During the past three decades, extensive literature has accumulated on the early years of life for children. Research findings unequivocally agree that these years are a critical period of intense learning for children which provides the foundation for later academic and social success. This review explores the literature on the complex…

Introduction: Although the family day care workforce has changed over the past decade in response to evolving childcare regulations and accreditation requirements, there is little research on family day care educators in Australia. The aim of this study was to describe characteristics of Australian family day care educators, including their…

This article examines ways in which Australian preschools for less advantaged minority groups of children (particularly Aboriginals) might be made more effective by incorporating policies and practices from Piaget's theories. (SB)

Recognizing the increasing importance of developing inclusive pedagogies in music education, this article offers diverse ways of promoting positive learning experiences and reaching learners who are most at risk of exclusion. The findings reported in this article arise out of a wider comparative research project investigating the pedagogies of…

In this paper, we discuss and analyse the development of a resource documenting an Indigenous early childhood playgroup programme. The resource, known as the "Best Start DVD" was developed through a partnership between community and government support agencies to support engagement of parents as educators of their children. Through…

Presents an inside perspective of migrant Greek children and youth growing up in Australian society, and the socio-cultural pressures to which they are subjected. (CM)

Provides case studies of Australian children who fail for social reasons. The role of social factors operating within the schools is stressed along with the lost curriculum. That factors operating in school failure are in fact social problems is suggested. [Available from Publications Branch, Education Department of Victoria, 234 Queensberry…

Draws a comparison between the Australian belief that the aboriginal practice of walkabout is inherited and the American belief that educational failures are due to family problems, low I.Q. and poverty. (AM)

This paper presents an analysis of the classroom discourse and strategies of Marcia, an early childhood teacher of a class with a high percentage of Indigenous Australian students. These students have been demonstrably successful on standardised literacy tests, which is not the case for Indigenous students in general in Australia (e.g., MCEETYA,…

Discusses early childhood education in Australia from a teacher's perspective, and provides teaching suggestions for teachers and other adults working with children of ethnic minority groups living in two cultures. (CM)

Advocates the use of traditional Aboriginal education methods in the Australian classroom in an attempt to provide bicultural as well as bilingual schooling for Aboriginal children. (CM)

Discusses the multicultural society of Australia in terms of the need for appropriate public library services for children, particularly those in minority groups. Highlighted topics are funding, available literature, acquisitions, and multilingual staff considerations. (EJS)

This paper discusses the individual, family, household and area level characteristics associated with preschool attendance for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians (aged three to five years who are not at school). Controlling for these factors explains all of the difference between Indigenous and non-Indigenous attendance rates for…

Describes a literacy education project in which Australian non-English-speaking background (NESB) secondary school students were asked to evaluate the state of human rights in their schools and make suggestions for improvement. Relates this project to broader political implications. (FMW)

Racism in Australian schools is indicated by an attitude survey which reveals that teachers from traditional classrooms believe that Aboriginal students will do less well than White students, whereas teachers from an open school predict that Aboriginal children should do as well as White children, given equal ability. (Author/EB)