The Early Education Show

The Anti-Bias Approach in Early Childhood

Anti-bias approaches in early education are about centring equity, tackling bias and creating beautiful ethical learning experiences and environments with and for children in the early years. Now about to be released in its fourth edition, The Anti-Bias Approach in Early Childhood has been a key publication in the history of exploring diversity, identity and inclusion in Australia’s early education sector.

To discuss the new edition of the Anti-Bias Approach, Lisa and Liam are joined by the book’s editor Dr Red Ruby Scarlet, and three of the book’s contributors - Tasha Huddy, Sharon Mathers and Rukmini Bose-Rhaman.

 

Find the full shownotes at earlyeducationshow.com.

BONUS: Family Matters Report 2020 (with Sue-Anne Hunter)

Family Matters has this week launched the Family Matters Report 2020, which examines how Australia is faring in improving the safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

To talk about this report, Liam is joined by Sue-Anne Hunter. Sue-Anne is a proud Wurundjeri woman, and National Chair for the Family Matters Campaign.

Find the full shownotes at earlyeducationshow.com.

Early Childhood Voices Conference 2020

The Early Childhood Voices Conference is a free international multidisciplinary fully online conference about innovations in early education. International speakers will present research in a virtual online space about innovations to improve the lives of children, families and practitioners during early childhood or within the early childhood sector.

It can be very difficult for early childhood professionals to access, or afford, high-quality professional development, so this is an excellent opportunity that we wanted to find out more about. So to do that, we’re joined by one of the lead organisers of the event, Dr Tamara Cumming, and four of the presenters who will be sharing their presentations during the Conference - Professor Sue Dockett, Professor Bob Perry, Professor Gail Gillon and someone who may be quite familiar to the listeners of the podcast, Leanne Gibbs!

Find the full shownotes at earlyeducationshow.com.

 

Can Thrive By Five change Australia’s early education sector?

Early education is currently enjoying a higher political profile than usual. The first COVID-19 lockdown back in March and April saw the Government investing in free early education - but only temporarily. The Federal Opposition has made funding changes to early education the centrepiece of this year’s Budget in Reply. Community calls for greater access to more affordable early education are increasing. Amidst all that, a new advocacy project is trying to promote more, and smarter, investment in early childhood outcomes. We’ve seen lots of different advocacy campaigns - can Thrive By Five change Australia’s early education sector?

To talk about Thrive By Five, and early education policy in Australia, we’re joined by the initiative’s CEO Jay Weatherill.

Find the full shownotes at earlyeducationshow.com.

Which children’s books should every early education service have?

While there is no limit to the kinds of resources and materials that can be used to support the learning of young children, it’s hard to argue that the most important of all is books. The research is clear that immersing children in pre-literacy experiences such as reading with a trusted adult has dramatically positive impacts for them throughout their lives. It’s been a heavy year for the early education sector, so we’re going with a lighter look at children’s books and ask - which children’s books should every early education service have?

We also take a look at the recent Budget announcements from the Federal Government, and the Federal Opposition’s early education reform plans.

Find the full shownotes at earlyeducationshow.com.

Should early education services be supporting families?

Australia’s early education sector is about children’s learning and wellbeing in the first five years. Educators and teachers have qualifications and training that are focused on children’s education. Yet, the sector also plays a largely unofficial role in supporting families. This could be as simple as providing resources on parenting, to much larger and more complex roles with families that are particularly struggling. But we know that the sector, and those that work in it, aren’t even given enough support to do the job they’re qualified for. This episode, we’re going to ask the question - should early education services even be supporting families?

Find the full shownotes at earlyeducationshow.com.

Is social media good or bad for ECEC?

Social media users in Australia are some of the most active in the world. 60% of the country are active users of Facebook, with 50% of the population logging on at least once a day. In Australia, there are 16 million Facebook users per month, 15.5 million YouTube users, 9 million Instagram users and 5.8 million Twitter users. With such widespread usage it is not surprising that the use of social media in the education and care sector is huge. But is the sector’s use of social media a force for good or not?

We thought it was time we explored the positives and negatives of social media use in the sector. 

Find the full shownotes at earlyeducationshow.com.

What's happening in Victoria? Part 2

A few weeks ago, we discussed the worsening COVID-19 situation in Victoria and how it was affecting services, children, families and professionals. Soon after we released that episode - things became even more intense. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews declared a State of Disaster, and announced Australia’s toughest lockdown. Melbourne has effectively shut down, and early education services have once again faced a whole new world of policies and funding.

 

Given these changes, we wanted to come back to Victoria and see what this new situation means for the sector there. We’re joined by Sarah Riches (CEO of ECIA VIC/TAS) and Sarah Louise (Associate at Semann & Slattery).

 

Find the full shownotes at earlyeducationshow.com.

Social justice and COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has been described as a “spotlight” - shining a bright light and illuminating the existing inequalities in our societies. Early education is no exception. While services have been fighting to survive a complex maze of last-minute funding changes, the focus has had to be on funding and economics. But existing social justice concerns haven’t disappeared, and may in fact be getting worse.

To discuss how COVID-19 has changed the landscape for social justice and the early education sector, Lisa, Leanne and Liam are joined by Dr Red Ruby Scarlet (activist, early childhood teacher-researcher, consultant, speaker, artist, academic, and Creative Director of Multiverse) and Stephen Gallen (early childhood consultant and Director of Cawongla Community Preschool).

Find the full shownotes at earlyeducationshow.com.

What's happening in Victoria?

After a first wave that affected the entire country in March and April, COVID-19 cases are now particularly affecting Victoria. The Melbourne area is in lockdown, and early education services are finding themselves back in a situation where they are having to balance health and safety, financial viability and an uncertain funding arrangement. While most of the sector is focusing on just transitioning back to the Child Care Subsidy, many Victorian services are facing a much tougher battle.

 

Leanne and Liam are joined by Julie Price, the Executive Director of Community Child Care Victoria, and Tamika Hicks, the Director and owner of Cardinia Lakes Early Learning Centre.