Overview
Background
Dr Sally Staton is a Senior Research Fellow in the Science of Learning Research Centre at the Queensland Brain Institute, UQ. Dr Staton has a strong commitment to research that can inform and ensure positive early life experience for all children. Her research focuses on the role of early education and care settings in supporting young children’s immediate and on-going social-emotional, cognitive and physical development. Dr Staton’s research spans a range of study designs and methodologies, including evaluation studies in educational settings (applying randomised control trial and quasi-experimental designs), longitudinal studies tracking large child cohorts (>2000 children), standard observation techniques (in vivo and video), survey and individualised standard child assessment (using educational and psychological measures), as well as studies employing physiological (cortisol, actigraphy, heart rate variability) and qualitative (child, educator and parent interviews, socio-metric) designs. She has a particular expertise in the development, application and interpretation of observational measurement for educational practices and teacher-child interactions in education contexts, including early childhood settings. Dr Staton has a strong track record in research translation and community engagement, including delivery of reports for government and non-government organisations, professional development packages for early childhood professionals and teachers, presentations, workshops, videos and articles for parents, government regulatory officers and the early childhood sector. In 2016, she was named among Queensland’s Young Tall Poppy Scientists for her contribution to science translation and engagement. In 2019 her succesful research partnerships with industry and government was acknowledged in a Partners in Research Excellence Award from UQ.
Availability
- Associate Professor Sally Staton is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Creative Industries, Queensland University of Technology
- Postgraduate Diploma, Queensland University of Technology
- Bachelor (Honours), Queensland University of Technology
- Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology
Research interests
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Human Development
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Children and families
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Early Childhood Education and Care policy/practices
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Measurement of early care environments
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Child health and well-being
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Children’s sleep patterns and development
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Digital Technology use
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In-situ observation methods
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Mealtime interactions
Research impacts
Key Examples of Research Impact include:
- Implementation of the Assisting Observations Toolkit by the Queensland Government, Department of Education to inform practices of Authorised Officers responsible for Assessment and Rating of all Early Education and Care services in Queensland, Australia.
- SLEEP Professional Development Program resources cited in childcare policy and procedure documents nationally, including government (e.g. Qld, SA education departments, ACECQA) and peak childcare organisations (e.g. C&K, Gowrie, Early Childhood Australia), and in doing so shaping legislative standards and practice expectations. See detailed description below.
- Research informed national legislative changes in October 2017 (ACECQA; NQS) requiring all early childhood education and care providers to have documented policy and procedures for sleep, rest and relaxation.
- News media coverage in over 200 media outlets nationally and internationally, including: Huffington Post, BBC, Fox News, Daily Mail, NBC, Reuters, ABC Radio, and Channel 9. I have also undertaken radio (ABC Local, and National), and television (Channel 9) interviews, with media seeking my opinion on topics including children’s sleep, napping in young children and sleep practices within the early childhood sector. In 2018 I was selected as a focus scientist for the Queensland Chief Scientist Science in Queensland Social Media Campaign.
- SLEEP Program delivered (2015-2019) to >170 peak ECEC organisation leaders and >100 DoE regulatory officers in Qld, including the first pilot RCT study of the impacts of this program on educator practices and interaction quality between educators and children in ECEC services.
- Research embedded within university Early Childhood training programs in Australia and internationally (UK).
- Invitations from the Director of Research Services Qld Govt. DoE (2017 and 2018) to present the sleep project as an example of successful partnership between research and government leading to impact on educational policy and practice.
- Delivery of the State of Early Learning in Australia Report, launched at Parliament House, Canberra, November 2019, including delivery of key indicators for Australia to inform policy and practice actions.
- Research translation into oral language resources for ECEC educators, distributed nationally through the Evidence for Learning Website, Social Ventures Australia, and presented directly to early childhood teachers working in Australian communities experiencing high developmental vulnerability.
- Featured scientist in state and national science engagement events and initiatives, including The Science of Sleep. ABC Radio National, Big Ideas Program (July 2019),
- Tall Poppy Science Award for recognition of my contribution to science communication and translation and Partners in Research Excellence Award for excellence in partnerships in research with government and industry.
Works
Search Professor Sally Staton’s works on UQ eSpace
2015
Conference Publication
If given the opportunity would you want your child to sleep in childcare?
Thorpe, K., Sinclair, D., Staton, S., Pattinson, C. and Smith, S. (2015). If given the opportunity would you want your child to sleep in childcare?. Conference of the American Sleep Physicians Association, Seattle, WA, United States, June 2015. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger .
2015
Conference Publication
Dim light duration predicts body mass index of young children
Pattinson, C., Allan, A., Thorpe, K., Staton, S. and Smith, S.S. (2015). Dim light duration predicts body mass index of young children. SLEEP 2015, Seattle, WA United States, 6-10 June 2015. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger.
2015
Conference Publication
Sleep deprivation and recovery in an expedition adventure race
St Pierre, L., Staton, S., Pattinson, C., Thorpe, K. and Smith, S. (2015). Sleep deprivation and recovery in an expedition adventure race. 29th Annual Meeting of the Professional Sleep Societies, Seattle, WA United States, 6-10 June 2015. Westchester, IL United States: Associated Professional Sleep Societies.
2015
Conference Publication
Mandatory naptimes for preschool aged children in early childhood education settings and duration of children's nighttime sleep
Staton, S., Pattinson, C., Smith, S. and Thorpe, K. (2015). Mandatory naptimes for preschool aged children in early childhood education settings and duration of children's nighttime sleep. Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA, United States, April 2015.
2015
Conference Publication
Group napping patterns in relation to duration of mandatory naptimes in childcare settings
Staton, S., Hurst, C., Pattinson, C., Smith, S. and Thorpe, K. (2015). Group napping patterns in relation to duration of mandatory naptimes in childcare settings. 29th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, Seattle, WA, United States, 6 - 10 June 2015. Cary, NC, United States: Oxford University Press.
2015
Conference Publication
Parent preferences regarding napping for their preschool children
Thorpe, K., Sinclair, D., Staton, S., Pattinson, C. and Smith, S. (2015). Parent preferences regarding napping for their preschool children. European Conference on Developmental Psychology (ECDP), Braga, Portugal, 2015.
2015
Conference Publication
Napping, development and health from 0-5 years: A systematic review
Thorpe, K., Staton, S., Sawyer, E., Pattinson, C. and Smith, S. (2015). Napping, development and health from 0-5 years: A systematic review. Conference of the American Sleep Physicians Association, Seattle, WA, United States, June 2015. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger .
2015
Journal Article
Characteristics of children who do not nap in childcare
Smith, S., Neil, E., Thorpe, K., Pattinson, C. and Staton, S. (2015). Characteristics of children who do not nap in childcare. Sleep, 38, A391-A391.
2015
Conference Publication
Characteristics of children who do not nap in childcare
Smith, S., Neil, E., Thorpe, K., Pattinson, C. and Staton, S. (2015). Characteristics of children who do not nap in childcare. SLEEP, Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS), Seattle, WA United States, 2015.
2015
Conference Publication
Mandatory naptimes in childcare: Associations with day and night sleep patterns
Staton, S., Smith, S., Pattinson, C., Hurst, C. and Thorpe, K. (2015). Mandatory naptimes in childcare: Associations with day and night sleep patterns. European Conference on Developmental Psychology (ECDP), Braga, Portugal, 2015.
2015
Conference Publication
Sleep and weight status of Australian children: what are the sleep parameters at play?
Pattinson, C., Smith, S., Staton, S. and Thorpe, K. (2015). Sleep and weight status of Australian children: what are the sleep parameters at play?. Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA, United States, April 2015.
2014
Conference Publication
Symposium - A sleep in the early childhood classroom: Multiple perspectives on the education value of sleep/rest time in early childhood education and care
Staton, S. (2014). Symposium - A sleep in the early childhood classroom: Multiple perspectives on the education value of sleep/rest time in early childhood education and care. AARE-NZARE conference, Brisbane, Australia, November 2014.
2014
Conference Publication
Mandatory sleep practices in early childhood education and care settings: Implications for children's night-time sleep
Staton, S., Smith, S., Pattinson, C. and Thorpe, K. (2014). Mandatory sleep practices in early childhood education and care settings: Implications for children's night-time sleep. AARE-NZARE conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, November 2014.
2014
Conference Publication
Sleep, Eat Play: Childcare as settings to establish lifetime foundations of physical and emotional health
Thorpe, K., Staton, S., Pattinson, C. and Smith, S. (2014). Sleep, Eat Play: Childcare as settings to establish lifetime foundations of physical and emotional health. Australia-China Centre for Public Health Research Forum, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 2 August 2014.
2014
Journal Article
Do twins differ from single-born children on rates of behavioral difficulty in early childhood? A study of sibling relationship risk factors
Bekkhus, Mona, Staton, Sally, Borge, Anne I. H. and Thorpe, Karen (2014). Do twins differ from single-born children on rates of behavioral difficulty in early childhood? A study of sibling relationship risk factors. Twin Research and Human Genetics, 17 (4), 288-295. doi: 10.1017/thg.2014.39
2014
Journal Article
Getting there, being there, staying and belonging: a case study of two Indigenous Australian children's transition to school
Bell-Booth, Rachel, Staton, Sally and Thorpe, Karen (2014). Getting there, being there, staying and belonging: a case study of two Indigenous Australian children's transition to school. Children & Society, 28 (1), 15-29. doi: 10.1111/j.1099-0860.2012.00441.x
2014
Journal Article
Impact of sleep practices in childcare on child well being
Thorpe, K., Staton, S., Pattinson, C. and Smith, S. (2014). Impact of sleep practices in childcare on child well being. Sleep, 37, A304.
2014
Conference Publication
The relationship between history of childcare and age of cessation of napping in preschool aged children
Staton, S., Smith, S., Pattinson, C. and Thorpe, K. (2014). The relationship between history of childcare and age of cessation of napping in preschool aged children. Conference of the American Sleep Medicine Association, United States, 2014. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger.
2014
Conference Publication
Sleep and weight status of Australian children: The effects of day, night and total sleep
Pattinson, Cassandra, Smith, Simon, Staton, Sally and Thorpe, Karen (2014). Sleep and weight status of Australian children: The effects of day, night and total sleep. Sleep DownUnder 2014 ASM, Sleep Frontiers, 26th ASM of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association, Perth, WA Australia, 9–11 October 2014. London, United Kingdom: Springer Nature. doi: 10.1111/sbr.12082
2014
Conference Publication
Impact of sleep practices in childcare settings on child well-being
Thorpe, K., Staton, S., Marriott, A., Pattinson, C. and Smith, S. (2014). Impact of sleep practices in childcare settings on child well-being. SLEEP, Conference of the American Sleep Medicine Association, United States, 2014.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Sally Staton is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Sleep development in young children
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Sleep Development
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Physical Environments in Early Childhood Services
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Can attachment theory be applied in early education and care environments? Theorising and measuring qualities of child-educator relationships
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karen Thorpe, Dr Sandy Houen
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Doctor Philosophy
Child sleep development in the context of family work lives
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Peter Rankin
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Doctor Philosophy
The Developmental Significance of Sleep Transitions in Early Childhood
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dwayne Mann, Professor Simon Smith
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Doctor Philosophy
Can attachment theory be applied in early education and care environments? Theorising and measuring qualities of child-educator relationships
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karen Thorpe, Dr Sandy Houen
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Doctor Philosophy
Can attachment theory be applied in early education and care environments? Theorising and measuring qualities of child-educator relationships
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karen Thorpe, Dr Sandy Houen
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Doctor Philosophy
Towards a Critical Post-humanist Symphony of Children-Deaths
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Rebecca Olson
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Doctor Philosophy
Towards a Critical Post-humanist Symphony of Children-Deaths
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Rebecca Olson
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Doctor Philosophy
Same Educator, Different Day
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sandy Houen, Professor Karen Thorpe
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Doctor Philosophy
An Ecological Case Study of Early Childhood Education and Care in Normanton
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karen Thorpe, Dr Azhar Potia
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding children's constructions and experiences of death, dying and loss
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Rebecca Olson
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Doctor Philosophy
The Signifiance of Nap Cessation for Children's Social-emotional Functioning
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Peter Rankin, Professor Karen Thorpe, Professor Simon Smith
Completed supervision
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Relaxation and Unrest: A Crystallization of Children's Experiences in Early Childhood Education and Care
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karen Thorpe
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
The Significance of Nap Cessation for Children's Social-emotional Functioning
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Peter Rankin, Professor Karen Thorpe, Professor Simon Smith
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Why mealtimes matter: food provision and practices in childcare centres serving low-income communities.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Robyn Littlewood, Professor Karen Thorpe
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Sleep in Children with Down syndrome: Improving Outcomes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Honey Heussler
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Sally Staton directly for media enquiries about:
- Child Development
- Childcare
- Children
- Children's Relaxation
- Children's Sleep
- Early Childhood Education and Care
- Naps
- Naptimes
- Preschool
- Sleep
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