ProfessorMarianne Fenech

I am interested in the governing of early childhood services, initial teacher education, and teachers, and the impact this governance has on quality, accessible, and inclusive early childhood education. I utilise Foucauldian, ecological, and social justice theory to analyse the effects of government architectures (e.g., regulation, marketisation, subsidy arrangements, workforce development and professional teaching standards) and service leadership and management on quality early childhood education, particularly for families experiencing adversity. My teaching and research focus on early childhood education policy; the early childhood teacher workforce; leadership and mangement in early childhood contexts; partnering with families on the margins; and professional communication. I have strong established links with the early childhood sector, having delivered keynote and conference presentations in Australia and internationally. I am a strong advocate for children and the early childhood teaching profession. I have led submissions to federal government departments on early childhood policy and established and served as Chair of the Australian Early Childhood Teacher Education Network from 2017-2024. Currently I am leading national research investigating the supply and quality of the early childhood teacher workforce in Australia, and serve as a member of the NSW Education Standards Quality Authority Early Childhood Reference Group.