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Mrs. Jo-ann Larkins

Senior Lecturer, Applied Mathematics and Statistics

Contact

Campus

Churchill Campus

Biography

Jo-ann Larkins is a senior lecturer in Applied Mathematics and Statistics. She focuses on achieving quality learning outcomes for students in statistics and introductory mathematics, seeking to make these subjects authentically relevant and less intimidating. 

As an applied statistician, Jo-ann is a multidisciplinary research enabler with expertise in research design and methodology, quantitative analysis and research-informed communication and writing. She is an effective Higher Degree by Research (HDR) supervisor, particularly in cross-disciplinary contexts. 

As a teaching-focused academic and teaching champion, Jo-ann fosters a culture of support and capability building in SoLT research design, analysis and publication through connections with internal and external communities of practice. She loves a good scholarly conversation. 

Jo-ann’s current research uses assessment transformation as a framework for re-thinking assessment to generate meaningful evidence of learning. By focusing on authentic disciplinary-based contexts, she examines how assurance of learning can move beyond compliance to support process-oriented, scaffolded learning. 

Jo-ann collaborates with Indigenous scholars and knowledge holders to co-create learning experiences that are culturally and contextually relevant and socially responsive. She embraces relational and reciprocal research practices, where Indigenous knowledges and pedagogies are integral to curriculum development.

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More about Jo-ann

Qualifications

  • Certificate of Technology (Electrical), Yallourn College of TAFE 
  • Bachelor of Science, Monash University 
  • Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary Teaching), Monash University 
  • Graduate Certificate in Education (Tertiary Education), Federation University 
  • Master of Education (Expert Teaching Practice), Monash University

Areas of interest

  • Indigenous collaboration in higher education curriculum design and delivery 
  • Assessment transformation 
  • Assurance of learning / academic integrity 
  • Evaluative judgement 
  • Learning and teaching of statistics 
  • Scholarship of learning and teaching (SoLT) 
  • Research methodology 
  • Analysis of survey data 

Areas of expertise

Jo-ann’s expertise spans disciplinary teaching and cross-disciplinary research, with particular strengths as an applied statistician and multidisciplinary problem solver. She brings expertise in research design, quantitative analysis and the development and communication of high-quality research outputs for publication. Her expertise also extends to Indigenous collaboration in higher education, where she works through relational and reciprocal approaches to integrate Indigenous knowledges into curriculum design. Across these areas, her work positions assessment and curriculum as key drivers of inclusive, relevant, and socially responsive higher education. 

Grants

  • Barton, A., Reeves, K. & Larkins, J. 2023. ‘Attitudes and preferences to body disposal’, Ballarat Cemeteries Trust 
  • Yuriev, E., Rayner, G., Georgiou H., Larkins, J., & Pullen, R. 2024 – 2025, Australian Council of Deans of Sciences (ACDS) Teaching and Learning grant, ‘Empowering Australian DBER: Investigating the landscape and developing innovative resources for science education excellence’. (Monash, RMIT, University of Wollongong, Federation University, University of Sydney). 

Awards

  • 2018: Federation University, Vice-Chancellors Citation for Contribution to Student Learning

Current

  • PhD student, Federation University, ‘Ecosystem Dynamics and Restoration Modelling of the Coolibah – Black Box Woodlands of New South Wales’, associate supervisor.
  • PhD student, Federation University, ‘Use of an administrative database to evaluate health services performance in delivering home-based health care for older Victorians’, associate supervisor. 
  • PhD student, Federation University, ‘Management of Cyperus aromaticus (Navua sedge) in the Wet Tropics of Far North Queensland, Australia’, associate supervisor. 
  • PhD student, Federation University, ‘Can an Aboriginal informed consensus decision-making approach improve outcomes for community, cultural continuity, and Country?’, associate supervisor. 

Past

  • Master's student, Federation University, ‘Life extension decision-making with limited text-based failure and maintenance data’, associate supervisor.  
  • PhD student, Federation University, ‘Superannuation in Australia: A mixed methods study into engagement of superannuants’, associate supervisor. 
  • PhD student, Federation University, ‘Challenges Faced by Early-Career Researchers in the Sciences in Australia and the Consequent Effect of those Challenges on their Careers’, associate supervisor. 

  • Introductory statistics 
  • Applied statistics 
  • Mathematics for disciplines (e.g. science, engineering) 
  • Research design and methodology 

Professional association memberships

  • First year in maths (FyiMaths) 
  • IUM (Indigenising University Mathematics)  

Future Regions Research Centre (FRRC)

Jo-ann is part of the Future Regions Research Centre (FRRC), which aims to develop new knowledge and innovative solutions to the grand challenges facing our natural environments.

Centre for Smart Analytics (CSA)

Jo-ann is part of the Centre for Smart Analytics (CSA), which creates new knowledge and innovative solutions to develop smart and resilient cities, regions and industries.

Collaborative Evaluation and Research Centre (CERC)

Jo-ann is part of the Collaborative Evaluation and Research Centre (CERC), which provides training, workshops and mentoring to build capacity and enable organisations to conduct meaningful evaluations.
  • Publications

Assessing Soil Indicator Practices: Determinants and Variations Among Australian Farmers