In the Australian early childhood sector role of educational leader emerged as part a very large process policy reform that began in 2009. The position was established to drive quality improvement requirements reform, but many organizations did not establish these positions until several years after reforms were introduced. Lack clear descriptions and authority make it difficult for leaders fulfil expectations held them. This study examines sense street-level bureaucracy they perform...

This national study explored the role of digital technologies in early childhood education and care settings whether they could contribute to quality improvement as reported by educators assessors Australia. In this paper, data from Stage 2 Quality Improvement Research Project were used, which comprised 60 Plans linked with Assessment Rating reports who visited centres part administration National Standards each Australia's State Territory jurisdictions. Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems...

Abstract The ubiquity of technology in contemporary society positions it as a significant cultural tool children’s lives. Definitions, conceptualisations and understandings the relevance are diverse which can hinder integration early learning settings. This paper presents findings from doctoral research project that investigated Australian educator beliefs practices relation to within play‐based curriculums for children aged three five years. key presented relate creating connections shared...

Continuous professional learning and development (PLD) is an essential component of effective practice in any profession. PLD as a responsibility workplace requirement early childhood (EC) settings now embedded Australian national policy. What looks like how it happens EC hot topic both locally internationally. Much this discussion associated with major reforms the policy landscape. Increasingly, approaches to are being documented research inquiry journals. Traditional forms delivered...

Historically, research on educator wellbeing has focused ill health including stress, burnout and emotional exhaustion. There is a dearth of examining healthy workplace among early childhood educators, which makes developing strategies to support their difficult. Moreover, there lack clarity about the concept understanding complex interplay between factors supporting thwarting within long day-care centres. This two-phase study used mixed-methods design. Presented in this paper are findings...

ABSTRACT Development of cultural identity is understood to be central well‐being; however, it not always prioritised for children in out‐of‐home care (OOHC). This paper examines current policy and practice designed support the connection non‐Indigenous culturally linguistically diverse (CALD) OOHC, who make up approximately 14% care. These are have migrated Australia or a family history migration. OOHC guidance has paid minimal attention this group children, with only New South Wales Western...

Abstract It has been shown that child participation can have positive results in the rescue, relief and rehabilitation phases of a disaster. Currently is achieving increased attention as component disaster risk reduction (DRR). This paper examines ongoing dialogues on reviews pertinent literature describing effective DRR outcomes within diverse contexts. A myriad factors such gender, age, socio-economic status, caste, religion geographic location play role socialising children into...

Within the Australian context, we argue there is limited research to guide practice on supporting cultural connections for non-Indigenous children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in out-of-home care. Based wisdom international evidence, a compiled case study demonstrates how set of practices can work together. These key are respectfully engaging children's family members care planning; coaching carers promote connection; integrating culture into life story work;...

Professional learning and development for early childhood educators are increasingly recognised as pivotal in supporting curricula that socially culturally relevant to children. The ubiquitous nature of technology creates the necessity increase their knowledge understandings how support children's digital citizenship. focus this paper is on practitioner inquiry a professional strategy integration centres Australia. Collective case-studies were undertaken with at three New South Wales,...

Children are significant stakeholders within education and care settings. Their views can be invaluable in thinking about what matters to conceptualising, assessing improving quality Early Childhood Education Care (ECEC) Outside School Hours (OSHC) As stakeholders, children’s rarely listened by Australian policy makers assess constitutes how the improved. In process of updating two nationally approved Learning Frameworks (ALFs): Belonging, Being Becoming : The Years Framework for Australia...

Recent research indicates that museums hold great potential for children's engagement and learning. To date, most has either focused on school-aged children or young independent learning and, as a result, little investigated how museum spaces may foster enhance the interactive of families with prior-to-school-age children. The current study sought to investigate which features might promote rich conversations within such when visiting three metropolitan museums. Applying an interpretivist...

Extant literature on Early Childhood educator workplace well-being focuses the disease model of well-being, with studies mainly addressing stress and burnout. There is a paucity research conceptualising healthy for educators an absence theorising to frame, understand enhance well-being. This paper reports Phase 2 exploratory sequential mixed methods study, which aimed explore individual, relational, contextual factors influencing Using 1 interview findings (Author, blind review), survey was...

This article reports on an exploratory study about maintaining and supporting the cultural identity of children from culturally linguistically diverse family backgrounds in foster care placements. In this study, we spoke with carers caseworkers who respectively live work state New South Wales. Foster is one most common placement types out-of-home where a child or young person placed alternative caregiver temporary long-term basis, usually due to neglect abuse. The importance nurturing sense...

Overarching the Australian Early Childhood Education and Care sector currently are Years Learning Framework National Quality Standards shape practice of early childhood educators. Within these documents, word LOVE is not mentioned as an important characteristic effective teaching. This paper examines notion love in ECEC contexts, drawing on three studies which examined parent educator perspectives what practice. A consistent theme throughout was families discussing notions care, love,...

The purpose of this article is to examine the disconnect happening in relation family–centre partnerships. Developing partnerships with families hotly debated and provides challenges for educators teaching early childhood sector. Using a comparative case study analysis, several research studies conducted states New South Wales Victoria, Australia, are examined illustrate these disconnects. These issues within Belonging, Being Becoming: Early Years Learning Framework national framework that...

‘We’re not useless, we know stuff!’, said a four-year-old when asked why adults should ask him what he thinks about his experiences at early learning centre. This paper describes the literature and methods used to gather children’s voices in childhood education (ECEC) settings across Stage 1 2 of 3 stage national Learning Frameworks Update project. Asking children their ideas was undertaken by familiar educators using research tools designed supported team. The dialogic drawing, talking...

There is a growing body of literature about the potential for early childhood settings to serve as community hubs develop relationships with families. However, there limited information ways in which families and staff interface defining what constitutes ‘quality’ within settings. Researchers have rarely studied relation development curriculum pedagogical practices Consequently, strategies that could assist making meaningful connections are not prominent current literature. The author's...

THIS ARTICLE INVESTIGATES EARLY childhood educators' perceptions of advocacy in raising the professional status with multiple stakeholders diverse contexts. The article reports on findings from a phenomenological study investigating 12 educators working full time long-daycare settings across Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Findings revealed that participants were ambivalent towards power, as they perceived themselves to be influential within internal workplace yet felt...

In 2021, the Australian Government commissioned a review and update of My Time Our Place, its curriculum framework for School-Age Care services primary-age children. One trialled was introduction passive leisure. Whilst children’s use leisure time is recognised as right, it often problematised associated with negative health outcomes. This article explores trial provision. It provides hopeful evidence that spaces can be interactive, conversational restful.

The application of engagement strategies to ensure democracy decisions is increasingly valued and adopted by governments trust in the process ownership outcome. This paper describes approach methods used engage early childhood education care (ECEC) outside school hours (OSHC) stakeholders contemporizing updating Australia’s national Approved Learning Frameworks (ALFs): Belonging, Being Becoming: Early Years Framework for Australia (EYLF) My Time Our Place: School Age Care (MTOP). Theoretical...

The National Quality Framework (NQF) was intended to drive continuous improvement in education and care services Australia. Ten years into implementation, the effectiveness of NQF is demonstrated by steady improvements quality as measured against Standard (NQS). process assessing rating a key element NQF, drawing together regulatory compliance assurance. This paper draws on findings from national Improvement Research Project investigating characteristics, processes, challenges enablers long...

Mentoring is a leadership capacity development strategy for experienced early childhood teachers (ECTs). Being well-trained mentor, who supported to undertake the role can contribute re-energising ECTs and enhance sector workforce. However, little known about benefits of outsourcing mentoring as most research refers in-house mentoring. This paper reports on mentors’ experience two-phase on-line program in Australia supporting new teachers. The study design was framed by theory Community...