By Peter Whiteman


Date: 29th Jan 2015
Time: 10.30-11.30am

Venue: NIE 3-02-04 (Blk 3, Level 2, Rm 04),
National Institute of Education,
1 Nanyang Walk
Singapore 637616


The last seven years have seen unprecedented change in the Australian early childhood education landscape. With an ambitious reform agenda, the previous Federal Government placed early childhood firmly in the nation’s sights. Quality, access, workforce development and parental support were but some of the important government commitments. The government’s plans and the sector’s resulting general momentum provided increased opportunities for visibility and quality of early childhood arts education. This seminar will address early childhood arts education in the state of New South Wales, examining outcomes from the last seven years in light of a new, conservative Federal Government and the complications that arise when educators are required to traverse a complicated political arena with responsibilities shared across State and Federal Governments, characterised by tense loci of control. Authentic examples will be used to showcase excellence in children’s arts engagement and suggestions will be offered for embedding the arts in quality early childhood experiences.


About Peter Whiteman
Peter Whiteman is Head of the Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University, one of Australia’s oldest and most prestigious early childhood institutions. He is an experienced music educator who has worked with families and young children in a range of children's services, schools, and community organisations. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Sydney College of Advanced Education, a Kodály Certificate from Holy Names University, Oakland, California, a Master of Education and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of New South Wales. Peter is a member of the editorial board of Advances in Music Education Research (Information Age) and is the Commissioning Editor for the Children and Childhoods book series (Cambridge Scholars).



For more information on CARE events, please go to:
http://www.unesco-care.nie.edu.sg/events
http://www.unesco-care.nie.edu.sg/conference/8th-international-drama-education-research-institute-idieri