Second chance education programs are now a well-established presence in institutions seeking to provide access and equity pathways for socio-economically disadvantaged groups. This paper focusses on the strategies used to support positive engagement in second chance equity programs, drawing upon evaluation research data from four TAFE sponsored…

Reflecting an international trend, Australian education policy increasingly charges schools with fostering active citizens who have the will and capacity to improve the democratic fabric and drive needed social change. This policy prescription also resonates with some teachers' critical commitments to pedagogical practices that encourage young…

This paper presents findings from a large-scale, in-depth study of secondary schools in one Australian state that were achieving exceptional outcomes. The element of that study on which this paper focuses is equity and inclusion. We examine the Equity programs operating in seven sites where schools were including students experiencing some form of…

The child-centered Contemporary Australian Preschool Program (CAPP), one of five programs for disadvantaged children in the Mt. Druitt Early Childhood Project, is described and evaluated in this report. Within the CAPP, the child's role was that of initiator and the teacher's role was that of facilitator. Specific objectives of the CAPP were to…

The Educational Research Centre for the Economics of Education and Training (CEET) conducted a survey focusing on lifelong learning and the world of work, particularly on the need for retraining and upgrading of skills and knowledge. The survey involved five different approaches: surveys of the available quantitative and qualitative material; a…

This book concerns the Mt. Druitt Early Childhood Project, which was developed to provide quality educational programs for disadvantaged children living in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. In order to set the subsequent discussion in broader perspective, chapter 1 addresses several key issues influencing project development. Chapter 2…

This paper describes and reports on the evaluation of aspects of three preschool programs in the Bidwell Community School, New South Wales, Australia. A home-based preschool program, a sessional preschool-centered program, and a mixed, part sessional and part home-based program were made available for children and their parents. With the aim of…