As an early childhood education professional, you know that every family has a unique story. Yet, many families face barriers when accessing early childhood education and care (ECEC), particularly those experiencing financial hardship. How can we better understand and support these families to ensure that all children have the opportunity to thrive in early education? 

 

Introducing our new Engaging with Families in Early Education self-paced webinar series 

This evidence-based professional learning series, developed by leading researchers and early education experts, will help you build a deeper understanding of the complexities families face and equip you with the tools to engage effectively with families from all backgrounds. Whether you are new to the field or have years of experience, this series will guide you through innovative approaches to connect with families and improve the quality of your service. 

Why this series is important 

In Australia, many low-income families struggle to access and fully benefit from early childhood services. As practitioners, we must bridge this gap by recognising the strengths and aspirations of these families, while also understanding the systemic barriers they encounter. 

This webinar series is designed to address these challenges by offering research-backed strategies that empower you to create more inclusive, welcoming environments for all families. 

What you will learn 

  • The complexities of life for families experiencing financial hardship and how it impacts their engagement with early education. 

  • Practical strategies for using families' funds of knowledge to support children's learning and development. 

  • Communication techniques that foster strong, trusting relationships with families. 

  • Ways to better engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities within your ECEC services. 

  • Strengths-based approaches to rethinking behaviour and fostering inclusion. 

Course overview

Five self-paced online courses

This series consists of five self-paced online courses that can be taken individually or as a complete series. All courses are APST aligned. A certificate for each course will be issued to each participant upon completion.

For those looking to gain a comprehensive understanding, we recommend completing the courses in the following order: 

1. Introduction to working with families experiencing poverty

3hrs
Presented by: Megan Blaxland & Leonie Arthur

Gain insights into the experiences of families living in financial adversity and how early education services can support their needs.

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2. A funds of knowledge approach to supporting children’s learning, development, and wellbeing

2.5hrs
Presented by: Christine Woodrow & Leonie Arthur

Learn to leverage the unique strengths and knowledge of families to enrich children’s educational experiences.

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3. Using effective communication to build and maintain relationships with families

2.5hrs
Presented by: Marianne Fenech & Leonie Arthur 

Develop skills to communicate openly and effectively with families, creating trusting relationships that benefit children’s development.

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4. Strengthening mainstream ECEC service engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

2.5hrs
Presented by: Jennifer Skattebol & BJ Newton

Explore ways to build genuine partnerships and improve the cultural inclusivity of your service.

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COMING SOON!

5. Rethinking behaviour – strengths-based approaches to inclusion

3hrs
Presented by: Jennifer Skattebol & Leonie Arthur

Challenge traditional views on behaviour by adopting inclusive, strengths-based practices that benefit all children.

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Flexible learning for busy professionals 

Each course is estimated to take 2–3 hours and is delivered as self-paced, online training. You’ll have access to a blend of engaging content, including research-based insights, case studies, and practical activities designed to deepen your understanding and enhance your professional practice. 

 

Take this opportunity to broaden your skills and make a real difference in the lives of the children and families you work with.

Sign up today and start your journey towards more inclusive and effective family engagement in early education.

 

Presenter Bios

Megan Blaxland

Megan Blaxland

Megan Blaxland is a Senior Research Fellow at the Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW. Her research aims to improve the policies and services that support Australian families experiencing adversity. Her research focuses on the community services sector and how to maintain a robust and responsive system. Megan specialises in early childhood education and care policy and practice, and how to ensure marginalised families can successfully navigate services, systems, and subsidies. 

Course: 

  • Introduction to working with families experiencing poverty.

Christine Woodrow

Christine Woodrow

Associate Professor Christine Woodrow is a senior researcher in the Centre for Educational Research and Lead Researcher (Early Years) in the Transforming Early Education (TeEACH) Research Centre, at Western Sydney University. Christine’s research focusses on early childhood education policy, pedagogy, and professionalism, with special interests in how educators promote family engagement and equity through innovation and culturally responsive pedagogies. Christine’s expertise in participative research methodologies underpins her leadership of diverse research projects in Chile and Australia that engage early childhood practitioners as researchers of their own practices and agents of change. 

Course: 

  • A funds of knowledge approach to supporting children’s learning, development, and wellbeing.

Marianne Fenech

Marianne Fenech

Associate Professor Marianne Fenech is Director of the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) program at the University of Sydney.  

Marianne is passionate about quality, inclusive early childhood education in Australia, with a particular interest in early childhood teacher, service, and sector governance; partnerships with families; and how policies locally and nationally support and/or constrain a well-prepared, professional early childhood workforce. Marianne is lead author of Professional Communication for Early Childhood Educators and co-author of Leadership: Contexts and Complexities in early Childhood Education. 

Course: 

  • Using effective communication to build and maintain relationships with families 

BJ Newton

BJ Newton

BJ is a proud Wirajduri woman and mother to three young children. BJ is a Scientia Senior Research Fellow based at the Social Policy Research Centre within UNSW Sydney. Her research focuses on working in partnership with Aboriginal organisations to build evidence and support Aboriginal families interfacing with child protection systems.

Course: 

  • Strengthening engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Jennifer Skattebol

Jennifer Skattebol

Jennifer has worked for many years as a researcher with children, young people and their families who experience economic and related adversities. Trained and experienced as an early childhood teacher, Jennifer is the Deputy Director of TeEACH Research Centre, Western Sydney University. She leads a program of research that addresses issues of economic inequality and the experiences of children and families in high poverty contexts. Jennifer’s aim is to bring the perspectives of marginalised people to the fore of policy making.

Courses: 

  • Strengthening engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities 

  • Rethinking behaviour – strengths-based approaches to inclusion.

Leonie Arthur

Leonie Arthur

Leonie has worked as an early childhood educator in long day care, preschool, and the early years of school, including teaching in Aboriginal communities in Sydney and the Northern Territory. She is one of the authors of Programming and Planning in Early Childhood Settings and was part of the team that developed the first edition of the Early Years Learning Framework. She was a lecturer in early childhood education at the University of Western Sydney, where her research focused on effective pedagogies for learning and teaching in low socioeconomic communities, and the role of collaborative action research in educators’ professional learning and curriculum design. 

Courses: 

  • Introduction to working with families experiencing poverty 

  • A funds of knowledge approach to supporting children’s learning, development, and wellbeing 

  • Using effective communication to build and maintain relationships with families 

  • Rethinking behaviour – strengths-based approaches to inclusion

Acknowledgment

  • The Engaging Families research team would like to acknowledge:
  • Our research participants, including families, educators and community members
  • Our research institutions - UNSW Sydney, Western Sydney University, the University of Sydney, and Griffith University
  • Our research partners – KU Children’s Services, Family Day Care Australia, Goodstart Early Learning, Childcare & Kindergarten (C&K), Early Childhood Australia
  • Our creative team – the still and moving images used within this course were provided by Jamie James, Nisa East, and Sivani Yaddanapudi
  • Our funders – Australian Research Council and NSW Government

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