ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½

You are here More Pages
Early Start

Early Start

This is the place where curiosity rules

The UOW Early Start Institute operates within the Faculty of Arts, Society and Business. Early Start is focused on the child, their adults, their communities, and surrounding systems.

Early Start is a collaborative initiative between the Commonwealth Government, the Abbott foundation and the University of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½. It strives to connect research, education, and community to improve the life trajectories of children and their adults across life courses. We do this by prioritising connections to Country, healthy bodies and minds, interactions and relationships, learning, creativity and play, and development and assessment.

The Early Start Institute supports the positive development of children by delivering research outcomes, and materially influencing public discourse, industry participation and government policy.

A year of positive impacts

2021 was another remarkable year. Here we share our continued efforts to ensure positive impacts for children, families and communities through the Discovery Space, community engagement, research and translation. We also celebrate our ongoing reconciliation journey to value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories and cultures.

Hire a space

We offer two unique spaces designed for engaging learning experiences: the Playful Learning Space and the Food Skills Kitchen.

Check out our spaces!

Early Start Expert Insight podcast series

This series focuses on the whole CHILD and their community – from the pre-natal period to adolescence. Listen to our researchers and partners share their experiences, research findings, and evidence-based advice on a range of topics from culture to healthy development, learning, play, relationships, innovative programs and more.

Where curious minds play

father and son playing Early Start Discovery Space

An interactive children’s play space that stimulates curiosity, nurtures creativity, builds confidence, hands on learning and provides opportunities for social connection, wellbeing and development.

Research

Our interdisciplinary researchers investigate areas of children’s learning, health and development. We develop and advocate for evidence-based policies and programs.

Community partnerships

Early Start supports and collaborates with a network of early childhood education and care centres in regional and remote areas to enrich professional practice and strengthen the outcomes for children.

Research Translation and Resources

We work collaboratively and transdisciplinary to provide translational research opportunities across broad spheres of influence on childhood.

Play & Learn Together

Play & Learn Together is a free, research-informed, play-based learning hub for parents, families and educators.

Discover more about Play & Learn Together

News

Education

Australia’s best university for Teacher Education – two years running

National Student Experience Survey again names University of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ #1 for teaching degrees
Community, Education, Research

New guide tackles age discrimination to build stronger communities

Practical, evidence-based resource offers tools to break down barriers, boost connections between generations
Community, Education

Festival of Play marks 10 years of Early Start impact

Celebrating a decade of commitment to children with hands-on workshops, interactive learning and performances

Hire a space

We offer two unique spaces designed for engaging learning experiences: the Playful Learning Space and the Food Skills Kitchen.

Check out our spaces today!