Family and Community Contexts
PostgraduateCUR-MTEC5072027
Course information for 2027 intake View information for 2026 course intake
Consider what it takes to create an ethical approach to teaching – considering diversity in family and community. On your journey, you’ll compare historical and contemporary ideals of childhood. Think about how these interact with education.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 21 Feb 2027
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Price from
- $3,015
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Family and Community Contexts
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- examine historical and contemporary images of childhood, and explain their relationship to images of teaching
- research family and community contexts, focusing on promoting early childhood settings as democratic forums that welcome and respect cultural histories, diverse abilities, languages, beliefs, and First Nations perspectives
- defend a children’s rights perspective that support anti-bias approaches and enhances reconciliation between diverse cultures and communities
- interpret the role of the educator within a framework of ethical engagement in diverse communities, including First Nations communities.
- Diverse family and community contexts: anti-bias approaches
- Images of childhood and children’s rights
- Social justice in early childhood education and care
- Early childhood settings as democratic forums: pedagogical documentation and research
- Interrogating diversity and difference
- Unequal childhoods: poverty, racism and colonialism
- Critical multiculturalism: honouring reconciliation
- Reconceptualising the family for social justice
- Language, gender and sexual identity
- The ethical educator: anti-bias curriculum and cultural competence
This subject explores contemporary issues of culture, equity, values, and social justice in early childhood pedagogy. Historical and contemporary images of childhood, and their relationship to images of teaching, are examined. First Nations cultures, values, histories and perspectives, including the diversity within and across First Nations peoples and varied impacts of colonisation are explored. Diverse family and community contexts are investigated with early childhood settings viewed as democratic forums that welcome and respect all cultures and beliefs. A children’s rights perspective is emphasised. Anti-bias approaches are analysed to enhance reconciliation between diverse cultures and communities. Perspectives on families, cultures, gender, diverse learning needs and disabilities, languages, and sexual identity are reconceptualised to consolidate an ethical approach. Core Content includes the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures cross-curriculum priority, diverse learning needs and disability, research and evidence-based approaches, and legislation, regulations, policies and obligations related to inclusion and support. Cultural responsiveness, including EAL/D students, and family engagement for learning are assessed in this subject.
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Find out more about the Academic Integritymodule.
- Essay/Reflexive Writing (50%)
- Report (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Core
- CUR-MTE-MAS-2027 - Master of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Related degrees
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Master of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)
PostgraduateCUR-MTE-MAS