Hannah Deehan

Proposed Title

Little Citizens: Children’s experiences and understanding of civics and citizenship concepts through drawings

Supervisors

Principal Supervisor: Professor Amy MacDonald
Co-Supervisor: Professor Lena Danaia

Research

This project will investigate how children in years K-2 represent their understanding of civics and citizenship concepts through drawings and situate these representations within broader educational and policy contexts to inform early years curriculum and assessment practices. Although civics and citizenship are embedded in the Early Years Learning Framework, formal curriculum does not address these concepts until Year 3. This study will provide insights to support earlier inclusion, demonstrating continuity from prior-to-school learning and addressing gaps in civic engagement and achievement. The study will reveal how children represent concepts such as fairness, rules, and decision-making, how teachers interpret these representations, and the potential of drawing-based assessment. Findings are expected to inform curriculum design, teaching practice, and the sequencing of early civic education.

Why I chose Charles Sturt

I have maintained a long-standing relationship with CSU, having completed a Bachelor of Education (Primary) (Honours Class I) and a Master of Information and Communication Technology in Education (through IT Masters), alongside undertaking numerous Research Assistant roles and sessional teaching over several years. Pursuing a PhD felt like a natural progression, contingent on the right timing and opportunity. This opportunity arose through a scholarship attached to Professor Amy MacDonald’s ARC Future Fellowship, for which I was a successful applicant. I look forward to further developing my research and professional practice through this program.

Publications

Recent Publications:

Deehan, H., McLeod, S., & Harrison, L. J. (2026). “Oh! I forgot the voice”: Comparing drawings of talking by children with and without speech sound disorder. Child Language Teaching and Therapy, 0(0).

Deehan, H., & Deehan, J. (2024). Pre-service teachers’ experiences, interests and confidence in teaching Humanities and Social Sciences. Cambridge Journal of Education, 54(6), 701–719. https://doi.org/10.1080/0305764X.2024.2417071

CRO

ORCID