Full Name
Tim McDonald
Biography
Dr Tim McDonald has been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Y WA since August 2021. He was previously the Executive Director of Catholic Education Western Australia, Associate Professor at Edith Cowan University and CEO of Generation One at Minderoo Foundation. Across more than two decades in education, Tim has worked as a teacher, school leader, system leader, researcher and advocate with a clear focus on equity, evidence-informed practice, and creating environments where all children and young people can flourish.
Tim has worked with the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) as a subject matter expert on the development of classroom management resources for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) educators, school teachers and leaders. His first book, Classroom Management: Engaging Students in Learning, was published in 2010 and is now in its third edition, supporting thousands of teachers and schools to change behaviour and build positive learning environments.
Since that first edition, Tim has continued to work alongside teachers, leaders and schools across Australia — coaching in classrooms, observing practice, and learning from the people doing the work every day. That ongoing partnership, combined with his work with AERO and the emerging evidence base around effective classroom practice, has informed his new book, Classroom Management: The Foundation for Learning, released in June 2026. Born out of the recent lived reality of the classroom, the text is grounded in what works — with student and teacher voices throughout and practical resources developed and tested by teachers and leaders. It serves as a guide for a whole school approach to classroom management while remaining practical enough for teachers to use in their classrooms every day. It is a book built from the belief that every teacher can create a classroom where every student can learn.
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Tim has worked with the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) as a subject matter expert on the development of classroom management resources for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) educators, school teachers and leaders. His first book, Classroom Management: Engaging Students in Learning, was published in 2010 and is now in its third edition, supporting thousands of teachers and schools to change behaviour and build positive learning environments.
Since that first edition, Tim has continued to work alongside teachers, leaders and schools across Australia — coaching in classrooms, observing practice, and learning from the people doing the work every day. That ongoing partnership, combined with his work with AERO and the emerging evidence base around effective classroom practice, has informed his new book, Classroom Management: The Foundation for Learning, released in June 2026. Born out of the recent lived reality of the classroom, the text is grounded in what works — with student and teacher voices throughout and practical resources developed and tested by teachers and leaders. It serves as a guide for a whole school approach to classroom management while remaining practical enough for teachers to use in their classrooms every day. It is a book built from the belief that every teacher can create a classroom where every student can learn.
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Speaking At
