Michelle Carrick shares some of her experiences and observations of being an early childhood teacher for over 20 years. The focus in this piece is on research that underlines the importance of play and imagination as being critical components to overall academic success. I had the opportunity while studying Applied Imagination to reexamine my relationship with creativity and the arts.

‘Being safe is a foundation to wellbeing. When children feel safe, their brains relax, cortisol decreases and they are calmer.’—(Always Be You, 2020). This piece, by SHONA DOYLE from Be You explores children’s wellbeing, providing safe environments and linking researcher, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s flow theory back to early childhood education.  When we set high but achievable expectations, which are tailored to a

Among the sacrifices made by firefighters, and those who support fire-affected communities, is precious time spent with family. In California, thousands of firefighters and community support workers or volunteers have missed important moments such as birthdays, school events or family gatherings. In Australia, where bushfire season includes December-January, thousands routinely miss out on Christmas, New Year’s Eve and chunks of school holidays

‘The word ‘love’ is a tricky one when applied to the early childhood education and care space.’ Karen Hope shares part two to her 2018 blog, ‘What’s love got to do with it?‘, keep reading to hear her perspective. The Spoke has published other blogs on this topic and are linked at the end of this blog. In March 2018

This week has been Book Week. A time to celebrate great books and to focus on this year’s theme of Curious Creatures, Wild Minds. Book Week is a time to recognise the important work of authors and illustrators and a time to highlight the work of Australian story tellers.For some educators it might also be a time for dressing up—dressing

During the COVID-19 crisis phase, all eyes have been on childcare, but preschool is an equally important driver of well-being and economic security for children and parents—and of economic productivity. Research has found for every dollar invested in preschool, Australia receives two dollars back over the course of a child’s life. Preschool is jointly funded by the federal, and state and territory governments (like

Perth is one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities, and with that growth comes an ever-increasing demand for qualified Early Childhood Education professionals. If you’re passionate about shaping the lives of young children — from babies and toddlers through to kindergarten-age kids — a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is the qualification that opens the doors to leadership roles in

If you love working with children and want a career that genuinely makes a difference, becoming a Teacher Aide could be one of the most fulfilling decisions you ever make. Across Australia, Teacher Aides — also known as Education Support Officers, Learning Support Assistants, or Integration Aides — play a vital role in classrooms every single day. So how do

Brisbane is booming — and so is demand for qualified Teacher Aides across the city’s rapidly growing school communities. Whether you’re in the CBD, the northern suburbs, Logan, or the Sunshine Coast hinterland, an online Teachers Aide course gives you the flexibility to study while Queensland life keeps moving at its own pace. What Does a Teacher Aide Do? Teacher

Melbourne is one of Australia’s most education-rich cities — home to thousands of schools, early learning centres, and special education settings that rely on skilled Education Support workers every single day. If you’ve been thinking about a career working alongside teachers and helping students thrive, studying an Education Support course in Melbourne is a fantastic place to start. What Is