Research Around the World

Early Childhood Australia (ECA) is an advocacy organization for young children.  One of the first things I saw when I logged on to their site is that they are advocating for children with disabilities to have quality education.  This organization is very much so one that provides vital information to educators and families.  They reach out to families and educators through webinars, membership and newsletters and the reporting of daily endeavors with the government.  This organization also publishes an early childhood journal call the Australasian Journal of Early Childhood which is the longest running early childhood journal to date. 

Quality support from the government seems to be an issue brought up in the section of Early Childhood news.  As the government a fund wage increase for early childhood workers there is great celebration, but the uncertainty of these funds in the near future still causes anxiety among the early childhood field.  These funds are a big step toward hiring more qualified workers and sustaining quality it early education.  This is another step in ECA's advocacy for quality reforms for education.  After further investigation of the website and reading more recent newsletters, the funding promised was revoked by the government this November saying it was "inequitable" and that they are reviewing the funding bill. 

Another issue is making early education affordable, flexible and available to all.  This topic is definitely an issue that many parents in America can relate to.  Only have early childhood care for those in poverty or those who can afford it for their children is not allowing access to all young children.  In an August media release, it states that the lack of investment in early education is affecting children later in school and also addresses that there are strong economic benefits to investing in early education. 
 

An insight I gained is that the fight for early childhood education is long from over or nearing it end.  When I entered this field I thought it was a developed, support field just like elementary education.  But my assumption was far from the truth.  The understanding and commitment to early childhood education is just at its beginning stages.  No matter where you are on this earth, there are teachers and advocates fighting for the rights of young children, their families and the right to affordable, quality early education.