Early childhood

Overview

Peformance

Evidence of research quality

ERA (Excellence in Research for Australia) 2012 score:

• 4 (above world standard) -
  • Education Systems (FOR 1301).

Developing new researchers

HDR students

33

Early career researchers

4

Publication output

2010

Total

18

Research income

2010 total

$407,460

2010 ERA

$2,536,917

Key grants

2008-2013

• Education meets play: a sociological study of how the new compulsory national learning framework for children zero to five years influences educators' practice
• Changing relationships between children's moral reasoning for inclusion and epistemic beliefs in early years primary school classrooms
• Investigating mobile technologies in young children's everyday worlds
• Digital media and literacy education in low socioeconomic status community kindergartens
  
• Assessing the effectiveness of early childhood education and care programs in Australian communities
• Compromised or competent? A longitudinal study of twin children's social competencies, friendships and behavioural adjustment
• Enhancing quality in long day care: investigating professional beliefs and practices of child care workers
• The impact of technological modality on troubles telling and advice giving on a national children's helpline 
• Learning about social and moral values for active citizenship: educational policy and practice in early education 
• Parental engagement in supported playgroups
• The transition to school for young children with developmental disabilities: the impact of interpersonal relationships on successful school adjustment
  

People

• Donna Berthelsen
• Jo Brownlee
• Susan Danby
• Julie Davis
• Ann Farrell
• Susan Grieshaber
• Felicity McArdle
• Susan Walker
• Annette Woods

Projects

• Interacting with Knowledge, Interacting with People: Web Searching in Early Childhood

Partnerships

International linkages

Europe:

• Linköping University, Sweden
• Gothenburg University, Sweden

United Kingdom:

• London School of Economics; Loughborough University
• Institute of Education, University of London

Asia:

• Hong Kong Institute of Education

Significant corporate partnerships

• Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
• Parenting Research Centre
• Playgroup Queensland

Cross-disciplinary engagement

• Linguistics
• Psychology
• Public Health and Health Services
• Sociology

Impact

Evidence of impact

• A corpus of research into ethical research with children is being used in eight countries, to shape research training agendas and to inform codes of ethical conduct in research with children.
• This work has contributed an Australian dimension to the sociology of childhood paradigm, and the conversation analysis approach.

Our research:

• informs and is reshaping national and international agendas in early childhood education and sustainability education through its call for pedagogical and curriculum research in the emerging field of early childhood education for sustainability
• was cited in Advice to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations from The Queensland Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian
• tracks impact of disadvantage on health and wellbeing of Australian children and youth
• delivered an early intervention program to 2000 vulnerable families across Victoria Early Home Learning Study. This is the Early Home Learning Study – Smalltalk that has recurrent funding to deliver early childhood intervention services through supported playgroups and home visiting.