ECEC research prioritised in QLD with grant announcements

University research projects to study nature play in early childhood education and care (ECEC) and consistent approaches in observing and evaluating practice during assessment and ratings visits will share in close to $1 million of Queensland education grants.

Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace has announced 12 successful projects to receive Education Horizon grants for high-quality early childhood and school education research, with ECEC-specific projects gaining four shares.

“The Queensland Government wants to give children a great start to their lives by providing them with the best possible education,” Ms Grace said.

She added that the Education Horizon grants scheme supports research which opens up new horizons for best practice in early childhood and school education, with an ultimate aim of improving teaching and learning outcomes for Queensland children.

Ms Grace congratulated the successful applicants, adding the applications for this round of grant funding were “of a particularly high standard”.

Applicants were assessed against specified criteria, including eight priority research areas identified by the Queensland Department of Education, and winners were selected by a panel of experts including an external academic advisor.

“Queensland is fortunate to have such an excellent research grant scheme to help support our focus on delivering a world-class education system,” Ms Grace said.

The successful ECEC recipients are as follows:

Queensland University of Technology:

Empowering global learners – a teacher-as-researcher approach.

Grant – $69,254

Distributed leadership in family day care: challenge, change, and opportunities.

Grant – $148,069 (over 2 years)

The University of Queensland:  

The when, what and how of observing and assessing practice in ECEC: towards an observational framework for Queensland’s Authorised Officers.

Grant – $88,000

Impact of life threatening illness on education outcomes in Queensland children – a population based study to identify risk factors and pathways to intervention.

Grant – $72,539

Southern Cross University:

Mapping scientific concepts through nature play in ECEC: Achieving excellence in STEM through evidence based pedagogies

Grant – $88,725

More information about the Education Horizons grants program can be accessed here