learning

I’ve started documenting what I’ve been up to in the last few years, since moving to Freo. So I’m just going to chuck it up on the BLOG for a bit to put it out there while I keep working on it. Here goes.

2003 - 2006

Based in Fremantle, Western Australia
Some work/study in Italy and UK

“Fremantle Village Early Learning Centre”
Co-founder
Establishment of a 62 place progressive early learning centre for children 0-6 years in a child care setting. More than 100 families and sector professionals involved in the development of a holistic “centre for excellence” in early years care and education.

Much inspired by the Reggio Emilia project in Northern Italy with input from Montessori, Steiner, Summerhill and mainstream approaches.

Followed a collaborative community development approach within a social entrepreneurship framework.

[Project ended after three years*, just before building work began on restoration of two adjacent inner-urban heritage buildings in the heart of the local neighbourhood catchment, within walking distance for many families and on a free community bus route.

We had received overwhelming support from local families and early learning specialists.

Developed in association with local parents and their children, early learning practitioners, Erudite Educational Consultants (from Nedlands Early Learning Centre), Reggio Children (in Italy), Reggio Emila Information Exchange in Australia, City of Fremantle, Dept for Community Development, Child Care Association of WA, Children’s Service Support Unit, Education Dept, Health Dept, Dept for the Environment, architects, lawyers, accountants, art specialists.

Stages completed or well advanced:

1. Concept development > visioning > ongoing community consultation.

2. Pedagogical research and development.

3. Business planning (including benchmarking against industry standards and highest quality, Reggio-inspired centre in the State).

4. Site selection and contractual agreements to lease

5. Environmental/architectural planning

6. Quantity surveying & building project management

7. Town planning approvals (in association with local community, Local Government Authority, town planning consultant, traffic engineer and State Gov’t Planning Appeals Tribunal. A case against the local authority was won at a state level to allow the centre to go ahead after local politics would have stopped it.)

8. Recruitment of a senior Director and one other senior staff member.

[*An campaign mounted by a disturbed neighbour ensured the Local Council impose an unprecedented noise and parking management plan on the centre’s approval, and a major reduction in numbers of children allowed to access it. When the State Tribunal Appeal was won to increase numbers to a sustainable level, this person bought one of the properties. At the same time he sent an ‘anonymous’ but traceable email threatening us with words like “dead”, “kill” and “destroy”. The police were sure who it was but could not convict him. In the interests of the children’s and our own well being, we had to walk away. And now, a new life begins…]

City of Fremantle
Lobbying & community participation to review child care policy
& strategic town planning on safe, appropriate locations for child care centres
See www.freofocus.gov.au/…. TBA

WA Child Care Advisory Committee
Advising Minister for Community Development
Community member Nov 2004 - Nov 2005
Wrote “Children at the Centre” - a visioning document for child care in the State.
Adopted as the official draft vision for child care by the committee and the Minister
(About WA CCAC)

Beaconsfield Primary School
Kindy & Pre-primary
Ongoing professional dialogue with teachers, offering assistance/encouragement/equipment.
Conducted several short sessions with children 4-5 years. Planning to do more.

Early Learning Fremantle
Co-founder
Bringing progressive early years educators and students together in the South Metro area. Including state and private, Reggio-inspired, Montessori, Steiner and alternative (Lance Holt / Summerhill inspired). Developed and manage email discussion list (now dormant)

Learning BLOG
Established one of the first weblogs to start commenting on my early learning experiences. Dialogue, reflection and discussion generated globally. Available at www.barkingowl.com/learning

“Reggio & Buddhism”
Short article published in The Challenge” - Reggio Emilia Information Exchange in Australia national journal. Available here.

Additional Education

Introduction to Reggio, Meerilinga (with Marie Martin from http://www.learningconversations.com.au/)

Advanced Study Tour to visit the Preschools & Infant Toddler Centres of Reggio Emilia, Italy

Atelierista Patricia Hunter-McGrath, Bold Park School

First Aid for Children

Other roles

Sustainable Business Network (Aust) (est. 1997)
Ongoing faciliation
See www.barkingowl.com/sustainable

The Big Love Gift Guide
“More joy, less stuff”
http://barkingowl.com/cc/
Conscious consumerism project. “Think before you buy. Gift ideas that show what a big heart you have - that bring us back together and don’t cost the earth.” Created and maintained this popular online resource for anyone wanting to think about how they spend and give. Google rates this in the Top Ten for people searching “gift + guide”, “gift guide” + christmas and No. 1 for “gift + guide + love”. Google returns over 1000 hits for “The Big Love Gift Guide”.

Photography

See a sample of my events, travel and portrait work online here. Portfolio.

Tibetan Support Network
Art exhibition & auction featuring leading West Australian artists. Works donated to help build a school in the former Tibet. Event was packed. Goodwill.
Assisted with promotion, co-ordination & artist liaison.

Treachery & Seduction on the High C’s
New operatic highlights performance. Assisted with concept, promotion & co-ordination. Generated widespread media coverage. Sell-out show.

Auto Angels
Sustainable Car Ownership
Coaching to reflect on (ethical/sustainable) business direction, goals and human resourcing.

ONGOING

Mothering Beatrice (5 years old)

Emerging art (meditation) practice
- Painting at Kidogo Art House with Paul Uhlmann: Advanced Class.
- Painting at Fremantle Arts Centre with Pam Brittain.
- Photographic projects. Portfolio online here (including some conceptual works in progress).
- Keeping a visual diary working towards paintings, photographs, conceptual works and installations

To look at what I was working on before all this…

PRE-2003 CV