Associate Professor Rhonda Faragher

Associate Professor

School of Education

+61 7 336 56481

r.faragher@uq.edu.au

Research Interests: Inclusive education; Mathematics education; Down syndrome

Researcher biography

Key research areas: Intellectual and developmental disability, Inclusive mathematics education; Down syndrome; Mathematics learning difficulties; Quality of life;

Dr Rhonda Faragher AO is an Associate Professor in Inclusive Education. She has internationally recognised expertise in the mathematics education of learners with Down syndrome. In her research and teaching, she works to improve the educational outcomes of students who have difficulties learning mathematics, for whatever reason, including through educational disadvantage. Beyond mathematics education, she has expertise in inclusive education in a range of contexts, including secondary classrooms.

Dr Faragher is the Director of the Down Syndrome Research Program within the School of Education. She is an appointed Board member to the Academy on Education, Teaching and Research of IASSIDD - the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Chair of the Down syndrome Special Interest Research Group of IASSIDD, Vice-President of Down Syndrome International and an Independent Director of Down Syndrome Australia. She is Co-Editor in Chief of the Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities.

Dr Faragher is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of IASSIDD and has received a number of awards for her work including the 2020 UQ Award for Excellence in Community, Diversity and Inclusion, the 2016 ACU Vice-Chancellor's Medal for Staff Excellence, a Commonwealth of Australia Endeavour Executive Award and the 2011 Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia Research Award.

Recent books / chapters

Faragher, R. (2023). A practical guide to educating learners with Down syndrome. Supporting lifelong learning. Routledge.

Siemon, D., Warren, E., Beswick, K., Faragher, R., Miller, J., Horne, M., Jazby, D., & Breed, M. (2020). Teaching mathematics: foundations to middle years. 3rd ed. Oxford University Press.

Brown, R. I., & Faragher, R. (Eds.). (2018). Quality of life and intellectual disability. Knowledge application to other social and educational challenges. (Revised ed.). Nova.

Faragher, R., & Clarke, B. (Eds.). (2014). Educating learners with Down syndrome: Research, theory and practice with children and adolescents. Routledge.

Gaffney, M., & Faragher, R. (Eds.). (2014). Leading improvements in student numeracy. ACER.

Recent articles

Wanjagua, R., Hepburn, S., Faragher, R., John, S. T., Gayathri, K., Gitonga, M., Meshy, C. F., Miranda, L., & Sindano, D. (2022). Key learnings from COVID‐19 to sustain quality of life for families of individuals with IDD. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 19(1), 72–85. https://doi.org/10.1111/jppi.12415

Faragher, R., Chen, M., Miranda, L., Poon, K., Rumiati, Chang, F., & Chen, H. (2021). Inclusive Education in Asia: Insights From Some Country Case Studies. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 18(1), 23–35. https://doi.org/10.1111/jppi.12369

Faragher, R.M. & Clarke, B. A. (2020). Inclusive practices in the teaching of mathematics : some findings from research including children with Down syndrome. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 32(1), 121–146. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13394-019-00294-x

Faragher, R,M. (2019). The New 'Functional Mathematics' for Learners with Down Syndrome : Numeracy for a Digital World. International Journal of Disability, Development, and Education, 66(2), 206–217. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2019.1571172

Publications

Books (7)

Book Chapters (25)

Journal Articles (19)

Conference Papers (14)

Books

Siemon, Dianne , Warren, Elizabeth, Beswick, Kim, Faragher, Rhonda, Miller, Jodie, Horne, Marj, Jazby, Dan and Breed, Margarita (2020). Teaching mathematics: foundations to middle years. 3rd ed. Melbourne, Australia : Oxford University Press.

Faragher, R., Robertson, P. and Bird, G. (2020). International guidelines for the education of learners with Down syndrome. Teddington, United Kingdom: Down Syndrome International.

Luneta, Kakoma, Adendorff, Stanley A., Hobden, S., Jooste, Zonia C., Makonye, Judah paul, Paulsen, Ronel, Rouz, annalie, van der Walt, Marthie, van Putten, Sonja, Siemon, Dianne, Beswick, Kim, Brady, Kathy, Clark, Julie, Faragher, Rhonda, Warren, Elizabeth and Breed, Margarita (2018). Teaching mathematics: foundation to senior phase. Cape Town, South Africa: Oxford University Press.

Siemon, Dianne, Beswick, Kim, Brady, Kathy, Clarke, Julie, Faragher, Rhonda and Warren, Elizabeth (2015). Teaching mathematics: foundations to middle years. 2nd ed. South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Brown, Roy I. and Faragher, Rhonda Muriel (2014). Quality of life and intellectual disability: Knowledge application to other social and educational challenges. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc..

Siemon, Dianne, Beswick, Kim, Brady, Kathy, Clark, Julie, Faragher, Rhonda and Warren, Elizabeth (2011). Teaching mathematics: foundations to middle years. South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Bolger, Kiddy, Boggs, Rex, Faragher, Rhonda and Belward, John (2002). Mathematics for Queensland: Year 12B. South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Book Chapters

Brown, Roy and Faragher, Rhonda (2018). Quality of life in the wider world. Challenges from the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Quality of life and intellectual disability: knowledge application to other social and educational challenges. (pp. 3-18) edited by Roy I. Brown and Rhonda M. Faragher. Hauppauge, NY, USA: Nova Science Publishers.

Faragher, Rhonda M., Broadbent, Carolyn, Brown, Roy I. and Burgess, Jill (2018). Applying the principles of quality of life to education. Quality of life and intellectual disability. Knowledge application to other social and educational challenges. (pp. 37-54) edited by Roy I. Brown and Rhonda M. Faragher. Hauppauge, NY USA: Nova Science Publishers.

McArthur, Morag and Faragher, Rhonda (2018). Worries about children in families with complex needs. Quality of life and intellectual disability: knowledge application to other social and educational challenges. (pp. 137-152) edited by Roy I. Brown and Rhonda M. Faragher. Hauppauge, NY, USA: Nova Science Publishers.

Faragher, Rhonda, Hill, Janelle and Clarke, Barbara (2016). Inclusive practices in mathematics education. Research in mathematics education in Australasia 2012-2015. (pp. 119-141) edited by Katie Makar, Shelley Dole, Jana Visnovska, Merrilyn Goos, Anne Bennison and Kym Fry. Singapore: Springer . doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-1419-2_7

Gaffney, Michael and Faragher, Rhonda (2014). Improving student numeracy: a framework for development. Leading improvements in student numeracy. (pp. 24-43) edited by Michael Gaffney and Rhonda Faragher. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.

Clarke, Doug and Faragher, Rhonda (2014). Teaching mathematics effectively. Leading improvements in student numeracy. (pp. 47-65) edited by Mike Gaffney and Rhonda Faragher. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.

Faragher, Rhonda and Clarke, Barbara (2014). Mathematics profile of the learner with Down syndrome. Educating learners with Down syndrome: research, theory, and practice with children and adolescents. (pp. 119-145) edited by Rhonda Faragher and Barbara Clarke. London, UK: Routledge.

Clarke, Barbara and Faragher, Rhonda (2014). Developing early number concepts for children with Down syndrome. Educating learners with Down syndrome: research, theory, and practice with children and adolescents. (pp. 146-162) edited by Rhonda Faragher and Barbara Clarke. London, UK: Routledge.

Faragher, Rhonda, Poore, Megan and Gaffney, Michael (2014). Networking numeracy development. Leading improvements in student numeracy. (pp. 113-126) edited by Michael Gaffney and Rhonda Faragher. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.

Clarke, Doug, Rhonda Faragher and Gaffney, Michael (2014). Engaging school communities with numeracy. Leading improvements in student numeracy. (pp. 92-109) edited by Michael Gaffney and Rhonda Faragher. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.

Brown, Roy I. and Faragher, Rhonda M. (2014). Quality of life in the wider world. Challenges from the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Quality of life and intellectual disability: knowledge application to other social and educational challenges. (pp. 3-18) edited by Roy I. Brown and Rhonda M. Faragher. Hauppauge, NY USA: Nova Science Publishers.

Faragher, Rhonda, Gaffney, Michael and Skoss, Matt (2014). Articulating purposes and practices in numeracy development. Leading improvements in student numeracy. (pp. 167-180) edited by Michael Gaffney and Rhonda Faragher. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.

Faragher, Rhonda, Southwell, Julie and Gaffney, Michael (2014). Supporting numeracy development. Leading improvements in student numeracy. (pp. 127-145) edited by Michael Gaffney and Rhonda Faragher. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.

Gaffney, Michael, Clarke, Doug and Faragher, Rhonda (2014). The numeracy challenge: student achievement, teacher quality, school leadership and system policy. Leading improvements in student numeracy. (pp. 3-23) edited by Michael Gaffney and Rhonda Faragher. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.

McArthur, M. and Faragher, R.M. (2014). Worries about children in families with complex needs. Quality of life and intellectual disability : knowledge application to other social and educational challenges. (pp. 137-152) edited by Roy I. Brown and Rhonda M. Faragher. Hauppauge, New York, United States: Nova Science Publishers.

Gaffney, Michael, Faragher, Rhonda and Clarke, Doug (2014). Embedding numeracy development. Leading improvements in student numeracy. (pp. 181-199) edited by Michael Gaffney and Rhonda Faragher. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.

Faragher, R. (2014). Inclusive early numeracy experiences. Inclusive education in the early years: right from the start. (pp. 381-398) edited by Kathy Cologon. South Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Oxford University Press.

Faragher, Rhonda (2013). Learning mathematics in the secondary school: possibilities for students with Down syndrome.. Educating learners with Down syndrome: research, theory, and practice with children and adolescents. (pp. 174-191) edited by Rhonda Faragher and Barbara Clarke. London, UK: Routledge.

Clarke, Barbara and Faragher, Rhonda (2013). Introduction. Educating learners with Down syndrome: research, theory, and practice with children and adolescents. (pp. 5-15) edited by Rhonda Faragher and Barbara Clarke. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315883588-10

Faragher, Rhonda and Clarke, Barbara (2013). Where we are, where we would like to be, and (perhaps) how we get there. Educating learners with Down syndrome: research, theory, and practice with children and adolescents. (pp. 249-256) edited by Rhonda Faragher and Barbara Clarke. London, UK: Routledge.

Stillman, Gloria Ann, Brown, Jill P., Faragher, Rhonda, Geiger, Vince and Galbraith, Peter (2013). The role of textbooks in developing a socio-critical perspective on mathematical modelling in secondary classrooms. Teaching mathematical modelling: connecting to research and practice. (pp. 361-371) edited by Gloria Ann Stillman, Gabriele Kaiser, Werner Blum and Jill P. Brown. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-94-007-6540-5_30

Faragher, Rhonda M. (2010). Developing numeracy to enhance quality of life. Enhancing the quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities: from theory to practice. (pp. 401-411) edited by Ralph Kober. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-90-481-9650-0_21

Clarke, Barbara and Faragher, Rhonda (2004). Possibilities not limitations: teaching special needs children. International perspectives on learning and teaching mathematics. (pp. 379-394) edited by Barbara Clarke, Doug Clarke, Goran Emanuelsson, Gengt Johansson, Diana V. Lambdin, Frank K. Lester, Anders Wallby and Karin Wallby. Goteborg, Sweden: National Center for Mathematics Education. Goteborg University.

Diezmann, Carmel, Faragher, Rhonda, Lowrie, Tom, Bicknell, Brenda and Putt, Ian (2004). Exceptional students in mathematics. Research in mathematics education in Australasia 2000-2003. (pp. 175-195) edited by Bob Perry, Glenda Anthony and Carmel Diezmann. Flaxton, QLD, Australia: Post Pressed.

Journal Articles

Wanjagua, Rachael, Hepburn, Stevie‐Jae, Faragher, Rhonda, John, Shaji Thomas, Gayathri, K., Gitonga, Margaret, Meshy, Cecylia Francis, Miranda, Lucena and Sindano, Devis (2022). Key learnings from COVID ‐19 to sustain quality of life for families of individuals with IDD. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 19 (1), 72-85. doi: 10.1111/jppi.12415

Faragher, Rhonda, Chen, Mo, Miranda, Lucena, Poon, Kenneth, Rumiati, , Chang, Feng‐Ru and Chen, Holly (2021). Inclusive education in Asia: Insights from some country case studies. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 18 (1), 23-35. doi: 10.1111/jppi.12369

Faragher, Rhonda M. and Clarke, Barbara A. (2019). Inclusive practices in the teaching of mathematics: some findings from research including children with Down syndrome. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 32 (1), 121-146. doi: 10.1007/s13394-019-00294-x

Faragher, Rhonda and Taggart, Laurence (2019). Editorial. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 16 (2), 96-98. doi: 10.1111/jppi.12302

Faragher, Rhonda (2019). Research in the field of Down syndrome: impact, continuing need, and possible risks from the new eugenics. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 16 (2), 130-133. doi: 10.1111/jppi.12305

Cuskelly, Monica and Faragher, Rhonda (2019). Developmental dyscalculia and Down syndrome: indicative evidence. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 66 (2), 151-161. doi: 10.1080/1034912x.2019.1569209

Faragher, Rhonda and Gil Clemente, Elena (2019). Emerging trends in mathematics education for people with Down syndrome: current research and future directions. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 66 (2), 111-118. doi: 10.1080/1034912x.2019.1579891

Faragher, Rhonda (2019). The new ‘Functional Mathematics’ for learners with Down syndrome: numeracy for a digital world. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 66 (2), 206-217. doi: 10.1080/1034912x.2019.1571172

Zazzi, Hannah and Faragher, Rhonda (2018). ‘Visual clutter’ in the classroom: voices of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 64 (3), 212-224. doi: 10.1080/20473869.2018.1468619

Faragher, Rhonda, Stratford, Melanie and Clarke, Barbara (2017). Teaching children with Down syndrome in inclusive primary mathematics classrooms. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom, 22 (4), 13-16.

Faragher, Rhonda and Van Ommen, Mark (2017). Conceptualising educational quality of life to understand the school experiences of students with intellectual disability. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 14 (1), 39-50. doi: 10.1111/jppi.12213

Brown, Roy I. and Faragher, Rhonda M. (2016). Special issue on innovations and Down syndrome commentary. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 13 (2), 90-91. doi: 10.1111/jppi.12165

Faragher, Rhonda and Clarke, Barbara (2016). Teacher identified professional learning needs to effectively include a child with down syndrome in primary mathematics. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 13 (2), 132-141. doi: 10.1111/jppi.12159

Brown, Roy I. and Faragher, Rhonda M. (2014). Emerging quality of life in the wider world. International Public Health Journal, 6 (2), 93-104.

McArthur, Morag and Faragher, Rhonda (2014). Children in families with complex needs. International Public Health Journal, 6 (2), 199-211.

Faragher, Rhonda, Broadbent, Carolyn, Brown, Roy I. and Burgess, Jill (2014). Applying the principles of quality of life to education. International Public Health Journal, 6 (2), 119-132.

Geiger, Vince, Faragher, Rhonda and Goos, Merrilyn (2010). CAS-enabled technologies as ‘agents provocateurs’ in teaching and learning mathematical modelling in secondary school classrooms. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 22 (2), 48-68. doi: 10.1007/BF03217565

Gaffney, Michael and Faragher, Rhonda (2010). Sustaining improvement in numeracy: developing pedagogical content knowledge and leadership capabilities in tandem. Mathematics Teacher Education and Development, 12 (2), 72-83.

Faragher, R. and Brown, R. I. (2005). Numeracy for adults with Down syndrome: it's a matter of quality of life. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 49 (10), 761-765. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2005.00747.x

Conference Papers

Faragher, R. (2019). EFFECTIVE INCLUSIVE MATHEMATICS TEACHERS OF STUDENTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME: HOW THEY DO WHAT THEY DO. HOBOKEN: WILEY.

Thompson, S. A., Corby, D., Buchner, T., Specht, J., Bennett, S., Faragher, R. and Sgaramella, T. M. (2019). STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES: INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND ACADEMICALLY DENSE CONTENT AREAS. HOBOKEN: WILEY.

Brown, I., Olsman, E., Nieuwenhuijse, A. M., Brown, R., Lombardi, M., Faragher, R. and Schippers, A. (2019). (FAMILY) QUALITY OF LIFE: BUILDING FURTHER ON STEPPING STONES. HOBOKEN: WILEY.

Faragher, R., Reinders, H., Coppus, A. and Buckley, S. (2019). The new eugenics - is Down syndrome a disappearing condition?. World Congress of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD), Glasgow, Scotland, 6-9 August 2019. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.

Faragher, Rhonda, Beswick, Kim, Cuskelly, Monica and Nankervis, Karen (2019). The affective impact of inclusive secondary mathematics for learners with Down syndrome: "I just love it!". Mathematics Education Research: Impacting Practice (Proceedings of the 42nd annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia), Perth, WA Australia, 1-4 July 2019. Perth: MERGA.

Faragher, R., Clemente, E. G., Martinez, E. M., Rieckmann, T. and Zimpel, A. (2018). Mathematics education for learners with Down Syndrome. Fifth International IASSIDD Europe Congress, Athens Greece, 17–20 July 2018. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley.

Faragher, Rhonda (2017). Keynote Address. Capital Maths 26th Biennial Conference of The Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers Inc., Canberra, ACT, Australia, 11 - 13 July 2017. Canberra, ACT, Australia: AAMT Inc..

Faragher, Rhonda (2017). Hypothesis of Developmental Dyscalculia and Down Syndrome: Implications for Mathematics Education. 40th Annual Conference of the mathematics Eduaction Research Group of Australasia, Monash University, Vic, Clayton Campus, 2-6 July, 2017. Adelaide SA, Australia: MERGA.

Faragher, R. (2016). Analysing the practice of effective primary mathematics teachers including students with Down syndrome. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

Faragher, R., Burgess, J., Shellshear, T. and Gaffney, M. (2010). Reaching out: supporting learners with Down syndrome in remote Australian communities. MALDEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC.

Shellshear, T. M. and Faragher, R. (2010). Parents' role in developing early mathematical concepts with their children with Down syndrome. MALDEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC.

Clarke, Barbara A. and Faragher, Rhonda M. (2009). Mapping the mathematical development of children with Down syndrome. HOBOKEN: JOHN WILEY & SONS INC.

Faragher, R. M., Clarke, B. A., Brady, J. and Gervasoni, A. (2008). Mathematical development of young children with Down Syndrome: The early findings. MALDEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

Vince Geiger, Goos, Merrilyn, Redmond, Trevor, Faragher, Rhonda and Lowe, Jim (2008). CAS enabled devices as provocative agents in the process of mathematical modelling. ICME 11 - 11th International Congress on Mathematical Education, Monterrey, Mexico, 6 - 13 July 2008. not found: ICME.

Areas of research

Curriculum, pedagogy and learning sciences

Equity, inclusion, diversity and cultures