Seeking members for Practitioner Working Groups for two research projects

The Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) is a national education evidence body working towards excellent and equitable outcomes for all children and young people. Since the beginning of the year, they have been working with sector representatives on projects that sit within AERO’s current Research Agenda 2021-2022, under Priority Area 3: Continuity of Learning and Development across ECEC and Schools.
 
The AERO is currently seeking members for our Practitioner Working Groups (PWGs). In the PWGs they will share information to date about the project, seek understanding of current practices, share and gain feedback on resource development.

They are seeking Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for Practitioner representation on PWGs for the following two projects:

1. Transition to school for children with disability and developmental delay. 
2. Science of Learning and Development.

General information about Practitioner Working Groups:
Time commitment
Pre work for meetings: Up to 2 hours.
Meetings: 2 hours in duration, attended online via Microsoft Teams.
 
Reimbursement for participation time
Each participating site will be provided a payment as a reimbursement for staff time involved in participating in each of the Working Groups. They expect to pay a figure representing a casual replacement rate.
 
Please see further information below that explains each of the projects.

1. Science of Learning and Development

The Science of Learning and Development project aims to support teachers and educators to embed intentional, focused learning into play-based, child-led programs. It will assist them to balance elements from different evidence-based practices to deliver high quality programs that best support children’s needs and align to the NQF.

The project involves two elements:
Element 1: focus on how children learn and develop in the early years.
Element 2: focus on practices that enhance learning and development and ways to support early childhood practitioners to adopt these.
 
Meeting dates and times
Meeting 1: Tuesday 24 May 2022 (AEST) 1:00-3:00 pm
Meeting 2: Tuesday 16 August 2022 (AEST) 1:00-3:00 pm
 
Participant requirements
For this PWG, they are seeking involvement from Educational Leaders.
 
How to register interest
If you or one of your team members would like to be involved, please complete the linked EOI Form by Tuesday 10 May. Confirmation of membership will be forwarded out Thursday 12 May 2022.

2. Transition to school for children with disability and developmental delay

This project will work towards ensuring that all children, regardless of background, maintain continuity of learning and development during their transition between ECEC and school. AERO will produce evidence syntheses and practical resources that set out the latest available evidence on best practice for supporting children with disability and developmental delay as they transition to their first year of schooling.
 
Meeting date and time
Meeting 1: Monday 30 May 2022 (AEST) 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
 
Participant requirements
For this PWG, they are seeking early childhood teachers working with children in their year before formal schooling, who support or have supported children with disability and developmental delay transitioning to school.
 
How to register interest
If you or one of your team members would like to be involved, please complete the linked EOI Form by Tuesday 10 May. Confirmation of membership will be forwarded out Thursday 12 May 2022.
 
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to email pag@edresearch.edu.au or phone Katey De Gioia, Manager, Engagement (Early Childhood), AERO on 0410 628 653.

PUBLISHED: 3 MAY 2022

​ORIGINAL SOURCE: ACA NATIONAL EBULLETIN APRIL 2022