Early Childhood Education

About the Early Childhood Education team

Established in 1998, Early Childhood Education (ECE) at UNE is committed to teaching, research and service.

We offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses that specialise in Early Childhood Education.

Our staff are involved in a wide range of projects, and we are actively involved in local, national and international professional and research communities, including:

  • Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE)
  • Australian Graduates in Education Studies (AGECS)
  • Australasian Society for Computers in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE)
  • Early Childhood Australia (ECA)
  • International Play Association (IPA)
  • Mathematical Association of Victoria (MAV)
  • Service Families Research Consortia (SFRC)
  • Teacher Learning Network

Our staff also serve on a range of editorial boards including:

  • Australasian Journal of Early Childhood
  • Early Childhood Research Quarterly
  • International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education
  • World Journal of Education

We have close connections with the field, serving on local boards of directors such as:

  • Armidale Family Day Care (AFDC)
  • St Peter’s Preschool

The Early Childhood Education team's philosophy of teaching and learning

  • Our students are members of wider learning circles within UNE, early childhood contexts, local communities and beyond.
  • We believe in the important contribution of social interactions to effective learning; reciprocal, respectful interactions play a central role in learning.
  • We value our students’ experiences, values and insights.
  • We believe that as adult learners, our students should take an active, responsible approach to their learning and development, both personally and as professionals.
  • We share our students’ passion for new ideas, possibilities and professional growth.
  • We honour multiple ways of demonstrating knowledge, abilities and understandings.
  • We prepare our graduates for diverse work/employment opportunities understanding that these roles require contemporary knowledge, cultural sensitivity and understanding, as well as leadership, problem-solving and collaboration skills.

What does our philosophy look like in practice?


You can expect Early Childhood modules and units to include:

  • Ongoing assessment that builds toward increasingly evidence-based representations of your knowledge, abilities and reflections.
  • Learning experiences that include small group interaction and collaboration, and require further involvement in the online environment.
  • An appreciation of multiple forms of expression, thinking and communication.
  • An expectation of collegiality, collaboration and mutual respect.

Our unit/module facilitators will:

  • Have high expectations of your commitment and contributions to learning.
  • Scaffold your learning by building on what you have already experienced and what you already know.
  • Provide multimedia materials to encourage learning.
  • Be available online at predetermined times to facilitate your learning.