About – Start Early

Our modules

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Respectful relations

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This module has been developed to support children to learn about and develop skills for respectful relationships.

Forming respectful relationships is an integral part of life. Learning how to interact with others thoughtfully and kindly is an important set of skills and attitudes. They are learnt in the context of the warm and caring relationships into which children are introduced from birth.

After completing this module, you will understand that:

educators play an important role in nurturing respectful relationships
supporting children to model respectful relationships is important for their wellbeing
the pedagogy of listening is an important tool to support respectful relationships, and
the playground is a microcosm of the world and it’s important to support children to engage respectfully with others within this setting.

The portal to the Start Early modules is now closed but the modules will soon be available on the ECA Learning Hub.

Father inclusive practice

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This module has been developed to increase understanding of the benefits of fathers’ involvement for young children’s long-term well-being, and the practices that engage and include fathers in their child’s early education and care.

Understanding how fathers and mothers can complement each other in boosting a child’s learning is an important task for everyone involved in early education.

After completing this module, you will understand:

the reasons for including fathers in early childhood settings
the ways that fathers can be included, and
challenges for educators that can sometimes arise with fathers

The portal to the Start Early modules is now closed but the modules will soon be available on the ECA Learning Hub.

Gender, respect and identity

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This module has been developed to increase educator awareness of young children’s emerging understanding of gender and identity and the role each plays in shaping respectful relationships for life.

After completing this module, you will:

better understand the link between gender, identity and relationships for young children
reflect on your own and others’ attitudes to gender and how these develop
learn about gender stereotyping and its negative impacts
understand how gender can shape the young child’s experiences of touch, feeling valued, managing feelings and having a voice, and
learn strategies for increasing gender awareness practices in early childhood settings.

The portal to the Start Early modules is now closed but the modules will soon be available on the ECA Learning Hub.

Our contributors

Carmel Richardson

Carmel Richardson is the director of university-based Wiradjuri Preschool Child Care Centre. Carmel works alongside undergraduate students whom she mentors in their day-to-day work as beginning early childhood teachers employed by the university preschool. Carmel is interested in issues related to equity and diversity and supports those with whom she works to consider how a philosophy informed by principles of social justice might frame early childhood curriculum. Carmel has authored several publications including ‘Belonging: At the heart of relating to others’ an Everyday Learning Series title published by Early Childhood Australia, 2015. Carmel is a member of Early Childhood Australia’s Publications Committee.

Pam Linke

Pam Linke is a social worker who has also studied early childhood education. She has many years of experience working with children and staff in early childhood services including in the area of children’s sexual development. She has written articles and a book on this topic and has been an invited presenter on this at major early childhood conferences. She was also instrumental in the making of a short film on children’s sexual development by the SA Government.

Associate Professor Richard Fletcher

Richard Fletcher (PhD) is an Associate Professor in the Family Action Centre, Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle. His research has covered many aspects of fathering from fathers’ use of YouTube, young fathers’ roles, fathers’ information needs, Aboriginal fathers’ service use and father-child rough and tumble play. He has a particular interest in the role of professionals in building father-infant and father-child connection for the benefit of the whole family. He is the convenor of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) national network of fatherhood researchers, The Australian Fatherhood Research Network. He teaches father-infant attachment and working with vulnerable fathers in the Masters of Family Studies at The University of Newcastle and in the Masters in Perinatal and Infant Health at the NSW Institute of Psychiatry. His book ‘The Dad Factor: how father-baby bonding helps a child for life’ was published by Finch and has been translated into five languages.