Ms Katrien Pickles

Born in the Netherlands and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii, Katrien moved to Australia in 2005 to begin her university studies at the University of New South Wales in Sydney and the University of Newcastle. Katrien is in her second year of completing her PhD titled, Investigating playgrounds: A mixed-methods study of the beliefs and behaviours of children and adults. Katrien is passionate about advocating for a child's right to design and shape the world they live in and contribute to. Her PhD is focussed on how public playgrounds afford play opportunities and can contribute to family and community wellbeing. She hopes her research will enhance the conversations between children and adults in designing and using public spaces for play, connection and social interaction.  She lives and conducts her research in the regional town of Wagga Wagga with the support of her supervisors, Alan Hayes AM and Dr Deborah Hartman. She expects to complete her PhD research by late 2018.