RED Award for Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Research Group

The  Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Research Group won the CSU RED Award for Research. We received the following email:

Good morning,
 
You are receiving this email because you have a team member who has been awarded a 2024 Charles Sturt Excellence Award.
 
The 2024 Charles Sturt Excellence Awards received 94 nominations across our four strategic categories.  The quality of the nominations was high in 2024 and we would like to congratulate not only our winners, but everyone who played a role in the Awards.
 
Log in to RED to see an overview of our winners here: Introducing RED | RED

Kind regards,

The RED Team
Recognising Excellence Daily
Division of People and Culture

Here is the award information

What is the nomination for:
The Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Research Group (ECIR) is an inspiring productive research group with global impact. ECIR collaboratively builds research capacity, profile and track record of ~50 early-mid career researchers and higher degree research (HDR) students by providing research mentoring and opportunities via an internship model using co-design and knowledge creation. ECIR increases research capacity for engaging in transformative research regionally, nationally, and internationally through interdisciplinary projects, such as the Children Draw Talking project presented at four 2024 conferences, including the International Conference on Sustainable Development (New York). The bi-annual Early Childhood Voices Conferences (to be held in November 2024) already has 620 registrations from 45 countries and 150 peer-reviewed presentations. ECIR supports members to write grants and publications, present at conferences, apply for promotion and publish from their PhDs. By engaging with ECIR members and activities, early career researchers have competitive CVs ready to apply for promotion and grants.

Why is this Excellence Award worthy?
ECIR has demonstrated sustained excellence in impactful research and support for researchers and HDR students during the Sturt Scheme funding period (2021-2024). ECIR members edited and co-authored 12/18 chapters in the book “Early Childhood Voices: Children, Families, Professionals” published by Springer in 2024 (269 pages). Additional achievements over the past 12 months (to Sept 2024) include books (6 published/in press + 1 proposal), book chapters (19 published/in press), journal articles (28 published/accepted), keynotes/public lectures (10), conference papers (42 presented/accepted), editorials (3), and media (3). During 2024, 2 ECIR members completed their PhD and ECIR members supervised 33 HDR students. Achievements over the past 3 years were recognised in a 2024 CRO impact case study demonstrating impact in policy and practice nationally and internationally, including at the World Health Organization

 

There were four winners in the research category

1. Groundbreaking research in AI and digital health - Dr Mohammad Ali Moni - 

2. Developing and sustaining opportunities for growth in data-science and cyber-security research - Azizur Rahman, Anna Shillabeer, Ashad Kabir, Manoranjan Paul, Philip Charlton, Zahid Islam, Xiaodi Huang, Rafiqul Islam, Michael Bewong, Muhammad Arif Khan, Lihong Zheng, Yeslam Al-Saggaf, Sabih Rehman, Jan Li, Mostafa Dahshan, Tanmoy Debnath, Quazi Mamun, Oliver Burmeister, Terry Bossomaier, Dmitry Demskoy, David Tien, Irfan Altas, Maumita Bhattacharya, Jason Howarth -

3. The Research Productivity Index Project- Samantha Phegan, Josh Kent, Deepa Narayanan, Karen Sinclair, Katie Dunn, John Burns, Helen Stephens, Veera Gogineni, Boram Kwon, Dale Curran, Rory Hock, Emmaline Lear, Lynne Creasy, Latha Bheemaneni, Amanda Shepherd, Samantha Phegan, Josh Kent, Deepa Narayanan, Karen Sinclair, Katie Dunn, John Burns, Helen Stephens, Veera Gogineni, Shyam Mohan, Ben Speirs, Andrew Paul, Simon Eriksson, Jason White, Paul Bristow, Darren Browne -

4. The Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Research Group - Sharynne McLeod, Suzanne C. Hopf, Sarah Verdon, Elizabeth (Libbey) Murray, Julian Grant, Carolyn Gregoric, Josephine Ohenewa Bampoe, Sarah Bartlett, Helen L. Blake, Kate Crowe, Jessamy Davies, Lysa Dealtry, Cheree Dean, Laura Delli-Pizzi, Belinda Downey, Tina Du, Jenny Dwyer, Sheena Elwick, Belinda Friezer, Leanne Gibbs, Kasey Hillyer, Laura Hoffman, Carmen Huser, Marie Ireland, Nicola Ivory, Janine Krecko, Linda Mahony, Olebeng Mahura, Kate Margetson, Cathie Matthews, Holly McAlister, Nicole McGill, Anne McLeod, Michelle Milan, Ben Pham, Azizur Rahman, Arifa Rahman, Mehdi Rassafiani, Goutam Roy, Shukla Sikder, Lindsay Smith, Sarah Stenson, Van H. Tran, Kelly Tribolet, Audrey (Cen) Wang, Emily-Jane Woodhead, Cherie Zischke

ECV2024 launch

Today the Early Childhood Voices 2024 Conference (ECV2024) was launched.

https://earlychildhoodresearch.csu.domains/early-childhood-voices-conference-2024/

What a joyful and celebratory occasion. Thank you to EVERYONE who played a role to make it happen. Our keynote speaker, Prof Tony Dreise discussed how it not only takes a village to raise a child - we also have to raise the village. Our ECV2024 launch was living proof of the village raising the village.

Thank you to the students from Assumption Catholic Primary School who provided the music - and also were the press gallery documenting the occasion.

Thank you to Vice Chancellor Renee Leon for launching the event and Professor Tony Dreise for providing the keynote address.

Thank you to Dr Belinda Downey, conference co-chair and Dr Carolyn Gregoric, conference secretary.

ECV2024 launch

ECV2024 launch

Assumption Catholic School Band

Vice Chancellor Renée Leon - Launching ECV2024

 

Prof Tony Dreise - Keynote speaker

Press Gallery - Assumption Primary School

Dr Belinda Downey - Conference co-chair

Dr Carolyn Gregoric - Conference Secretary

Dr Tamara Cumming - Keynote Speaker

Deputy Vice Chancellor-Research Mark Evans with Sharynne

Kevin Ng in the TV studio - livestreaming the event

Prof Sharynne McLeod describing the global reach of the Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Research Group

Mentoring group - Editing a book

I have held regular mentoring meetings with two groups of colleagues to work on developing book proposals, then editing books as part of our Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Research Group (ECIR). Our Springer book group met today (Sheena Elwick, Shukla Sikder, Lysa Dealtry) and our Multilingual Matters book group have just had their proposal accepted and we are about to meet to discuss the proposed contract from the publisher. 

Lysa Dealtry, Sharynne McLeod, Shukla Sikder, Sheena Elwick

Visit to Port Macquarie campus of CSU

Today I had the opportunity to visit the Port Macquarie campus of Charles Sturt University (CSU) and to finally meet Cherie Zischke in person. Cherie is an important member of our Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Research Group (ECIR) and is a paediatric physiotherapy lecturer. Thanks for the warm welcome Cherie.

CSU Media: Playtime! Inaugural International Day of Play promotes play for a better world

 

CSU Media have just posted the following news item: https://news.csu.edu.au/latest-news/playtime!-inaugural-international-day-of-play-promotes-play-for-a-better-world

"Charles Sturt University academics organising the Early Childhood Voices Conference (ECV2024) in November are joining the celebrations of the inaugural International Day of Play on Tuesday 11 June by inviting children to draw themselves playing.

• Organisers of the Early Childhood Voices Conference (ECV2024) in November are inviting children to ‘draw themselves playing’ in recognition of the importance of play and International Day of Play on Tuesday 11 June
  

• Play is a universal language spoken by people of all ages, transcending national, cultural and socio-economic boundaries
  

• ECV2024 is a free interdisciplinary international conference to share research about innovative methods, theories, and partnerships with children, families and practitioners
  

Charles Sturt University academics organising the Early Childhood Voices Conference (ECV2024) in November are joining the celebrations of the inaugural International Day of Play on Tuesday 11 June by inviting children to draw themselves playing.

Conference co-chair Dr Belinda Downey (pictured left, below with co-organisers) in the Charles Sturt School of Education said the first-ever International Day of Play marks a significant milestone that encourages all people, especially children, to prioritise playing and reap the beneficial rewards offered though play. “Play has the power to transcend geographic, linguistic, cultural and socio-economic boundaries as it is a universal language,” Dr Downey said. “Play can foster relationships, a sense of community, and national pride while supporting well-being and skill development.” Dr Downey said research since the late 1800s has argued the role of play is fundamental in children’s learning and development.

“Through play, children can learn to solve their problems, with support from adults and independently. Play also assists children to develop agency in their lives, cultivate their resilience by overcoming fears, acquire conflict resolution skills essential for navigating life, and build their empathy and communication skills which are crucial for all their ongoing interactions and relationships,” she said. “Early childhood professionals, including teachers and allied health practitioners, have long understood that engaging with play intentionally supports children’s cognitive, social, emotional and physical skill development.”

Researchers have found that intentional, guided play offers an optimal space for children to learn. Intentional, guided play can occur through various activities like modelling, demonstrating, open-ended questioning, speculating, explaining and participating in shared problem-solving and thinking tasks with other children and adults. Dr Downey explained that play environments that are engaging, welcoming and reflective of children’s interests and cultural backgrounds serve to stimulate their curiosity and promote meaningful and challenging experiences. These environments and the relationships children develop through play facilitate the interactions that foster high-level thinking.

“Intentional and guided play are important but open-ended, spontaneous and child-centred play also hold an important role in children’s development,” she said. “Play with peers provides children the necessary space and time to engage in critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, form friendships, and learn to communicate effectively. “These crucial skills set children up for academic success and lifelong learning and are developed during play.”

In celebration of International Day of Play, the organisers of the ECV2024 Conference are creating a global online gallery of children’s drawings titled Children Draw Playing. This will be similar to the Children Draw Talking Global Online Gallery that was created in 2022 for ECV2022 where 200 children from 24 countries submitted drawings. “Drawing is a form of play that offers children an inclusive way to teach adults about children’s perspectives and experiences of the world,” Dr Downey said. “We want to share the voices of children from around the world in our international gallery by asking them to draw about their play.” Parents can enter their child’s drawing here. ECV2024 is a free interdisciplinary international conference focused on sharing research about innovative methods, theories and partnerships with children, families, and practitioners. It supports social justice during early childhood and within the early childhood sector. International speakers will present research or commentary in a virtual online space. Presentations will share innovations to improve the lives of children and families and support the evidence-based practice of early childhood educators. The ECV2024 conference will be held online from Monday 25 to Thursday 28 November and registrations can be made online at the conference website. Presentation submissions from early childhood researchers are welcome. Please submit an Abstract here.

Media Note: To arrange interviews with Dr Belinda Downey, contact Bruce Andrews at Charles Sturt Media on mobile 0418 669 362 or via news@csu.edu.au Photo: (left to right) Dr Belinda Downey (ECV2024 chair), Dr Carolyn Gregoric (ECV2024 conference secretary), Professor Sharynne McLeod (ECV2024 chair)

 

Children's Voices Centre - transition planning

Today I met with Associate Dean Research Matt Winslade to begin writing the business plan for the Children's Voices Centre. We also discussed the transition from the Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Research Sturt Scheme (2021-2024).

ECV2024 is underway

The Early Childhood Voices 2024 Conference (ECV2024) is underway. Today we had our team meeting where each of the committees presented the work that they have been doing. Everyone within the Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Research Group is on a committee. The work is fantastic! 

Here are the statistics for registrations so far: 99 registrations from 11 countries:

Thanks to Dr Carolyn Gregoric - our amazing conference secretary for keeping everything working while I was overseas.

JUST PUBLISHED - Early Childhood Voices: Children, Families, Professionals

Early Childhood Voices: Children, Families, Professionals 

Editors: Linda Mahony, Sharynne McLeod, Andi Salamon, Jenny Dwyer 

Publisher: Springer 

Publication date: 2024 

URL: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-56484-0

Springer's description of the book:

"Offers real life evidence-based examples and application to professional practice Brings together professionals across multiple disciplines from 17 countries Enacts the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

This revolutionary book explores theoretical and practical issues of listening to children, families, and professionals who advocate for and work with young children to promote social justice and improve their lives, and to ensure no one is left behind. Listening to children is explored across multiple disciplines internationally and highlights the practical application of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in the context of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The work explores innovations, theories, and partnerships, and draws on the voices of children, families, early childhood educators, speech-language pathologists, and multidisciplinary teams from across 17 countries to provide a shared vision for equity, peace and justice for all while integrating social environmental, economic, and dimensions of sustainability. Topics include giving children a voice; methods for listening to and documenting young children's perspectives; listening to and working in partnership with families, educators, and professionals; and wellness and wellbeing of young children and their families across multiple dimensions."

This book was the result of collaboration and mentoring with members of the Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Research Group (ECIR) after the Early Childhood Voices Conference 2020 (ECV2020). It has been an absolute pleasure working with my co-editors, the chapter authors who presented papers at ECV2020 and our reviewers.

Initial collaborations with staff from the School of Information and Communication Studies

I have enjoyed conversations with A/Prof Tina Du, Dr Deborah Wise and Rachel Walls from the School of Information and Communication Studies. There are many synergies with our shared interest in communication rights for all.

A/Prof Tina Du, Head School of Information and Communication Studies

Sharynne, Rachel Walls, Deborah Wise and Tina Du from SICS at The Treehouse