UNE has a long-standing and proud history of education offerings. Early Childhood Education is no exception and this year marks 20 years since the first ECE courses began at UNE, set up by Associate Professor Nadine McCrea with others helping along the way.

The first ECE course boasted about 150 students, enrolled in the then new Bachelor of Teaching (Early childhood Education) course. The course was designed to provide an opportunity for students who had completed a Diploma in Children’s Services and had at least one year of experience working in an early childhood setting to upgrade their qualification.

In 2000, another course, the Bachelor of education (Early Childhood), was offered by distance. These two courses were later amalgamated into one course, the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching), in 2015. Currently, the unit also offers a four-year full-time Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood/Primary) course, which comprises equal amounts of learning about young children and early childhood settings and about primary curriculum and school settings.

To celebrate ECE is holding a  celebratory day of reflections about evidence-based intertwining of philosophies and values, learning, researching with professional practice.

Academics, researchers, EC practitioners and students are invited to attend.

Bookings can be made at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/20-years-of-early-childhood-une-valuaing-knowing-and-doing-tickets-48681014224