Dr. Kerry Hempenstall is an educational psychologist formerly in the Division of Psychology, RMIT University, where he had been an Associate Professor and manager of the Educational Psychology division of the RMIT Psychology Clinic. In addition to undergraduate and post-graduate lecturing, he provided clinical training for master’s and doctoral students in the assessment and remediation of children’s and adults’ educational problems. He also developed an approach for training parents in the use of Direct Instruction programs with their own children.

He is now in an honorary position: Senior Industry Fellow, School of Education, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.

Prior to his commencement with RMIT in 1992, he spent more than twenty years with the Victorian Education Department as a secondary teacher and guidance officer (educational psychologist) consulting in regular schools and special facilities, particularly in the areas of literacy and behaviour management.

Kerry was regularly invited to present papers at conferences and workshops for schools and educational organisations. Although he no longer participates in those activities, he still publishes in education journals (e.g., the Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties). He continues to be active in several educational online forums, such as the DDOL Network for academics interested in literacy and effective teaching, and also in the Direct Instruction Discussion list.

He gained a PhD in 1997 for a thesis on the role of phonemic awareness in reading development. 

• He used Direct Instruction programs in his research. For example, the Corrective Reading Program for students in late primary and secondary schools was a program he found very valuable.

Read more about Dr. Hempenstall here.

View various documents and resources from Dr. Hempenstall here. View a playlist of videos from Dr. Hempenstall here.