Back to VCAA Bulletin No. 52 - September 2019
New videos: Exploring the Swedish context of engagement in early childhood education and care
Professor Susanne Garvis, an Australian researcher at the University of Gothenburg, and guest professor at Stockholm University, was featured in the recent VCAA's Early Years Twilight Seminar at the Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership.
Professor Garvis spoke with Darlene Leach, Manager of the Early Learning Unit at the Department of Education and Training, about the Swedish Curriculum for Preschools (2016), and explored its similarities with the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF).
The conversation ranged from the concepts of inskolning (transitions), diskutera (professional discussions) and 'equivalence', to the role of families, in partnership with early childhood educators, in the Swedish preschool curriculum.
Edited video clips of this Early Years Twilight Seminar are now available on the VCAA website. Read more about the Swedish Curriculum for Preschools.
Understanding equity and diversity in Victorian communities
The State of Victoria's Children Report 2017 was published by the Department of Education and Training in August 2019. The report focuses on the health and wellbeing of children, bringing together current research and recent data to provide a comprehensive picture of how Victorian children are faring.
This year's report illustrates that most children and young people in Victoria are healthy and happy, and have adequate support to help them to thrive. However, family pressures, socio-economic disadvantage and an accumulation of risk factors can lead to a compounding effect on health and wellbeing outcomes. The report also includes an accessible infographics summary.
The VEYLDF includes the practice principle 'equity and diversity'. Early childhood educators and teachers can gain an understanding, through this report, of the challenges and opportunities faced by children in the Victorian context. This population-level data shows the diversity of the Victorian communities, and can inform how early childhood educators engage with their communities.