Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Stella Laletas has been employed by Monash University for over 6 years and currently holds an ongoing position in the Faculty of Education. She is a Senior Lecturer in developmental psychology, counselling and inclusive education. As an academic, her research interests lie in exploring and understanding the experiences and mental health needs of our most vulnerable citizens, including children and adolescents, as well as our ageing population. Alongside her academic profile, she is a practicing psychologist with specialist knowledge in lifespan and developmental psychology. Prior to her employment at Monash University, she held leadership and executive positions within school systems and various community sectors. Her professional profile also includes experience in School Leadership in the area of Student Wellbeing with the Department of Education and Training in Victoria.
Stella completed her PhD in Educational & Developmental Psychology at Monash University and is the Mollie Holman Award recipient for the best doctoral thesis in the Faculty, 2017. In 2018, Stella was nominated for the Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) Ray Debus Award for Doctorial Research in Education.
Currently, Stella holds positions on academic committees responsible for governing processes within the Faculty of Education and across the whole of Monash University. These include:
- Monash University Human Ethics Committee (2018 to present): the role of the committee members is to ensure the ethical standards and legal and moral obligations involving human subjects in research;
- Member of Academic Progress Committee Panel (2018 to present): the academic progress committee adjudicates hearings and determines whether students can continue with your studies at Monash.
- Steering Committee Chair, Prato International Research Collaborative for Change in Parent & Child Mental Health (2018 to present): the committee organises conferences/working parties and facilitates opportunities for international research collaborations.
External governance positions
Directorships (Voluntary Positions)
- To Be Loved Network, Director (2022-present)
- Pacifica Congress, Director (2023-present)
- Fronditha Care, Director, President, (2020-present)
Committees
- Sub-Committee member of the Fronditha Care- Education, Training & Advocacy Committee (E-TAC) since February 2020. Her contribution to the committee involved consultation and feedback on governance, education, training and advocacy in the aged care sector.
- In November, 2020. Stella secured a Director role in the Fronditha Aged Care (not for profit) organisation. This role is voluntary.
Research interests
Research approaches:
Phenomenology, Qualitative, Mixed Methods
Research areas include:
- Lived experience, particularly ‘at risk’ children and adolescents impacted by childhood adversity;
- Inclusive Teacher Education and Social Diversity;
- Educational Psychology and Counselling related to lifespan development;
- Ethics in Research and Psychological practice in school settings;
- Cultural variations and implication for counselling practice;
- Phenomenological inquiry in Educational Psychology
- Intersections between Cognitive Neuroscience, Educational Psychology and Phenomenology
Monash teaching commitment
EDF5000 Lifespan development & counseling, Semester 1,2 & Term 3
Chief Examiner, Unit Coordinator & Lecturer
Handbook link: https://handbook.monash.edu/2021/units/EDF5000
This unit is designed to examine major lifespan theories alongside the developmental issues and challenges that could be encountered by counselling professionals.
EDF5063 Contemporary Counselling Approaches, S1
This unit introduces you to six different contemporary counselling approaches.
EDF5530 counselling skills for individuals, couples and groups Term 3
Chief Examiner, Unit Coordinator & Lecturer
This unit introduces students to the theoretical and applied aspects of counselling to individuals, couples and groups, and the evidence base which informs them.
EDF5782 - School leadership in inclusive education - S1 2022
Cheif Examiner, Unit Coordinator & Letcurer
This unit offers professional learning to leaders and aspiring leaders in educational inclusion. It addresses education leadership as a way to enhance student learning for all students, and make informed choices about how to respond to circumstances in ways that embrace gender, race and diversity in their school context.
Supervision interests
Projects that focus on
- exploring the needs of vulnerable children in education settings, in particular children living in families impacted by parental mental illness; children impacted by high conflict families related to child custody disputes; childhood/transgenerational trauma; disability and social disadvantage.
- helping teachers identify and support the needs of vulnerable children in terms of their wellbeing and engagement in learning
Clinical activities
Stella is an endorsed and practicing Educational and Developmental Psychologist.
Psychological services include:
- Assessments: Family Law & Child Custody Evaluations and Child & Adolescent Psychoeducational Assessments
- Interventions: Individual and family counselling
- Expert witness and consultancy: assessment and intervention for children in a Family Law context
Consulting
Family Law and Mental Health Consultant: Assessing the best interests of a child in the judicial system
Teacher Education and Training: Professional development of teachers and school personnel in supporting vulnerable children and young people who experience vulnerabilities due to social disadvantage and/or family risk factors.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
External positions
School Leadership-Student Wellbeing, Department of Education (Victoria)
2006 → 2012
Secondary Teacher, Department of Education (Victoria)
2004 → 2006
Early Childhood Education and Care Director
1993 → 2003
Classroom Teacher , Department of Education (Victoria)
1989 → 1993
Research area keywords
- Educational and Developmental Psychology
- Inclusive Teacher Education
- Family Law Psychology
- Children of parents who have mental health issues
- Parental Alienation
- High Conflict Divorce & Children's Rights
- Developmental Psychology & Ageing
- Post-separation parenting
- Social and emotional learning
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 8 Finished
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Respectful Relationships Professional Learning for Early Childhood Educators
Hammer, M. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Duhn, I. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Laletas, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Li, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Quiñones, G. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Babaeff, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Hansen, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Armstrong, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Pfitzner, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Lewis, R. (Chief Investigator (CI))
22/02/21 → 30/06/23
Project: Consultancy
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Helping children and young people navigate the family law system: development of an evidence-based ‘Kids App’
Laletas, S. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Gasevic, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Grove, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Mort, D. (Partner Investigator (PI)) & Bassett, N. (Partner Investigator (PI))
4/01/21 → 31/12/21
Project: Research
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Understanding the short and long term educational and wellbeing impacts of COVID-19 on youth, adults and families
Grove, C. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Laletas, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Subban, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Round, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Fielding, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Leif, E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Patlamazoglou, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Sharma, U. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Alfrey, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Rosenbluh, I. (Chief Investigator (CI))
15/05/20 → 15/05/21
Project: Research
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Promoting the Inclusion and Participation of Individuals with ASD In Sport: Evaluation of Online Coach Education
Leif, E. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Alfrey, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Grove, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Laletas, S. (Chief Investigator (CI))
15/04/20 → 31/10/20
Project: Research
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Current interdisciplinary practices for assessing the best interest of the child in high conflict divorce and parental alienation cases worldwide: scoping review
Laletas, S. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Alexander, R. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/09/19 → 31/12/19
Project: Research
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Children’s perceptions of a therapy dog-assisted social and emotional learning intervention: survey and interview findings
Wintermantel, L., Grove, C. & Laletas, S., 2025, In: Journal of Research in Childhood Education. 39, 1, p. 22-41 20 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
“You do need each member of the team to bring that next piece of the puzzle”: Allied health professionals' experience of interprofessional complex care in hospital settings
Borghmans, F., Fernandes, V., Laletas, S. & Newnham, H., Mar 2025, In: PLoS ONE. 20, 3, 27 p., e0317799.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Art-based research to explore children's lived experiences of dysgraphia
Kalenjuk, E., Wilson, S., Subban, P. & Laletas, S., Mar 2024, In: Children & Society. 38, 2, p. 381-403 23 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile4 Citations (Scopus) -
Factors influencing Indonesian teachers’ use of proactive classroom management strategies
Paramita, P. P., Sharma, U., Anderson, A. & Laletas, S., 2024, In: International Journal of Inclusive Education. 28, 1, p. 38-56 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
2 Citations (Scopus) -
Finding meaning in complex care nursing in a hospital setting
Borghmans, F., Laletas, S., Fernandes, V. & Newnham, H., Jul 2024, In: Nursing Inquiry. 31, 3, 14 p., e12633.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
-
Dean's Award for Innovation for Learning and Teaching
Sharma, U. (Recipient), Grove, C. (Recipient), Laletas, S. (Recipient) & Finkelstein, S. (Recipient), 2020
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
Dean’s Early Career Researcher Award (ECR)
Laletas, S. (Recipient), 5 Oct 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
-
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Mollie Holman Medal recipient for the best doctoral thesis in the Faculty
Laletas, S. (Recipient), 2017
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
File
Activities
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Unravelling the Puzzle: Exploring the Impact of Child Trauma on Development.
Laletas, S. (Speaker), Mort, D. (Speaker) & Higgins, J. (Speaker)
7 Jun 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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High-Conflict Divorce at School: The Experiences of Teachers.
Laletas, S. (Speaker)
8 Jun 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Frontiers in Public Health (Journal)
Laletas, S. (Editorial board member)
5 Aug 2023 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial responsibility
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Children’s Right to Participate: A New Conceptual and Practical Model.
Laletas, S. (Speaker)
3 Jun 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference
Laletas, S. (Speaker)
24 Mar 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
Press/Media
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School - A Haven Away From Warring Parents
1/05/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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Fronditha Care-not for profit aged care organisation
30/03/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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We are with you: Parents share their teaching and learning lessons from the lockdown
Subban, P., Round, P., Grove, C., Laletas, S., Alfrey, L., Rosenbluh, I., Sharma, U. & Leif, E.
27/10/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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5 tips on how unis can do more to design online learning that works for all students
Leif, E., Grove, C., Alfrey, L., Laletas, S. & Sharma, U.
9/09/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature