Pockets of promise: exploring innovation and complexity of remote ECEC service delivery in Australia
IntroductionThe existing funding architectures for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in Australia are incompatible with the needs of remote and First Nations communities. The Australian system relies on a market-based model for ECEC – characterized by demand-led funding mechanisms w...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:3c02d6dfece34bc28934c484f3da1d19 2023-08-20T04:06:31+02:00 Pockets of promise: exploring innovation and complexity of remote ECEC service delivery in Australia Elizabeth Adamson Jennifer Skattebol 2023-07-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1233372 https://doaj.org/article/3c02d6dfece34bc28934c484f3da1d19 EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2023.1233372/full https://doaj.org/toc/2504-284X 2504-284X doi:10.3389/feduc.2023.1233372 https://doaj.org/article/3c02d6dfece34bc28934c484f3da1d19 Frontiers in Education, Vol 8 (2023) First Nations early childhood education policy studies and social justice Australia remote service delivery Education (General) L7-991 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1233372 2023-07-30T00:38:19Z IntroductionThe existing funding architectures for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in Australia are incompatible with the needs of remote and First Nations communities. The Australian system relies on a market-based model for ECEC – characterized by demand-led funding mechanisms where funding flows to users to choose what service to use. This model is not viable or sustainable in remote and First Nations communities. In this paper, we ask what we can learn from alternative models of ECEC that serve remote, largely Indigenous communities.MethodsThis research is based on interviews with 10 key stakeholders. Potential participants were identified using three selection criteria which established their expertise in relation to: advocacy and experience in delivering ECEC services in remote locations (evident in relevant parliamentary reviews and inquiries), in-depth knowledge about First Nations perspectives about ECEC models, and broader understandings of the ECEC system in Australia. Three themes were explored in the interviews: (1) funding context (including impact of recent changes to Budget Based Funding, and role of philanthropy in the ECEC sector); (2) Quality and regulatory context (including workforce challenges and cultural considerations); and (3) Future research (including research gaps, opportunities, and considerations). The study design and analysis of data was guided by policy studies frameworks that advocate for collaboration and coordination among researchers and stakeholders in order to address complex problems.ResultsAnalysis of the interviews illuminated the complex structural and cultural elements shaping the design of, and access to, ECEC in remote communities. Stakeholders argued that the ECEC system should be universal in that it delivers services that meet the needs of young children and their families. This requires the development of a definition of ‘universality’ that enables communities to define their own ECEC needs and the types of services best suited to meet those ... Article in Journal/Newspaper First Nations Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Frontiers in Education 8 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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First Nations early childhood education policy studies and social justice Australia remote service delivery Education (General) L7-991 |
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First Nations early childhood education policy studies and social justice Australia remote service delivery Education (General) L7-991 Elizabeth Adamson Jennifer Skattebol Pockets of promise: exploring innovation and complexity of remote ECEC service delivery in Australia |
topic_facet |
First Nations early childhood education policy studies and social justice Australia remote service delivery Education (General) L7-991 |
description |
IntroductionThe existing funding architectures for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in Australia are incompatible with the needs of remote and First Nations communities. The Australian system relies on a market-based model for ECEC – characterized by demand-led funding mechanisms where funding flows to users to choose what service to use. This model is not viable or sustainable in remote and First Nations communities. In this paper, we ask what we can learn from alternative models of ECEC that serve remote, largely Indigenous communities.MethodsThis research is based on interviews with 10 key stakeholders. Potential participants were identified using three selection criteria which established their expertise in relation to: advocacy and experience in delivering ECEC services in remote locations (evident in relevant parliamentary reviews and inquiries), in-depth knowledge about First Nations perspectives about ECEC models, and broader understandings of the ECEC system in Australia. Three themes were explored in the interviews: (1) funding context (including impact of recent changes to Budget Based Funding, and role of philanthropy in the ECEC sector); (2) Quality and regulatory context (including workforce challenges and cultural considerations); and (3) Future research (including research gaps, opportunities, and considerations). The study design and analysis of data was guided by policy studies frameworks that advocate for collaboration and coordination among researchers and stakeholders in order to address complex problems.ResultsAnalysis of the interviews illuminated the complex structural and cultural elements shaping the design of, and access to, ECEC in remote communities. Stakeholders argued that the ECEC system should be universal in that it delivers services that meet the needs of young children and their families. This requires the development of a definition of ‘universality’ that enables communities to define their own ECEC needs and the types of services best suited to meet those ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Elizabeth Adamson Jennifer Skattebol |
author_facet |
Elizabeth Adamson Jennifer Skattebol |
author_sort |
Elizabeth Adamson |
title |
Pockets of promise: exploring innovation and complexity of remote ECEC service delivery in Australia |
title_short |
Pockets of promise: exploring innovation and complexity of remote ECEC service delivery in Australia |
title_full |
Pockets of promise: exploring innovation and complexity of remote ECEC service delivery in Australia |
title_fullStr |
Pockets of promise: exploring innovation and complexity of remote ECEC service delivery in Australia |
title_full_unstemmed |
Pockets of promise: exploring innovation and complexity of remote ECEC service delivery in Australia |
title_sort |
pockets of promise: exploring innovation and complexity of remote ecec service delivery in australia |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1233372 https://doaj.org/article/3c02d6dfece34bc28934c484f3da1d19 |
genre |
First Nations |
genre_facet |
First Nations |
op_source |
Frontiers in Education, Vol 8 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2023.1233372/full https://doaj.org/toc/2504-284X 2504-284X doi:10.3389/feduc.2023.1233372 https://doaj.org/article/3c02d6dfece34bc28934c484f3da1d19 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1233372 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Education |
container_volume |
8 |
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