THIS STUDY WAS PART OF a broader project to identify best practice models for an integrated early childhood service being delivered as part of a new community service precinct. The planned development will integrate residential development, places of work, a ‘town square’ and community services and infrastructure. Semi-structured interviews with 11 internal and external stakeholders informed discussion of opportunities and risks as part of the development of an integrated early years' service model. Overall results indicated general agreement regarding understandings of integrated practice and implications for the proposed model. Key informants emphasised potential community benefits and the importance of place-based approaches, as well as governance issues, organisational considerations, change management issues, workforce issues and the importance of effective leadership. Despite a paucity of available guidance in the published literature, a number of key risks were identified, which as discussed, suggest greater consideration and investigation of possible unintended consequences is required.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AubreyC. (2007). Leading and managing in the early years.Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
Australian Department of Families, Communities and Indigenous Affairs (FaCIA). (2004). Stronger families and communities strategy.Canberra: Australian Government.
Benevolent Society. (2009). Apartments for life in Australia: Lessons for Australia from Humanitas in the Netherlands.Paddington, NSW: The Benevolent Society.
British Government. (2010). Sure Start Children's Centres: Fifth Report of Session 2009–10, Volume I.London: House of Commons Children, Schools and Families Committee.
CartmelJ., MacfarlaneK., & CasleyM. (2012). Reflection as a tool for quality: Working with the National Quality Standard.ACT: Early Childhood Australia.
HardL. (2006). Horizontal violence in early childhood education and care: Implications for leadership enactment. Australian Journal of Early Childhood, 31(3), 40–48.
LawsonH. (1985). Reflexivity: The post-modern predicament. Problems of modern European thought series.London: Hutchinson.
16.
LegardR., KeeganJ., & WardK. (2003). In-depth interviews. In RitchieJ. & LewisJ. (Eds.), Qualitative research practice: A guide for social science students and researchers (pp. 138–169). London: Sage.
17.
LoflandJ., & LoflandL. (1995). Analyzing social settings: A guide to qualitative observation and analysis.Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
18.
MacfarlaneK., CartmelJ., & NolanA. (2011). Developing and sustaining pedagogical leadership in early childhood education and care professionals—Final report.Surrey Hills, NSW: Australian Learning and Teaching Council.
19.
MacfarlaneK., NolanA., & CartmelJ. (2014). Integrated practice in the early years in Australia: The assumptions, omissions and contradictions of policy reform. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 1–14. doi:10.1177/1476718X14552872
20.
McFarland-PiazzaL., AllenS., & WebbR. (2013). Document the transition experiences of children, families and staff through the relocation and integration of two Australian early childhood services. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 38(4), 72–80.
21.
MasonJ. (2002). Mixing methods in a qualitatively driven way. In MayT. (Ed.), Qualitative research in action (pp. 225–241). London: Sage.
MillerW., & CrabtreeB. (2004). Depth interviewing. In Hesse-BiberS. & LeavyP. (Eds.), Approaches to qualitative research: A reader on theory and practice (pp. 185–202). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
24.
MooreT., & SkinnerA. (2010). Background paper: An integrated approach to early childhood development.Paddington, NSW: The Benevolent Society.
25.
MuijsD., AubreyC., HarrisA., & BriggsM. (2004). How do they manage? A review of research on leadership in early childhood. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 2(2), 157–169.
26.
NicolescuB. (2008). Transdisciplinarity: Theory and practice.New York: Hampton Press.
PelletierJ., & CorterC. (2005). Toronto first duty: Integrating kindergarten, childcare, and parenting support to help diverse families connect to schools. Multicultural Education, 12(2), 30–37.
29.
Queensland Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors. (2006). Towards an early years strategy.Brisbane: Queensland Government.
30.
Queensland Department of Education, Training and Employment (DETE). (2013). A framework for integrated early childhood development.Brisbane: Queensland Government.
31.
REAIE. (2011). Reggio Emilia Australia information exchange: Research for new culture of childhood. Retrieved 8 March, 2012, from www.reaie.org.au/.
32.
RoddJ. (2006). Leadership in early childhood (3rd edn). Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin.
WongS., SumsionJ., & PressF. (2012). Early Childhood professionals and inter-professional work in integrated early childhood services in Australia. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 37(1), 81–87.
35.
WoodrowC., & BuschG. (2008). Repositioning early childhood leadership as action and activism. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 16(1), 83–93.
