A thinker in our midst

Thursday, 19 October 2006

One of the world's leading experts on early childhood development, Dr Fraser Mustard, will launch his South Australia Thinker in Residence tenure at an event hosted by the University of Adelaide tonight.

Dr Mustard is part of a four-speaker panel addressing the issue of Early Childhood Development - The Dawn of a Paradigm Shift, sponsored by the University's Research Centre for Reproductive Health from 4.30pm-6.30pm at the State Library.

It is the Canadian academic's first event as Adelaide's new Thinker in Residence, a State Government program that brings world-leading thinkers to live and work in Adelaide for a period of two to six months.

Dr Mustard co-chaired the Early Years Study for the Government of Ontario in 1998, considered a landmark study both for Canada and for the rest of the world.

In 2005 Dr Mustard established the world-leading Canadian Council for Early Childhood Development, a body which brings together community and scientific networks, business, education, health, research, early childhood development communities and private citizens - all championing the study's recommendations.

"Specifically, Dr Mustard will assist South Australia in becoming a national and international leader in early childhood, providing us with strategic advice on the future of this field," according to Brenda Kerr, Director of the Adelaide Thinkers in Residence program.

Tonight's session - which is booked out - also includes the following speakers:

• A/Professor Colin McDougall, Department of Public Health, Flinders University
  
• Ms Chris Christensen, Department of Education and Children's Services
  
• Dr Fiona Arney, Australian Centre for Child Protection.

The Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Adelaide, Professor Michael Innes, will moderate the session which has been organised by Healthy Development Adelaide.

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