From journal articles to Quick Guides and webinars, you will find tools and information to support.
This podcast series by the Centre on the Developing Child at Harvard University explores the connections between health and learning in early childhood. It discusses the impact of stress on early learning and lifelong health in Part I, and how scientific findings can inform policies and practical strategies in Part II. Relevant for practitioners in health and early childhood, it emphasises the importance of understanding these connections for optimal child development.
This report from the Australian Institute for Family Studies evaluates the In-Home Care program, which aimed to support early childhood education and care for specific cohorts. It finds that while the program reached its target groups, a shortage of qualified educators hindered its ability to meet demand, posing financial viability concerns. These findings highlight the need for addressing educator shortages to ensure the program's effectiveness and sustainability.
The Australian National University's Centre for Social Research and Methods evaluated the 2018 national reforms to early childhood education and care. The findings indicate modest improvements in childcare affordability for low and middle-income families, but limited impact on workforce participation. These insights are valuable for family service practitioners to understand the outcomes of the reforms and tailor their support accordingly.
This Policy Forum podcast presents a discussion between Australian academics from social and public policy, gender and economics on the future of childcare in Australia.
The Department of Education, Skills and Employment has released the latest report on the early childhood development of Australian children. Using data from The Australian Early Development Census 2021 the report also discusses equity trends and the early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This discussion paper talks about the value of developing a coherent, manageable and principled practice framework for co-constructing the child’s personal life story archive. It also includes considerations around trauma, record-keeping, confidentiality,and information technology. Systems and collaborations are essential to translate this into practice.
This report from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University outlines three key design principles that policymakers and practitioners in many different sectors can use to improve outcomes for children and families. To be maximally effective, policies and services should: 1. Support responsive relationships for children and adults. 2. Strengthen core skills for planning, adapting, and achieving goals. 3. Reduce sources of stress in the lives of children and families. The report explains why these three principles are important, and how to translate these into effective policy design.
This case study sheds light on a early years program which takes a culturally responsive approach to work with families from refugee and migrant backgrounds. It focuses on building connections and providing confidence to parents to support their children.
This report from The Parenthood uses modelling by Equity Economics to recommend increased investment in universal childcare, parental leave, family-friendly workplaces and early education programs in order to improve lifelong outcomes for all Australian children and their families. The linked webpage features the full report, as well as a summary, factsheet and video recording of the report launch.
