1264-0_2
2021
Book Chapter
Responding to the Provocation: What Gives Some Principals the Edge on Parent Engagement?
Willis, Linda-Dianne, Povey, Jenny, Hodges, Julie and Carroll, Annemaree (2021). Responding to the Provocation: What Gives Some Principals the Edge on Parent Engagement?. Principal Leadership for Parent Engagement in Disadvantaged Schools. (pp. 79-88) Singapore: Springer Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-16-1264-0_7
2021
Book Chapter
Presenting School Culture Findings
Willis, Linda-Dianne, Povey, Jenny, Hodges, Julie and Carroll, Annemaree (2021). Presenting School Culture Findings. Principal Leadership for Parent Engagement in Disadvantaged Schools. (pp. 67-78) Singapore: Springer Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-16-1264-0_6
2020
Other Outputs
Anglicare Southern Queensland's Family and Relationship Services Evaluation Final Report
Povey, Jenny, Burger, Sarah-Ann, Boyle, Fran, Mamun, Abdullah, Plage, Stefanie, Tran, Nam, Gramotnev, Alexandra, Robinson, Mark and Reddel, Tim (2020). Anglicare Southern Queensland's Family and Relationship Services Evaluation Final Report. Long Pocket, QLD Australia: ISSR.
2020
Other Outputs
Anglicare Southern Queensland's Children and Parenting Services Evaluation Final Report
Povey, Jenny, Burger, Sarah-Ann, Boyle, Fran, Mamun, Abdullah, Plage, Stefanie, Tran, Nam, Gramotnev, Alexandra, Robinson, Mark and Reddel, Tim (2020). Anglicare Southern Queensland's Children and Parenting Services Evaluation Final Report. Long Pocket, QLD Australia: ISSR.
2020
Other Outputs
Evaluation of the Your Caring Way Program: evaluation framework
Robinson, Mark, Johnstone, Melissa, Brown, Richard, Kennedy, Elizabeth and Povey, Jenny (2020). Evaluation of the Your Caring Way Program: evaluation framework. Brisbane, Australia: Institute for Social Science Research.
2020
Conference Publication
Practical strategies to enhance student learning and wellbeing: what can schools and parents do?
Willis, L.-D., Povey, J. and Hodges, J. (2020). Practical strategies to enhance student learning and wellbeing: what can schools and parents do?. 20th Biennial Helping Families Change Conference (HFCC 2020), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 5-7 February 2020.
2020
Other Outputs
Try, test and learn evaluation - interim report
Baxter, Janeen, Povey, Jenny, Burger, Sarah-Ann, Plage, Stefanie, Kennedy, Elizabeth, O'Flaherty, Martin, Tseng, Yi-Ping, Polidano, Cain, Kalb, Guyonne, Borland, Jeff, Ribar, David, Mamun, Abdullah, Ball, Sarah, Gramotnev, Alexandra, Bellotti, Melindy, Simpson Reeves, Laura, Tomaszewski, Wojtek and Western, Mark (2020). Try, test and learn evaluation - interim report. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2020
Conference Publication
Building partnerships between a child’s home and their school: practical strategies to enhance children’s development (Symposium)
Hodges, J., Willis, L.-D., Povey, J., Kirby, G., Aery, A., Day, J. and MHYPEDD Team (2020). Building partnerships between a child’s home and their school: practical strategies to enhance children’s development (Symposium). 20th Biennial Helping Families Change Conference (HFCC 2020), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 5-7 February 2020.
2019
Conference Publication
Parent engagement—Speaking from the research
Willis, L.-D., Povey, J., Hodges, J., Carroll, A. and Antrobus, E. (2019). Parent engagement—Speaking from the research. Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) Biennial Meeting, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 19 August 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Examining parent engagement research from different perspectives to understand ways to improve policy and practice in schools and education systems (Symposium). (Angela Ferguson – Discussant).
Willis, L.-D., Povey, J., Hodges, J., Kirby, G., Guo, Y. and Guo, S. (2019). Examining parent engagement research from different perspectives to understand ways to improve policy and practice in schools and education systems (Symposium). (Angela Ferguson – Discussant).. Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) Schools and Education Systems (SES) Special Interest Group (SIG), Education for a socially just world, Brisbane, Australia, 1-5 December 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Examining the relationship between school choice and parental engagement: evidence from Chile - a highly market-oriented school system
Donoso Rivas, M. F., Povey, J., Huang, Y. and Tomaszewski, W. (2019). Examining the relationship between school choice and parental engagement: evidence from Chile - a highly market-oriented school system. Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) Conference 2019, Brisbane, Australia, 1-5 December 2019.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Jenny Povey is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Improving the experiences of, and outcomes for, humanitarian migrants and refugee children
This PhD would require you to apply for a UQ scholarship. If you are interested in this project and want more information, please contact j.povey@uq.edu.au.
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Social disadvantage and labour force participation
This PhD would require you to apply for a UQ scholarship. If you are interested in this project and want more information, please contact j.povey@uq.edu.au.
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Improving the academic and wellbeing outcomes for, Indigenous and non-Indigenous children in Out-of-Home Care (OOHC)
This PhD would require you to apply for a UQ scholarship. You will have access to qualitative data and SDQ (3 waves) collected for an ARC Linkage grant. If you are interested in this project and want more information, please contact j.povey@uq.edu.au.
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Parent engagement in student learning and wellbeing to improve outcomes for children and adolescents
Understanding why and how some schools located in disadvanatged areas are more effective at parent engagement than others and how improving parent engagement in these schools effects the learning and wellbeing of students living in these communities over their life course.This PhD would require you to apply for a UQ scholarship. If you are interested in this project and want more information, please contact j.povey@uq.edu.au.
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Improving the experiences of, and outcomes for, humanitarian migrants and refugee children
This PhD would require you to apply for a UQ scholarship. If you are interested in this project and want more information, please contact j.povey@uq.edu.au.
-
Social disadvantage and labour force participation
This PhD would require you to apply for a UQ scholarship. If you are interested in this project and want more information, please contact j.povey@uq.edu.au.
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Improving life outcomes for, Indigenous and non-Indigenous children in Care or transitioning from care into adulthood
This PhD would require you to apply for a UQ scholarship. You will have access to qualitative data and SDQ (3 waves) collected for an ARC Linkage grant. If you are interested in this project and want more information, please contact j.povey@uq.edu.au.
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Parent engagement in student learning and wellbeing to improve outcomes for children and adolescents
Understanding why and how some schools located in disadvanatged areas are more effective at parent engagement than others and how improving parent engagement in these schools effects the learning and wellbeing of students living in these communities over their life course.This PhD would require you to apply for a UQ scholarship. If you are interested in this project and want more information, please contact j.povey@uq.edu.au.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
The impact of out-of-home care on children's social-emotional wellbeing: A life course approach
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Janeen Baxter, Professor Karen Healy, Dr Maca San Martin Porter
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Doctor Philosophy
Managing Odds: Addressing educational disadvantage through school accountability and better HRM practices
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Wojtek Tomaszewski
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Beyond parental school choice: Understanding parental engagement in the context of school choice policies
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Western, Professor Wojtek Tomaszewski
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Education, employment, and empowerment: Narratives from Pakistan
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Janeen Baxter
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
The Impact of Learning Environment on Successful Intelligence: Beyond the Understanding of Socioeconomic Status
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Robyn Gillies, Professor Wojtek Tomaszewski
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing parent engagement in secondary school: An investigation of agency, dialogic learning, and intersubjectivity using Bronfenbrenner and Bakhtin frameworks.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kate McLay
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Same-same but different? Country of origin and labour market outcomes of immigrants in Australia
Joint Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Janeen Baxter, Professor Wojtek Tomaszewski
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Jenny Povey directly for media enquiries about:
- parent and community engagement with student learning and wellbeing
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