Staff Profiles

I have worked in Australian universities for more than 20 years.  I have taught undergraduate and postgraduate students and supervised approximately 50 post-graduates students.  I am also an active researcher (see below) and  have contributed to curriculum change and innovation in WA schools.  I have also served and continue to provide community service in a number of areas.

I am an active researcher and my work has appeared in a number of international journals.  My research focuses on studies of second language acquisition (SLA), particularly for child learners and more recently has involved SLA and the use of tasks for indigenous learners in Australia.  I have also undertaken research on indigenous and international students in the tertiary sector. 

Examples of my funded research include:

2011-13           The transition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students into higher education.  ALTC $199,000.

2011-13           Developing a Language and Literacy Needs Analysis model for Indigenous Vocational Education students who speak English as a second language/dialect.  ARC Linkage $87,000 + AISWA $50,000.

2009                Oliver, R., & Vanderford, S. English language admission requirements at ECU: Investigating the relationship to academic achievement.  Vice Chancellory funding.  $25,000.

2007-9             Rochecouste, J. & Oliver, R. Addressing the on-going English language growth of international students.  ALTC (Carrick) funding $142,000

2006                Oliver, R. & Haig, Y.  Exploring the educational needs of African refugee students.  WATESOL grant. $20,000

2003-6             Oliver, R., Haig, Y. & Rochecouste, J. Tackling Talk:  Using action research to investigate the communicative competence of Western Australian school students. An action research project funded by the Association of Independent Schools of WA. $45,000

2003-4                          Oliver, R., & Rochecouste, J. An evaluative study of Aboriginal English Professional Development Projects. ECU/Department of education collaborative project  $52,344

2003-4             Oliver, R., Haig, Y. & Rochecouste, J. Tackling Talk:  Using action research to investigate the communicative competence of Western Australian school students. An action research project funded by the Commonwealth Quality Teaching Program, $56,500

2002                Oliver, R in collaboration with EDWA.  Oral language assessment of middle and upper primary school students.  ECU/Department of education collaborative project  $69, 000

2001/2             Oliver, R in collaboration with EDWA.  Oral language assessment and communicative competence of adolescent students.  ARC: SPIRT grant - ARC contribution $106,860 with EDWA contributing a similar amount in cash and in-kind, total = $213,400

Recent undergradaute teaching:

Literacy Teaching and Learning (6 – 8 years)

Recent post graduate teaching:

Language Analysis and Language in Society

Langauge Teaching and Learning Styles

·         Applied Linguistic Association of Australia

·         American Association of Applied Linguistics

·         British Association of Applied Linguistics

·         WATESOL (Vice President 1998-2004)

• Chairperson of ‘Investing in our youth’ (Bunbury, Western Australia) (2007 - present).  IIOY is an advocacy and support organisation for young people in the south-west region.  
•  Board member Perry Lakes Hawks Basketball Association (member of the WA State Basketball League).
• Committee member Kate Mullin Association

·         Overall winner “Postgraduate Supervisor of the year” (Postgraduate and Honours Student Association) Edith Cowan University, 2004.

·         Overall winner “University leadership in research Award” (Postgraduate and Honours Student Association) Edith Cowan University, 1999.

·         "Award for Excellence in Research Leadership” (Postgraduate and Honours Student Association) Edith Cowan University, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006.

·         "Award for Excellence in Research Supervision" awarded by the Postgraduate and Honours Student Association of Edith Cowan University, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002.

·         Nominated by students for Faculty teaching award, 2007

·         "M.A.K.Halliday Scholarship" awarded by the Applied Linguistics Association of Australia for research, 1993.

·         University of WA post-graduate scholarship 1992 - 1995.

·         "George Francis Bradshaw Award" for Best Master of Education student, 1991.

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Books (Authored, Research)

• Rochecouste, J, Davies, M, Mulligan, D, and Oliver, R. 2010. Addressing the ongoing English language growth of international students. Final Report 2010. Strawberry Hills, New South Wales: Australian Learning and Teaching Council.

Refereed Articles (Scholarly Journals)

• Rochecouste, J, Oliver, R, Grote, E, and Vanderford, S. 2011. Teacher Awareness And Understandings About Aboriginal English in Western Australia. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics 34(1): 60-74.
• Rochecouste, J, Davies, M, Oliver, R, and Mulligan, D. 2011. The English Language Growth Project. Australian Universities Review 53(1): 102-104.
• Oliver, R, and Mullin, K. 2010. A Second Language/Dialect Acquisition Perspective on the Accelerated Literacy Teaching Sequence. Australian Journal of Language and Literacy 33(2): 151-163.
• Philp, J, Tognini, R, and Oliver, R. 2010. Rehearsing, conversing, working it out: Second language use in peer interaction.. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics 33(3): 28.1-28.25.
• Oliver, R, and Grote, E. 2010. The provision and uptake of different types of recasts in child and adult ESL learners: What is the role of age and context?. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics 33(3): 26.1-26.22.