RESEARCH AROUND THE WORLD

(http://kidgreen-donna.blogspot.com)

For this week's blog assignment, I visited http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/

 

Australia seems to have many of the same early childhood issues as the United States. The first article that caught my attention was pertaining to inclusion in the classroom. In 2012, Australia introduced "National Quality Framework" (NQF) (DEEWR, 2012). This framework provides a foundation for including all children regardless of disability and/or diversity, in regular early childhood services. The framework is well-written, and covers the essentials needed to have a successful inclusion program.

Some surprising and interesting facts and insights I gained from exploring this website was the detailed ECA Position Paper on Children of Asylum Seekers, Children of Refugees and Children in Dentention (ECA, 2012). 

 

From this statement, I learned that half the world's refugees are children (ECA, 2012). Many times, in rescue efforts the children's physical needs are at least partially covered. However, the developmental needs of these young rescue victims are typically overlooked. These children have been faced with high amounts of stress, trauma and abuse (ECA, 2012). Long-term developmental delays may occur when their needs are not adequately met. 

 

The Convention on the Rights of the Child provides a guideline to help those working with refugee children learn how to help meet the appropriate needs of these children (ECA, 2012). 

This statement below was copied from Early Childhood Australia-

 We regret the loss of family, cultural identity, lands and waters, languages and communities by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that resulted from the invasion of Australia by peoples from other places. In particular we acknowledge the findings and support the recommendations of Bringing them home, the report of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission Inquiry into the Stolen Generation.

We are sorry for the ongoing suffering and loss experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities. (Early Childhood Australia, 2012).

 

Personally, I appreciated reading the sensitivity Australia has placed on meeting more than just the physical needs of refugee children. I'm curious to find out if we have something like that in place here in the United States. I am sure that we do. However, as an educator in southern Arizona where we have an extremely high population of migrant children, I am not aware of such a plan.

 

In summary, I found the Early Childhood Australia website to be informative and packed full of resources. It appears to be equivalent to the U.S. based NAEYC, which is my number one early childhood online resource.

References

http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/