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Staff Profile

Mrs Lois Pollnitz

Position/s:   Early ChildhoodLecturer in the School of Education
                     Assistant Director (Early Childhood) Professional Experience Unit

Faculty/Division: Education and Arts

School:                 School of Education

Phone:                  +61 2 4921 6411

Fax:                      +61 2 4921 7916

Email:                  Lois.Pollnitz@newcastle.edu.au

Location:             HA93 Hunter Building

Campus:               Callaghan

Biography:          

I completed my teacher education program and Masters degree in Early Childhood in South Australia and have taught young children in South Australia, New South Wales and England. My teaching at The University of Newcastle is in the specialist area of early childhood studies for students who are preparing to become early childhood teachers of children aged from birth to eight years.

Major Accomplishments:

• Supporting young children’s development and learning
• Supporting early childhood teacher education students in their journey towards becoming early childhood professionals
• Supporting early childhood students’ and early childhood professionals’ understanding of the ethical dimension of their work with children, families and colleagues

Qualifications:              

• MEd (SA) 1994
• GradDipEdStud (Newcastle) 1986TeachCert (Adelaide) 1971
• DipAssoc (Adelaide) 1970DipTeach (Wattle Park, SA) 1970

Academic Appointments:

• The University of Newcastle
  • Lecturer (1991 - present)
• Hunter Institute of Higher Education/Newcastle College of Advanced Education
  • Senior Tutor (1989-1990)
  • Lecturer (1987 to 1988)
  • Lecturer/Tutor (p/t) (1983-1987)
  • Research Assistant (p/t)(1980-1982)
  • Tutor (p/t) (1979)

Consultancies & Community Service:

Courses taught:

• Child Development
• Early Childhood Curriculum
• Promoting Children’s Positive Behaviour
• Communication in the Early Childhood Profession
• Professional Experience and Internship

Teaching interests:

Early childhood studies including ethical perspectives of teaching

Specific areas of responsibility:

I coordinate a range of early childhood courses from Year 2 to Year 4 in the Early Childhood Teacher Education Program. I am responsible for organising, coordinating and implementing all levels of professional experience for early childhood teacher education students. This responsibility includes developing and maintaining a supportive network of professionals in the field.

Publications/Productions/Exhibitions:

• Books and Monographs
  • Newman, L. & Pollnitz, L. (in press). Working with children: Professional, legal and ethical issues. Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Education Australia.
  • Newman, L. & Pollnitz, L. (2002). Ethics in action: Introducing the Ethical Response Cycle. Australian Early Childhood Association Research in Practice Series. Watson, ACT: Australian Early Childhood Association.
• Book Chapters
  • Davies, M. & Pollnitz, L. (1992). Induction into the early childhood profession: An internship program. In E. Mellor, (ed). Issues and strategies in early childhood practicum, pp. 41-44. Monash University: School of Early Childhood and Primary Education.
• Refereed Journal Articles
  • Newman, L. & Pollnitz, L. (2003). Helping students make tough decisions wisely: The challenge of ethical inquiry. Australian Journal of Early Childhood, 28 (2).
  • Newman, L. & Pollnitz, L. (2000). Researcher reflections on the ethical dilemmas of ethics research: The making of a video about early childhood fieldwork dilemmas. Journal for Research in Early Childhood Education, 7 (1), 31-39.
  • Pollnitz, L. (1997). An enforced code of ethics: What do practitioners think? Australian Research in Early Childhood Education, 1, 81-90.
  • Davies, M. & Pollnitz, L. (1994). Internship: An innovation in early childhood teacher education. Australian Journal of Early Childhood, 19 (3), 20-27.
• Other Publications

Non-Refereed Journal Articles

• Newman, L. & Pollnitz, L. (2000). Do we need another student just now? Some ethical implications of student placement for early childhood professionals. Bedrock, March.
• School Texts and Other Teaching Journals
  • Newman, L. & Pollnitz, L. (2001). Will my response be ethical? A reflective process to guide the practice of early childhood students and professionals. Melbourne: Video Education Australasia.
• Artistic Works/Exhibitions
• Performances/Films

Professional Activities:

Conference Presentations

• Newman, L. & Pollnitz, L. (2004). Understanding and dealing with ethically based issues in children’s services: Using a team knowledge management tool. Presented at KU Children’s Services Annual Seminar, Sydney, October.
• Newman, L. & Pollnitz, L. (2001). Ethical analysis: Beyond reliance on codes of ethics to solve dilemmas. Paper presented at Excellence for Children, Australian Early Childhood Association Conference, Sydney, July.
• Newman, L. & Pollnitz, L. (2001). Resolving problematic situations in the workplace. Is there more to it than using commonsense? Paper presented at Children’s Services in the Balance: Finding Ways Forward, Country Children’s Services Association Conference, Sydney, April.
• Newman, L. & Pollnitz, L. (2000). Will my response be ethical? A model of ethical response for early childhood professionals. Paper presented at Annual Conference of Australian Research in Early Childhood Education, Canberra, January.
• Newman, L. & Pollnitz. L. (1999). Looking forward: It's time to agree on a set of principles for field experience. Paper presented at Children at the Top, Australian Early Childhood Association Conference, Darwin, July.
• Newman, L. & Pollnitz, L (1999). Partnerships in professional experience: Recognising and resolving ethical dilemmas. Paper presented at Children at the Top, Australian Early Childhood Association Conference, Darwin, July.
• Newman, L. & Pollnitz, L.(1999). Researcher reflections on the ethical dilemmas of ethics research: The making of a video about early childhood fieldwork dilemmas. Paper presented at Australian Research in Early Childhood Education Conference, University of Canberra, January.
• Newman, L. & Pollnitz, L. & Goodfellow, J. (1997). Partnerships in professional experience: Towards resolution of dilemmas. Paper presented at Children in the Balance, Australian Early Childhood Association Triennial Conference, Melbourne, Sept 20-23.
• Pollnitz. L. (1996). What do practitioners think? Paper presented at the Australian Research in Early Childhood Education Conference, Canberra.
• Patterson, C., Pollnitz, L. & Sumsion, J. (1995). The case for the development of guidelines for ethical practice in field experience. Paper presented at Towards Purposeful Partnerships, 2nd National Cross Faculty Practicum Conference, Pan Pacific, Gold Coast.
• Hawthorne, W., Kearns, K. & Pollnitz, L. (1995). School-based young starters' programs: Another option for four year olds? Paper presented at the Australian Research in Early Childhood Education Conference, Canberra.
• Pollnitz, L. (1994). The Australian Early Childhood Association Ethics: A good beginning? Paper presented at Good Beginnings Never End, Australian Early Childhood Association 20th Triennial Conference, Perth.
• Pollnitz, L. (1994). Development of guidelines for ethical practice in early childhood practicum. Paper presented at Good Beginnings Never End, Australian Early Childhood Association 20th Triennial Conference, Perth.
• Davies, M. & Pollnitz, L. (1993). Induction into the teaching profession: Participants' perceptions of professional development during an internship. Paper presented at the Fifth National Practicum Conference, Sydney.
• Davies, M. & Pollnitz, L. (1992). Internship: Reconceptualising practicum in early childhood teacher education. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Australian Teacher Education Association, Ballina, NSW.

Research:

Current

I am a member of an Australia wide working party charged with reviewing the Early Childhood Australia  (ECA) Code of Ethics. The review involves a literature review, holding focus group discussions and workshops, and providing a report with recommendations to ECA.

Training and Supervision

Preparation and support of early childhood teacher education students undertaking professional experience, including internship, in the workplace.

Grants

Research

Newman, L. & Pollnitz, L. (1997). Awarded a $48, 008 Committee for University Teaching and Staff Development (CUTSD) grant by Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs.

Interests

• Early childhood curriculum
• Professional ethics

Keynote Addresses

• Newman, L. & Pollnitz, L. (2000).Will my response be ethical? A reflective process to guide the practice of early childhood students and professionals. Presentation at Annual General Meeting, Australian Early Childhood Association, Sydney, May.

Membership of Networks and Professional Associations

• Early Childhood Australia
• Early Childhood Professional Experience Council (New South Wales)Early Childhood Education Council of NSW Hunter Children's Services Forum