School of Teacher Education
Dr Frances Press
Senior Lecturer
MA Int. Disc. (Women's Studies) UNSW, PhD (Macquarie University)
Dr Frances Press
Charles Sturt University Faculty of Education
Bathurst, NSW, Australia
Ph:(02) 6338 4287
Fax:(02) 6338 4417
Email Fran PressBio
Frances’ (PhD: Sociology) teaching and research interests cover the areas of early childhood policy, the sociology of early childhood, and the leadership of early childhood programmes. She has worked extensively with academic, government and non-government bodies on issues related to child and family policy and has a particular interest in examining policy and practice from the stance of children’s rights. As well as undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research, Frances has strong links with the early childhood field. She is frequently called upon to provide professional support, particularly to leaders and managers of early childhood programmes.
Research
Frances research interests include : early childhood policy; integrated programmes for children and families; and the identification and sustenance of high quality early childhood programmes, particularly for infants. She has been a Chief Investigator on four non-government competitive grants; an ARC Discovery Grant and an ARC Linkage Grant. Frances is a member of CSU’s Research Institute for Professional Practice, Learning and Education (RIPPLE), a multi-disciplinary research centre that conducts high-quality applied research and consultation. She is also a member of the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Collaborative Research Network (CRN) comprising 62 researchers from CSU, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Monash University.
Teaching
Frances teaches in undergraduate subjects and postgraduate subjects in the areas of sociology, leadership, research and children’ rights.
Publications
- Press, F., Bradley, B., Goodfellow, J., Harrison, L.J. , McLeod, S., Sumsion, J., Elwick, S. & Stratigos, T. (2011). Listening to infants about what life is like in childcare: A mosaic approach. In S. McLeod and S. Roulstone (Eds). Listening to children and young people with speech, language and communication needs. London: J&R Press.
- Sumsion, J., Harrison, L., Press, F., McLeod, S., Goodfellow, J., & Bradley, B. (2011). Researching infants’ experiences of early childhood education and care. In D. Harcourt, B. Perry & T. Waller (Eds.,). Researching young children's perspectives: Debating the ethics and dilemmas of educational research with children (pp.113-127). London: Routledge.
- 2010 Doctor of Philosophy, Macquarie University
Thesis title: Critical analyses of early childhood education and care policy in Australia - McLeod, S., Press, F., & Phelan, C. (2010). The (in)visibility of children with communication impairment in Australian health, education, and disability legislation and policies. Asia Pacific Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing, 13(1), 67-75.
- Press, F. & Woodrow, C. (2009). The Giant in the Playground: Investigation the reach and complications of the corporatisation of child care provision. In D. King & G. Meagher (Eds), Paid Care in Australia (pp.231-250). Sydney: Sydney University Press.
- Bown, K., Sumsion, J. & Press, F. (2009). Influences on Politicians’ Decision Making for Early Childhood Education and Care Policy: what do we know? What don’t we know? Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood Education, 10(3) pp.194 217.
- Press, F. (September 2009) Trends and debates in ECEC policy. A literature review canvassing policy developments in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Building an International Collaboration in Early Childhood Education and Care: Background materials for a Workshop funded by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY). Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW, February. Australian Policy Online.
- Press, F. (2008). Learning From ABC. Rattler 88 (Summer), 20-25.
- Press, F. (2008) Solving the policy puzzle, Bedrock, 13 (1).
- 2008 Waniganayake, M., Harrison, L., Cheeseman S., Burgess, C., De Gioia, K. & Press, F. (2008) Practice potentials: Impact of participation in professional development and support on quality outcomes for children in childcare centres http://www.cscentral.org.au/Resources/PDResearchReportMac08.pdf
- Press, F. (2007) Public investment, fragmentation and quality early education and care: Existing challenges and future options. In E. Hill and B. Pocock and A. Elliott (eds) (2007) Kids Count: Better Early Childhood Education and Care in Australia, Sydney University Press.
- Press, F & Skattebol, J (2007) Early Childhood Activism, Minor Politics and Resuscitating Vision: a tentative foray into the use of ‘intersections’ to influence early childhood policy. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood Volume 8, No. 3, 2007 http://www.wwwords.co.uk/CIEC/content/pdfs/8/issue8_3.asp
- Sumsion, J & Press, F. (2007). Policy and priorities from the ground up Investigating quality in early childhood education and care. Bedrock.
- Press, F. (2007) Young children deserve better. Invited commentary, Directions in education. 16, 8. Australian Council for Educational Leaders.
- Woodrow, C., Press, C. (2007) (Re)Positioning the Child in the Policy/Politics of Early Childhood Educational Philosophy and Theory 39 (3), 312–325.
- Press, F. (2006). Policy Brief 2. Quality in Children’s Services. [Available Online]: http://www.rch.org.au/emplibrary/ccch/PB2_Qual_childsrv.pdf
Press, F. (2006). What about the kids? Policy directions for improving the experiences of infants
and young people in a changing world. - Press, F. & Woodrow, C. (2005). Commodification, corporatisation and children’s spaces. Australian Journal of Education, Vol.49, No.3, 2005, 278-291.
- Press,F. (2005). The optimum environment for children to grow and learn in home-based care. A literature review and recommendations for the National Family Day Care Council of Australia.
- Press, F. (2003). The costs and benefits of proposed changes to the NSW Children’s Services Regulation in relation to staff–to–child ratios and group size. Department of Community Services NSW.
- Rice, A and Press, F (2003). Early Childhood Education in NSW: A Comparative Report. A report on early childhood education for the NSW Department of Education and Training.
- Press, F., Rice, A. and Hayes, A. (2002). Adding value to preschool education in the ACT. A report on preschool education in the ACT for the Inquiry into ACT Education Funding.
- Press, F. (November 2002) Reviewing Early Childhood Education and Care in Australia: Implications for Policy and Practice. Early Childhood Systems National Meeting Papers, Centre for Community Child Health, Melbourne.
- Press, F. and Hayes, A. (2000). OECD Thematic Review of Early Childhood Education and Care Policy: Australian Background Report .Canberra
Conferences
- Public Investment, fragmentation and quality early childhood education and care: Existing challenges and future options. Invited Speaker. Academy of Social Sciences in Australia - Child Care Roundtable, July 2006. Workshop Proceedings available -
- Australian Social Policy Conference (Sydney, July 2007) What do we want for children? Considerations for the development of comprehensive and complementary policy for the early years.
- Social Justice in Early Childhood Conference. (Sydney, March 24, 2007)Early childhood activism and minor and major politics: Some tentative thoughts on the use of ‘intersections’ to influence early childhood policy. Invited Speaker.
- ACOSS Annual Congress. (Sydney, November 24 & 25, 2006) Early childhood education and care – the foundations of opportunity and lifelong learning. What do we need to close the gap between research and reality? Invited Panel Speaker.
- Early Intervention NSW State Conference. (October 26 &27, 2006). Early Intervention and Prevention (EIP) in children’s services: change, challenge and opportunity. ECIA NSW Chapter State Conference.
- Corporatisation of Child Care. Incursions on children’s citizenship in the age of the consumer. Children and Youth Citizenship and Participation Conference, Sheffield. July 2006.
- Invited analyst for the National Child Care Accreditation Council’s Draft Child Care Accreditation Standards Document.
- Child Care: Whose Responsibility? Sydney Conversations, Smith Family Forum, Sydney, August 9, 2006.
- Corporatisation, privatization and children’s services. Australian Social Policy Conference, Sydney, August, 2005. (with Chris Woodrow)
- Corporatisation, social justice and children’s rights. Incursions on children’s citizenship in the age of the consumer. (with Chris Woodrow). Honouring the Child, Honouring Equity 5.: Reconsidering Rights and Relationships. Centre for Equity and Innovation in Early childhood (CEIEC) Melbourne 17 – 20th November 2005.
- Trends and Issues in Early Childhood Policy. Northern Territory Early Childhood Conference, Alice Springs, October 2004.