The NSW Children's Week Councll welcomes you to a networking event to celebrate Children's Week and listen in person to the NSW Children's Week Oration, delivered by Dr Marion Sturges. Drinks and appetisers will be served at the event.

This is the 2nd year we have held the oration, which is to become an annual event. designed to celebrate Children's week and provide reflection on our work with children and young people. The oration is delivered by a NSW Academics or researcher, in acknowledgment of the role of our NSW Universities and their faculty members, in supporting and educating those caring for our children in NSW and increasing our understanding of how best to support children to have the best start in life.

Creating safe and healthy spaces for children through the power of “place.”

Despite the inclusion of children’s rights into Australian policy, young children are still too often seen as passive recipients, and their views, although central to education, remain largely unheard (Harcourt & Hägglund, 2013, Hammersley,2017).

In this presentation, based on her Ph.D., Marion will explore how 'place' is an important player in authentically offering children choices. A 'place' shapes children’s opportunities to have their rights to safe and healthy spaces met. Using a critical lens, Marion will examine the adult-child power relationships during everyday interactions, encounters, and negotiations. The role adults play in this process will be examined, and how educators manage children ‘being in place,’ resulting in their role as ‘gatekeepers’ to either support or inhibit children’s rights.

Dr Marion Sturges is an experienced educator of over 33 years. She has worked extensively across all educational sectors. Currently Marion works in the tertiary sector working with a team to prepare and support preservice educators as they undertake their professional experience placements. Marion has led and participated in numerous research projects working collaboratively with other researchers and educators. The focus of these projects is working with marginalised members of the community, including young children, people with disability, and women to ensure their rights are met and exploring how the place can support or inhibit these rights. Her PhD situated in Australian preschools, drew heavily on the Child Friendly City framework in exploring participation and place.