We are working on the description of the new centre to be housed in The Treehouse. Thanks to Justin Williams from CSU Advance for listening and capturing our vision.
International Children’s Communication and Research Centre
CREATE Research Centre
Background: The United Nations, Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 19 states that,
“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
The vision of the International Children’s Communication and Research Centre is to enable children’s voices to be heard and valued. A safe space for children which allows them to express their opinions and be heard by our multidisciplinary researchers.
The children will be active participants in co-designing solutions to a range of issues. The outcomes of which will influence policy development and practices relating to children and their futures.
The Centre will be a unique research space on the international stage. Led by world leading researcher, Professor Sharynne McLeod and her interdisciplinary research group.
The Centre will be a beacon for researchers worldwide to visit to learn about key insights from children, their thoughts and ideas. Building on Professor McLeod’s work with children internationally through the Early Childhood Voices Conferences, which most recently had 200 children from 25 countries draw themselves talking. This art was then made available in a global online gallery and presented to the United Nations.
Imagine you are a child who wants to explain to adults the way they experience the world, you may have speech difficulties or speak a language other than English, how do you get your voice heard in a world built for adults? The Centre will serve as a conduit for child’s voices to be heard by those in a position to build a world for children. Through the work of the Centre, the researchers aim to uncover solutions to a range of issues for and by children. This in turn will influence policy and practice in relation to children in the spheres including Early Childhood Education, Speech Pathology, Psychology, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Information Technology, to promote social justice and equality.
Notes. Alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals: 10 (reduced inequalities), 3 (good-health and wellbeing), 4 (quality education), 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions), 17 (partnership for the goals).
