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Fulfillment and four-wheel driving: The life of an ECA Inclusion Professional

Fulfillment and four-wheel driving: The life of an ECA Inclusion Professional

ECA: You’re an Inclusion Professional with Early Childhood Australia Northern Territory. What does your job involve? What is an Inclusion Professional? Alex: My job involves a wide range of hats and roles. No one day is the same. You can…
Exploring reconciliation and cultural awareness in early childhood

Exploring reconciliation and cultural awareness in early childhood

Employees across Early Childhood Australia (ECA) have been involved in National Reconciliation Week projects connected to ECA’s Reconciliation Action Plan. Our group has developed a survey for early childhood educators to explore attitudes…
Can we belong everywhere?

Can we belong everywhere?

‘We welcome everyone and respect every person’s right to belong’. Early childhood professionals say this all the time. It’s one of our sector’s dearly held mantras. Every day, through our words and actions, we endorse this sentiment.…
Making Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder visible

Making Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder visible

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, or FASD, is often described as the invisible disability. With September being FASD Awareness month, it seems like a fitting time to discuss what FASD is, some of the ways it affects children and families, and…
Collaboration for inclusion

Collaboration for inclusion

Collaboration is vital to inclusion for young children with developmental delay or disability, but it doesn’t always happen easily. Early childhood educators are well positioned to nurture collaborative partnerships with families and communities…
How animals can help autistic children

How animals can help autistic children

Daniel the “emotional support duck” is a pretty big deal, both in the animal and human world. His 15 minutes of fame began after he was spotted on a flight in the US – from Charlotte to Asheville, North Carolina – waddling around the…
Embracing inclusion—an educator’s experience

Embracing inclusion—an educator’s experience

During my time as an educator, the children in my group spanned across a three-year age range and hailed from 15 or more distinct cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Two were funded for educational support, one with an Autism Spectrum Disorder…
Cultural considerations Welcoming refugee children and families into our services

Cultural considerations: Welcoming refugee children and families into our services

Many refugee families come to Australia each year from different parts of the world and with a vast range of experiences. As early childhood leaders and educators, we can be prepared to receive refugee children and families at all times, and…
Five ways families can support belonging and inclusion

Five ways families can support belonging and inclusion

Originally posted in 2016, this post was updated in June 2020.  Children need to feel that their world is a safe place Children need to know they’re cared for, that their needs are met, and that they can get help when they need it.…