ECA Podcast Series

Join Dr Sandra Cheeseman and Catharine Hydon in the first episode of the ECA Podcast, Talking Pedagogies where they will revisit the question Is there a unique Australian Pedagogy? They will recap the seven pedagogical landings that were shared by teachers and educators based on what they saw as unique to our country and people.

What are inclusion support professionals? What role do they play in early childhood education and care context? This final episode of the series will look at the vital role inclusion support professionals play in supporting early childhood services and communities.

Educators can use many resources and tools to support educators in developing solid and inclusive practices. In this episode, we will discuss how educators can ensure they are utilising their available resources and tools.

Our communities are vital to inclusion. In this episode, we will be looking at ways early childhood professionals can build partnerships with their communities by engaging in inclusive practice.

Trauma-informed practice is vital when supporting children and families who have experienced vulnerability. In this episode, we will be taking a close look at how educators can become more confident with using trauma-informed practice.

Co-regulation is critical for supporting young children. What is co-regulation, and how can educators use this to support children feeling a strong sense of belonging? In this episode, we will discuss how educators can use co-regulation as a practical strategy to promote inclusion with the children they are working with.

Educators understand the importance of play within an early childhood context, but what about play and inclusion? In this episode, we will look at ways early childhood professionals can use play and play materials to promote inclusion.

Within Australia 24.8 per cent of the population speak a language other than English at home. This, consequently, often creates a communication barrier within early learning contexts for children, families and teams, including the way relationships are established. What methods can be put in place to remove this barrier and foster positive and respectful relationships within our learning communities?

In this episode, we will answer the question, what does it mean to make ethical decisions in our everyday

practice, and how does this support an inclusive approach? Through discussions and reflections from lived

experience, educators will be invited to consider what ethics and inclusion means to them.

We all know there is increasing pressure on early childhood educators to ensure they are looking after

their health and wellbeing and those of the children in their care. How has the high demand in the early

childhood sector impacted our understanding of inclusive practice? What practical strategies can we use

to ensure we are working together to continue to be inclusive within our everyday practice and how we

develop relationships?

In this episode, we will look closely at how exclusion impacts families, educators and children accessing

and engaging in early childhood education and care services.

This first episode will examine what inclusion in the early childhood context means. We will consider some of the most common barriers preventing inclusion in early childhood education and care.

Throughout this series, we have covered a number of different topics.  In this episode Adam and Jo will discuss how diversity, closing the gap, trauma-informed practice, amplifying the voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, this year's NRW theme Be Brave. Make Change can be contextualized and used in everyday practice.

This episode will look at what it means to Be Brave.  Make Change in the context of early childhood education and care settings.  Everyone is on their own journey of reconciliation, this year's National Reconciliation Week theme provides us with the perfect opportunity to move forward in our reconciliation journey by reflecting on our own biases, addressing racism, and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation.

This episode will look at the significant role early childhood professionals play in uplifting cultural leaders.  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children play a significant and critical role in the future of reconciliation in Australia. Educators play a vital role in providing them with opportunities to be a part of a community of learners that supports and fosters their ability to share their perspectives of their own culture and identity through curriculum, co-design, advocacy, and play.

This episode will unpack the ongoing impact trauma has had and continues to have on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, families and children.  Over the past few years, there has been a greater awareness regarding understanding trauma-informed practice, and how it can be used to support the development and complex behaviours in infants and young children.  Adam and Jo will discuss the importance of understanding the connection between trauma-informed practice, creating culturally safe environments and social and emotional wellbeing in early childhood settings.

Today, we will closely look at what Closing the Gap is and its relevance within the early childhood education and care context.  Outcomes three and four of the Closing the Gap initiative identify the importance of the early years and the significance of quality early childhood education and care in reaching Closing the Gap targets.  To implement these effectively, we need to recognise the myths and misconceptions associated with Closing the Gap.  In this episode, Adam and Jo aim to dispel some of these myths by discussing how educators can use the initiative to ensure each child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.