Dr John Irvine biography

Dr John Irvine has been one of Australia’s most heard, seen and read child psychologists. He has been working with children and families for 60 years. Dr John began his career as a teacher and had his own one teacher school at the age of 18. After many years teaching, Dr John sought to specialize in child development.

After winning the Shell Prize for Arts, Dr John undertook Honours and won the University medal. He was then appointed as a lecturer in child development and behaviour management at Armidale Teachers College and then accepted an appointment to set up Early Childhood Education studies in Toowoomba at what is now known as the University of Southern Queensland.

While in that role, Dr John began the first Family Day Care scheme in Queensland and had a cottage dedicated to his name for services to the community. He then undertook Ph.D. studies in the area of children’s play. On completion of his doctorate, Dr John accepted an appointment as Principal Lecturer in the School of Early Childhood in Sydney so the family (wife Jean and daughters Jenny, Heather and Rosie could be closer to the extended family.

During his years as an academic in Sydney, he began his writing career, publishing “Coping with Kids”, “Coping with School” and “Coping with the Family”. His expertise and communication style attracted the attention of the media and he began his Coping with Kids radio series which was on 67 stations across Australia. Dr John then became a regular writer for a popular family magazine and then a regular on Australian television including the Today show, Sunrise and many other day time programs.

After leaving his academic role, Dr John focused on building the READ clinic with his brother Warwick. It was designed to become a one stop shop for Psychological services on the Central Coast of NSW. During those years he updated his previous publications, wrote “Who’d be a parent: the manual that should have come with the kids”, and wrote “The handbook for Happy Families”. Material from this latter book became the content for his four DVD’s of “Happy Families” – Reparations method, 0-6 years, 6-12 years and 12+years.

While acting as a consultant on children’s play, Dr John discovered the worrywoos and he has dedicated much of his retirement years to promoting their worth in “Developing Children’s Emotional Intelligence”. He then wrote two booklets for parents around the worrywoos, “Helping children beat the worry bug” and “Helping Young Children manage frustration and anger”. He then wrote the Australian guidelines for using the worrywoos in schools and early childhood centres.

Now at the end of a long and illustrious career, Dr John is dedicating his professional life to paying tribute to the many kids, parents, grandparents and celebrities who have inspired him over the years. It is his hope that their stories in book form and podcast will be an inspiration for others, who, too, might have unsung or humble heroes in their lives. This is his legacy and he hopes to die young as late as possible.