Monica Cuskelly is a Professor in the School of Education. She originally trained as a psychologist and has experience in both hospital and educational settings.  Her work as a psychologist in schools stimulated her interest in the difficulties some children experienced in learning.  She worked as a psychologist the first early intervention units in the Queensland Department of Education, and it was this experience that motivated her to undertake further study in the area of intellectual disability.  This interest has underpinned much of her subsequent research.

Biography

Monica’s first academic appointment was a staff member of the Fred and Eleanor Schonell Special Education Centre at The University of Queensland.  She became a member of the team investigating the development of children with Down syndrome, a project that became a longitudinal study of more than 40 years. Monica was Director of this program of research for 12 years, prior to her leaving The University of Queensland. After the closure of the Schonell Centre, Monica joined the Faculty of Education at The University of Queensland.  During her time at The University of Queensland, she took on the role of Interim Director of the Centre of Excellence for Behaviour Support, a joint initiative between the Queensland Department of Communities and Disability Services and The University of Queensland.  This Centre was established in response to the enquiry by Justice W.J. Carter into developing a service response for adults with intellectual disability who exhibited severely challenging behaviour.  She joined the University of Tasmania in 2016 as Associate Dean Research of the Faculty of Education, later, Associate Head Research in the School of Education.

Career summary

Qualifications

• PhD (1993), 'Psychological adjustment of the siblings of children with Down syndrome', University of Queensland, Australia
• MAppPsych (1988), 'The perception of behaviour disorders in Down syndrome children and their siblings', University of Queensland, Australia
• GradDipEd (1986), Armidale CAE, Australia
• MEdStud (1982), University of Queensland, Australia
• BA (Hons) (1978), 'The method of loci and imagery skills', University of Queensland, Australia

Memberships

Professional practice

• Registered Psychologist (#PSY0001366604)
• International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disability
• Vice Chair, Down Syndrome Special Interest Group
• Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability
• Australian Psychological Society

Teaching

Human development; Intellectual disability; Developmental disability; Research methods

Research Appointments

2021 -  Research Director, Applied Research Centre for Disability and Wellbeing

2019-2021 Australian Research Council Panel of Experts

2021-2024 Australian Research Council Medical Research Advisory Group

Research Invitations

• Cuskelly, M. (2018). Keynote address: Constructing futures: aspirations and expectations for the lives of adults with intellectual disability. Australian Association for Intellectual Disability, Gold Coast, Queensland.
• Cuskelly, M. (2015).Invited address. Constructing futures: Roles of family. World Down Syndrome Day Conference. United Nations, New York.
• Cuskelly, M. (2014).Keynote address. Motivation in children with intellectual disability. 2014 Dalian International Summit Forum on Personality Development and Education of Children, Dalian, China