Education

Employment History

Consultant (2008 to present)

Head, Staff Development and Training Unit, Flinders University (1997 to 2008)
The Staff Development and Training Unit contributes to the implementation of strategic organisational change and development and to the quality of working life in the University. It is my role to provide the leadership and management to ensure this happens.

Major areas of responsibility:

• leadership and management
• professional development
• Research Higher Degree Professional Development Program
• Unit management

I also am a joint topic coordinator and lecturer in the Masters in Mental Health and am an invited lecturer in many University topics.

Major projects include:

• The Vice-Chancellor’s Development Program for HEO 5-7 Women
• Self-management for timely completion in PhD students
• Team Leader Development Program, School of Nursing
• Leadership and Management Development Program (five-day program; for University Union)
• Women’s Stories Project
• Research Higher Degree Professional Development Program

Previous roles:

• Senior Tutor, The Open Training College, Dublin, Ireland
• Senior Manager, Training and Development, United Bank, New Zealand
• Senior Training Officer, State Bank of South Australia
• Course Developer, Imperial Chemical Industries, Scotland

Research Interests

• Personal leadership
• Time and workload management
• Presentation skills
• Self-sabotage and self-handicapping
• Career management
• Self-management and work-life balance
  

Publications

Publications, Conference Presentations and Reports

Kearns, H. & Gardiner, M. (submitted). Is it time well spent? The relationship between time management behaviours, perceived effectiveness and work-related morale and distress in a university context.

Kearns, H., Forbes, A. & Gardiner, M. (submitted). A cognitive-behavioural coaching intervention for the treatment of perfectionism and self-handicapping in a non-clinical population.

Kearns, H. (2004). Symposium leader - the dynamics of postgraduate supervision: panel presentation. Quality in Postgraduate Research 2004 International Conference, 22-23 April 2004, Adelaide.

Kearns, H. & Banytis, F. (2004). Supervision as a changing relationship. Quality in Postgraduate Research 2004 International Conference, 22-23 April 2004, Adelaide.

Kearns, H. (2004). Symposium leader - academic and research skills programs for research higher degree students. Quality in Postgraduate Research 2004 International Conference, 22-23 April 2004, Adelaide.

Kearns, H. (2003) How we sabotage ourselves by procrastination, perfectionism, overcommitting and more. Australian Tertiary Education Management Conference 28 Sept-1 Oct 2003, Adelaide.

Kearns, H. (2003) A humorous look at University life. Poster presentation at Australian Tertiary Education Management Conference 28 Sept - 1 Oct 2003, Adelaide.

Kearns, H. (2002). Conducting productive meetings: Getting the best from your team. Australian Institute of Medical Scientists National Workshop, 18-21 April, 2002, Adelaide.

Kearns, H. (2002). Professional Development and Career Paths for Technical Staff. TechNet SA Forum, 22 November 2002, Adelaide.

Kearns, H. (2002). Sabotage: How learners do it and what learning practitioners can do about it. Australian Institute of Training and Development National Conference, 2002, Melbourne,

Kearns, H. (2002). Sabotage: How we do it and what you can do about it. In M.Kiley & G.Mullins (Eds.) (2002). Quality in Postgraduate Research: Integrating perspectives: Conference Proceedings. CELTS, University of Canberra.

Kearns, H. & Banytis, F. (2002). The research higher degree student perspective. In M.Kiley & G.Mullins (Eds.) (2002). Quality in Postgraduate Research: Integrating perspectives: Conference Proceedings. CELTS, University of Canberra.

Kearns, H. (2001). Ten tips to reduce email stress. Talk about IT. August 2001.

Kearns, H. (2001). Staff Leadership Development program: A new approach. ACUMA National Conference, Launceston, Tasmania, December 2001.

Kearns, H. (2000). Preparing, presenting and publishing conference papers. TASA Australian Sociological Association Conference, Flinders University, 7 December 2000.

Kearns, H. (2000). Using on-line delivery for reluctant learners . IT’s HERE Symposium, Flinders University, Adelaide, November 2000.

Kearns, H. (1999). Food Today, Health Tomorrow. SA Dieticians Conference, Balyana Conference Centre, 30 Oct 1999.

Kearns, H. (1997). Providing OHS&W training on the World Wide Web. AVCC OH&S Conference, 11 July 1997, Adelaide.

Kearns, H. (1997). Learning Forum. 6th Australasian Higher Education Staff Developers AHED International Conference, July 6-8, 1997, Adelaide.

Kearns, H. (1990). A systematic process for introducing CBT in a branch network, in Computer Based Training and Instructional Design: Conference proceedings from IIR Technology Conference, Sydney, May 1990.

Kearns, H. (1990). Alternative delivery systems. Paper presented at the TAFE Heads of School Conference, Adelaide, 1990.

Kearns, H. (1986). The three Cs - children, computers and communication. (book review) in Programed Learning and Educational Technology, 23(2).

Grants and Awards

Study Tour of Western Australian Universities, 10 April - 5 May 2000. Awarded to senior members of university staff. Provides funding to undertake a study tour. Visited UWA, Murdoch, Curtin and Edith Cowan University

Affiliations and Committees

Flinders University Council 2002-2004, 2005-2007
HERDSA 2002 Conference - Reviewer of conference papers
Flinders University Committee on Equal Opportunity 1998-2000
President, South Australian Chapter of the Australasian Society of Educational Technology (ASET) - 1991

Invited Presentations

• Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy - 2004
• International Students Professional Study Skills program (Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics) - 2003
• School of Nursing and Midwifery Retreat - 2002
• Degree Plus Program - 2003
• Flinders International Students Association Leadership Retreat - 1998
• Speech pathology - 1999
• Executive leadership program - Flinders University Career Centre. "What is important to you?" - 2000
• Adelaide to Outback State Education Day - 2005
• Australian Vice-Chancellor’s Committee - 2005
• National General Practice Education Convention - 2005