Dr Joanne Ailwood

Biography

I joined the University of Newcastle in mid-2010. Prior to that I held academic positions at The University of Edinburgh, Queensland University of Technology and Charles Sturt University. I have been a classroom teacher in both early childhood and primary contexts in Queensland and in London. My current research interests analyse relationships of power in early childhood education, including how relationships are produced and managed in early years settings – between children and children, staff and children and parents and staff. I have also undertaken policy analysis research on preschool education and on the historical place of women/mothers in early childhood education. Overall I am interested in questions about relationships of power, discourses and how women and children constitute their daily lives and relationships as mothers, early childhood practitioners and children in early years settings.

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Queensland, 2003
• Bachelor of Educational Studies (Honours), University of Queensland, 1999
• Bachelor of Educational Studies, University of Queensland, 1996
• Bachelor of Teaching, Griffith University, 1991

Research

Research keywords

• History of early childhood education
• Poststructuralism in early childhood education
• Relationships in early childhood education

Research expertise

My research is situated in early childhood education and care. I aim to find spaces that help us think in different ways about young children, their education and the relationships between the adults who care for them. To do this I make use of poststructural theorising, investigating and challenging some of the 'common knowledges' of early childhood education, for example play. My emphasis in this research and investigation is enabling positive spaces for thinking about (and talking about) young children, their education and the work of those who care for them. I hope that this thinking helps us reflect upon and challenge the nuances and complexities of early childhood education and care. Aspects of this work are historical and political, engaging in policy analysis and investigating broader historical, social and cultural contexts of families, women's paid work, care and childhood. More recent aspects of my research are focused on the care and education relationship between parents and early childhood educators, including their understandings of their relationships not only with each other as adults, but also their place in the lives of the child/ren they care for.

Collaboration

Jo is interested in collaborations with researchers and RHD students investigating history, policy and day-to-day relationships in early childhood education and care.

Fields of Research

Administrative

Administrative expertise

I am currently Program Convenor of the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary)/Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies degree on Callaghan campus at the University of Newcastle. I am also course coordinator of undergraduate and masters courses. I have been a member of various University committees and boards across Charles Sturt University, QUT and UoN.

Teaching

Teaching keywords

• Childhood studies
• Foundations of early childhood education
• History of early childhood education
• Theories of play

Teaching expertise

At the undergraduate level I teach in foundations of early childhood education, including history of early childhood education, sociology of childhood, approaches to early childhood education and policy for early childhood education. I have also supervised Honours, Masters, EdD and PhD theses on a range of topics related to early childhood education.