Jane Webb-Williams

Dr Webb-Williams gained her PhD in & Education & Psychology from Cambridge University, UK Dr Jane Webb-Williams is a leading early childhood expert, highly experienced social researcher and an Academic at the University of South Australia. Jane's career in education spans over 25 years in a variety of roles including Program Director of Master of Learning & Teaching, Deputy School Principal and Early Years Teacher. Dr Webb-Williams is recognised Nationally and Internationally as a leader in the field of Play. She is a member of the high profile team writing the National Statement for Play for Australia, she sits on the National Board of Play Australia and is a member of the Play Australia SA committee. Jane is well known her advocacy and expertise in Play. She regularly promotes play through keynotes, invited lectures and professional development sessions to schools, NGOs, teachers, librarians, community groups and families. She regularly works in an advisory and research capacity with councils, landscape architects and education settings, and she has worked with organisations including Parks and Leisure Australia, Nature Play and Recreation SA. In 2017 Jane was awarded an Academic Excellence Award by the Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences in recognition of her research with industry partners. Jane is a passionate advocate for play within schools and communities to benefit children's social and emotional wellbeing. A highly experienced leader, Jane leads undergraduate teacher education courses in Learning Through Play (600 + students per year) as well as postgraduate courses in Play, Learning and Development. Jane's research focuses on play, playful pedagogies and playspace design to support focuses on improving children's wellbeing and social & emotional development. She has been a Chief Investigator on a number of significant projects tackling a diverse range of global issues including 'Young and Well CRC: Safe and Well Online' which examined at the role of technology to improve youth mental health and 'Preschool Children's Participation and Education as Valued Active Citizens'. Recent research projects Jane has led include 'Children's Voice in Playspace design', Co-Constructed Student-Led Pedagogies for Engagement & Learning in the Early Years of School", 'Children's Voices in Play' and 'Community Connectedness through Play' which focused on the role of play to promote community connectedness in disadvantaged, multicultural communities. Play, playful pedagogies and playspace design to support improving children's wellbeing and social & emotional development

[2026] Webb-Williams, J., & Forndran, E. (2026). Outdoor Play and the Importance of Attuning to Children's Multimodal Communication. In Risk and Outdoor Play Listening and Responding to Collective Voices Part 2 (pp. 99-118). Springer Nature Singapore. [2024] Kennedy Behr, A., & Webb Williams, J. L. (2024). Capturing children's play behaviours in outdoor environments: a comparative analysis of play in early adolescence at primary school versus high school. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 71(1), 76-87. [2024] Webb Williams, J., Webb, E., & Dankiw, K. (2024). Reimagining botanic gardens: co-creating playful spaces for discovery and connection: Corporate body:Botanic Garden and State Herbarium (BGSH) of South Australia commissioning body. Australia: University of South Australia. [202