Faculty of Education - Research Publications
Permanent URI for this collection
Search Results
1 - 4 of 4
-
ItemReading Recovery or not?(Australian Literacy Educators Association, 2016)
-
ItemThe development of early childhood education and care in Australia.(Hong Kong Institute of Educational Research, 2019)Australia is a vast country. It is the largest country in Oceania and the sixth largest country in the world by total area. The Commonwealth of Australia comprises 6 states and 2 territories with a total population of over 25 million people, mainly focused down the south-eastern coast line and concentrated in the capital cities of each state and territory. With respect to early childhood education and care (ECEC), the development of services across the country has changed considerably over time. From families making their own informal care arrangements decades ago, to the more recent era where the Federal government has widened and increased access to ECEC with the aim to raise the quality of children’s learning and development outcomes. Using readily available government documents, this article follows the development of ECEC in Australia from its informal beginnings to recent times where the sector has been through a reform phase resulting in the National Quality Framework (NQF) guiding the nation’s ECEC quality agenda. With a view to higher educational outcomes leading to better employment and advancement in social conditions, there remain considerable obstacles to realizing a full and seamless quality implementation. In this article, we discuss some of the challenges that lay ahead for ECEC in Australia, and provide some suggestions on how these challenges can be addressed.
-
ItemHow Significant is Partnership Formation in Area-Based Projects to Increase Parental Attendance at Maternal and Child Health Services?(LIFESCIENCE GLOBAL, 2013)Objectives: In this study, we assess the importance of area-based partnerships in an initiative to improve access to Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services (known as Best Start) in socially disadvantaged communities in Victoria, Australia. Methods: The study assessed changes in MCH attendance rates, parental attitudes and local partnership formation before and after the introduction of Best Start projects. Partners involved in Best Start projects were surveyed regarding the extent of local partnership formation (before 54; after 84). Data was collected for MCH attendance using routine records for Best Start with MCH projects (before 1,739; after 1437) and the rest of the State (before 45,497; after 45,953). Two cross-sectional surveys of parents of 3-year old children were used to assess changes in parent’s knowledge about, and confidence in using relevant services as well as parental confidence more generally (before 1666; after 1838). Results: Best Start was significantly associated with improving: levels of partnership formation (5 of 7 relevant factors) attendance at the 3.5 year MCH visit in Best Start Sites with MCH projects between 2001/02-2004/05. parent’s access to information (partnership effect); confidence about attending the 3.5 year MCH visits (partnership effect); and overall parental confidence (project effect only). Conclusion: Best Start improves participation in the MCH attendance. This is related most directly to improving parent’s access to information and overall parental confidence either through local partnership or direct project effects.
-
ItemYoung learners: teachers' conceptualisation and practice of literacy in Australian preschool contexts(ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, 2012)