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
2017
Journal Article
Parents’ interest in their child’s education and children’s outcomes in adolescence and adulthood: does gender matter?
Campbell, Alice K., Povey, Jenny, Hancock, Kirsten J., Mitrou, Francis and Haynes, Michele (2017). Parents’ interest in their child’s education and children’s outcomes in adolescence and adulthood: does gender matter?. International Journal of Educational Research, 85, 131-147. doi: 10.1016/j.ijer.2017.07.010
2017
Conference Publication
Showing interest in their adolescents' education: can dads make a difference?
Povey, J. and Campbell, A. (2017). Showing interest in their adolescents' education: can dads make a difference?. ARACY Parent Engagement Conference, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 6-8 June 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Childcare flexibility through subsidised care in the family home: Patterns of childcare use among NPP participants
Povey, Jenny, Brady, Michelle, Perales, Francisco Paco and Baxter, Janeen H. (2017). Childcare flexibility through subsidised care in the family home: Patterns of childcare use among NPP participants. Australian Social Policy Conference 2017, Sydney, Australia, 25-27 September 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Innovative parent engagement leadership practices across diverse school contexts
Willis, Linda-Dianne, Povey, Jenny, Hodges, Julie, Campbell, Alice and Carroll, Annemaree (2017). Innovative parent engagement leadership practices across diverse school contexts. Parent Engagement Conference Australia with The Smith Family, Maximising every child’s potential, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 6-8 June 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
What knowledge and strategies do principals, who appear to facilitate effective parent-school-community engagement, use?
Willis, Linda-Dianne, Povey, Jenny, Hodges, Julie, Carroll, Annemarie and Antrobus, Emma (2017). What knowledge and strategies do principals, who appear to facilitate effective parent-school-community engagement, use?. Queensland Department of Education Research Showcase, 30 Mary Street Brisbane, 14 November 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Innovative parent engagement leadership practices across diverse school contexts
Povey, J. and Willis, L. (2017). Innovative parent engagement leadership practices across diverse school contexts. ARACY Parent Engagement Conference, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 6-8 June 2017.
2016
Journal Article
Parent engagement: The current research. How can schools engage with parents in ways that will benefit student learning?
Povey, Jenny and Willis, Linda (2016). Parent engagement: The current research. How can schools engage with parents in ways that will benefit student learning?. CIRCLE - The Centre for Innovation, Research, Creativity and Leadership in Education
2016
Other Outputs
Parents’ interest in their child’s education and children’s educational outcomes across the life course: does gender matter?
Povey, Jenny, Campbell, Alice, Hancock, Kirsten, Mitrou, Francis and Haynes, Michele (2016). Parents’ interest in their child’s education and children’s educational outcomes across the life course: does gender matter?. LCC Working Paper Series. 2016-22. Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland.
2016
Other Outputs
The future of manufacturing jobs in Queensland Brisbane, Australia: Final Report: Prepared for the Australian Manufacturing and Workers Union
Baffour, Bernard, Povey, Jenny, Stevenson, Sarah, Bon, Joshua, Mangan, John, Boreham, Paul, Western, Mark and Chainey, Carys (2016). The future of manufacturing jobs in Queensland Brisbane, Australia: Final Report: Prepared for the Australian Manufacturing and Workers Union. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2016
Journal Article
The development of a new multi-faceted model of social wellbeing: does income level make a difference?
Povey, Jenny, Boreham, Paul and Tomaszewski, Wojtek (2016). The development of a new multi-faceted model of social wellbeing: does income level make a difference?. Journal of Sociology, 52 (2), 155-172. doi: 10.1177/1440783313507491
2016
Journal Article
Parent engagement: the current research
Povey, Jenny and Willis, Linda (2016). Parent engagement: the current research. CSM premier, 33 (10), 1-1.
2016
Other Outputs
Three-generation education patterns among grandparents, parents and grandchildren: evidence of grandparent effects from Australia
Hancock, Kirsten, Mitrou, Francis, Povey, Jenny, Campbell, Alice and Zubrick, Stephen R. (2016). Three-generation education patterns among grandparents, parents and grandchildren: evidence of grandparent effects from Australia. LCC Working Paper Series. 2016-08. Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland.
2016
Journal Article
Trajectories of development of receptive vocabulary in individuals with Down syndrome
Cuskelly, Monica, Povey, Jenny and Jobling, Anne (2016). Trajectories of development of receptive vocabulary in individuals with Down syndrome. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 13 (2), 111-119. doi: 10.1111/jppi.12151
2016
Other Outputs
Engaging parents in schools and building parent-school partnerships: the role of school and parent organisation leadership
Povey, Jenny, Campbell, Alice, Willis, Linda, Haynes, Michele, Western, Mark, Bennett, Sarah, Antrobus, Emma and Pedde, Charley (2016). Engaging parents in schools and building parent-school partnerships: the role of school and parent organisation leadership. LCC Working Paper Series. 2016-07. Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland.
2016
Conference Publication
What can the frequency of contact between grandparents and grandchildren tell us about 'direct' effects of grandparent education on the academic outcomes of grandchildren?
Hancock, Kirsten, Povey, Jenny, Mitrou, Francis, Campbell, Alice and Zubrick, Stephen R. (2016). What can the frequency of contact between grandparents and grandchildren tell us about 'direct' effects of grandparent education on the academic outcomes of grandchildren?. SSLS 2016: Society for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies International Conference, Bamberg, Germany, 6-8 October, 2016.
2016
Conference Publication
Receptive vocabulary development in individuals with Down syndrome
Cuskelly, M., Povey, J. and Jobling, A. (2016). Receptive vocabulary development in individuals with Down syndrome. 2016 IASSIDD World Congress, Melbourne VIC Australia, 14-19 August 2016. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
2016
Conference Publication
Three-generation education patterns among grandparents, parents and grandchildren: Evidence of grandparent effects from Australia
Hancock, Kirsten, Mitrou, Francis, Povey, Jenny, Campbell, Alice and Zubrick, Stephen R. (2016). Three-generation education patterns among grandparents, parents and grandchildren: Evidence of grandparent effects from Australia. SSLS 2016: Society for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies International Conference, Bamberg, Germany, 6-8 October, 2016.
2016
Other Outputs
Solomon Islands Public Sector satisfaction survey Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Final Report
Povey, Jenny, Cook, S. and Baffour, Bernard (2016). Solomon Islands Public Sector satisfaction survey Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Final Report. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland.
2016
Conference Publication
Academic socialisation and the intergenerational transmission of education advantage
Povey, Jenny, Campbell, Alice, Hancock, Kirsten and Mitrou, Francis (2016). Academic socialisation and the intergenerational transmission of education advantage. SSLS 2016: Society for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies International Conference, Bamberg, Germany, 6-8 October, 2016.
2016
Conference Publication
Why do some disadvantaged Queensland schools appear to be better at parent engagement than others?
Willis, Linda-Dianne, Povey, Jenny, Hodges, Julie and Carroll, Annemarie (2016). Why do some disadvantaged Queensland schools appear to be better at parent engagement than others?. Department of Education Australian Research Council Showcase Symposium: Research Partnerships Making a Difference, 30 Mary Street Brisbane, 21 November 2016.
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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