ECSC Inclusion Conference - Dr Katey De Gioia, Institute of Early Childhood, MQU

"Valuing CALD families begins with ME: A part of valuing families includes connecting families and creating communities, building social capital, decreasing social isolation and dispelling cultural myths that may exist among family, valuing and sharing heritage, inviting further conversation, challenging 'bothering' that occurs in our settings, having the difficulty conversations, respectful of diversity, valuing & engaging families."
Katey is a Senior lecturer at the Institute of Early Childhood at Macquarie University, She lectures in Professional Experience across Postgraduate and Undergraduate Units that encompass both the prior to school and school sectors.
In 2012, she was awarded a Macquarie University Faculty & Vice chancellor's Award for leading a project team in supporting international students during professional experience placement in school environments. Katey's research work is underpinned by the importance of partnerships and relationships. Her areas of interest include supporting transition into educational settings for children and families from immigrants and refugee backgrounds and practitioner enquiry; teachers' practices as key in outcomes for children and families in the early years.