Posts

Family trees and belonging walls

Family trees and belonging walls

As educators, we talk about fostering a sense of belonging and identity within our services and communities—one way we do this is through the use of photo displays. Reflecting on this in relation to how we display images of ourselves, our…
Australia Day, Invasion Day, Survival Day

Australia Day, Invasion Day, Survival Day

Every year on the 26th of January we celebrate what it means to be Australian. It’s a day when we welcome new Australians into the fold through citizenship ceremonies and we get together for barbecues, that most inexplicably Australian of…
What does National Skills Week mean to you?

What does National Skills Week mean to you?

At a time of significant staff shortage and challenges in the early childhood sector, it is worth pausing to recognise the substantial contribution of the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector. Every day, across Australia, hundreds…
Black Lives Matter in Australia, in early education and everywhere

Black Lives Matter in Australia, in early education and everywhere

The power of Stan Grant as a storyteller and journalist was palpable in the Four Corners episode ‘I Can’t Breath’ that aired on ABC TV last night (13 July 2020). The program explores an Australian perspective on the Black Lives Matter…
Transition (back) to school

Transition (back) to school

Some children have started returning to education settings in some parts of Australia. The word ‘transition’ is being used in the COVID-19 context—but what do we already know about transitions and can this knowledge help support children,…
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Who do you believe?

What is a professional to do? CATHARINE HYDON asks when events outside of our control upend all our professional certainties and make the present and the future complex and hard to navigate. This blog considers another angle on professionalism…
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Having each other’s back

Professionalism in times of uncertainty—a conversation worth having, writes CATHARINE HYDON, who, among many contributions to the sector in Australia, is a leading advocate on ethics for early childhood education and care.  In all…
Preserving Indigenous languages

Preserving Indigenous languages

Though there are still 13 Indigenous languages spoken by children around Australia, they are slowly fading as older generations pass on. Queensland educator, JULIE LEE DAVIDSON takes us through the importance of preserving Indigenous languages…
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Why choose early childhood: A male perspective on working as an educator

TRISTAN PAGE is a dedicated early childhood educator with a true passion for his job. He shares his experiences as a man in the early childhood education sector, over the last 18 years. Tristan explains how he incorporates a personal perspective…
Exploring Indigenous ways of knowing and being

Exploring Indigenous ways of knowing and being

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day is held on 4 August each year. The 2019 theme was We Play, We Learn, We Belong. In this piece, we share the importance of Indigenous culture and language in the early years…
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Reflecting on NAIDOC Week

Adam Duncan reflects on NAIDOC Week in this repost from Narragunnawali News, expressing reasons why sharing with children about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions is an important part of their education. NAIDOC…
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Sharing in Australia’s culture

‘Deadly not dead’ was what came to mind for Rebecca Rechichi after attending her first Early Childhood Australia (ECA) Reconciliation Symposium in May held in Melbourne. Rebecca is an early childhood teacher from Western Australia and after…