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Early Childhood Research Group

The Early Childhood Research Group conducts research into the experiences of children, families and early childhood professionals in a range of contexts. We aim to explore and promote the crucial nature of early childhood now and for the future well-being of all children, particularly in relation to communities that are disadvantaged. We are committed to conducting our research ethically and using our research outcomes to bring about change that increases equity and access to opportunity.

Our objectives are to:

  • bring together researchers in the field of early childhood to sustain and develop our community of research and scholarship;
  • build on and extend our reputation of excellence in early childhood teaching and research within the University, nationally and internationally;
  • develop and support research skills of staff and students in early childhood in order to increase staff and post-graduate research in early childhood education;
  • build on collaborative research opportunities within early childhood communities and industry partners;
  • identify and research innovative ways of resolving complex early childhood issues;
  • increase internal and external research income and to promote research outcomes in early childhood education and care; and
  • influence national policy and practice in early childhood education and care.

Our staff

The Early Childhood Research group has a vibrant number of School of Education staff with particular interest in research and teaching in Early Childhood as participants. We conduct research into the experiences of children, families and early childhood professionals across a range of contexts in partnership with schools, day-care centres, government bodies and community stakeholders, locally, nationally and internationally.

Current projects

  • Transforming Transitions – Using student’s social capital to recast transitions.
  • Reducing children's risk of developing skin cancer: Improving the approach to sun protection in WA primary schools.
  • Physical literacy in young people: The role of sport and health and physical education.
  • The MINDSPAN project: Mentally and physically strong kids through COVID-19.
  • NAPLAN Narratives: Stakeholders’ perspectives surrounding student wellbeing (Studies 4 & 5).
  • The early childhood Internship project.
  • Power, Perspective and Affordance in Early Childhood Education (PhD research).
  • Mindsets matter: Early childhood teacher perceptions of mindset (PhD research).
  • Who is leading the early years? An investigation of early childhood pedagogical leadership in schools (PhD research).
  • What makes an exemplary infant/toddler teacher? Describing exemplary infant toddler teaching in Australian Long Day Care settings (PhD research).
  • How Public Libraries in Western Australia seek to support the language and literacy development of children from birth to three years (PhD research).
  • Family-school engagement in the early years of school to support children’s language and literacy learning in ethnically diverse communities (PhD research).
  • Investigating Chinese Language Teaching for Young Learners in Australian Primary Schools: Beliefs and practices (PhD research).
  • Playing to learn: what online games can teach (PhD research).
  • The implementation and outcomes of family-school partnerships in the early years (PhD research).
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