For students, academics and educators

  1. Macquarie University
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  5. For students, academics and educators
29 Wally’s Walk, Macquarie University
Wallumattagal Campus NSW 2109
See our opening hours and where we are located on the campus CELA support for early education professionals NAPCAN for prevention of child abuse and neglect Be You initiative delivered by Beyond Blue

Observation opportunities and available resources

Mia Mia provides students and academic staff with unique opportunities for learning, research, participation and observation.

Mia Mia Child and Family Study Centre is an integral part of the School of Education and is used for:

  • child/family studies
  • curriculum planning
  • teaching studies
  • developing students’ teaching ability.

Mia Mia families are made aware during enrolment that their children may be involved in University-approved research projects from time to time. Families are also given the opportunity to grant or decline permission for their child to be involved in project research.

Observation

Mia Mia has three observation booths. These booths are used by academic staff, tertiary and secondary students, and families to observe:

  • the children and staff
  • the indoor and outdoor environment.

Tertiary students who observe children at the centre gain valuable insights into the practical application of their course work to the teaching situation. Opportunities to teach in situ guided by Mia Mia’s specialist educators are also invaluable.

Other Mia Mia visitors may include:

  • national and international early childhood professionals
  • government representatives and consultants
  • students and staff of other tertiary institutions
  • professionals in the fields of creative and expressive arts, architecture and landscaping, curriculum planning and development, early intervention and special education, family support services, psychology, infant mental health, physiotherapy, and speech and language therapy.

Professional visits

Mia Mia welcomes visitors, early childhood practitioners and students to the centre.

During these sessions, the director and teaching staff provide information about Mia Mia's service, philosophy, management, learning environment and program.

Booking is essential. Contact us to reserve your place for the next visit.

No photos or filming are allowed during information sessions or other visits.

Resources

We have several digital and other resources available.

Contact us for information about pricing or to place an order.

Mia Mia staff have distilled aspects of their leading-edge thinking into resources that are available for purchase. These include:

  • Mia Mia ebooks (for students only)
  • Mia Mia ebooks with video commentary
  • Mia Mia Chronicle
  • Mia Mia Cookbook.

The Centre has made six videos that are available to purchase in both DVD and USB formats. Many early childhood institutions, nationally and internationally, use these videos as teaching resources.

The title of each video is:

  1. The program for 2–5 year-olds
  2. The infants program (under twos)
  3. Building relationship
  4. Thinking outside
  5. Thinking about thinking
  6. Being a baby, belonging and becoming.

Our policies are based on best-practice research, educational theory and practice and provide a sound framework in which families, staff and children can interact cooperatively and equitably. Families are invited to share in policy development and evaluation.

The full range of policies and procedures are available at the Centre. Below are some of the more frequently used policies for quick reference:

We are guided by, and comply with:

The NSW Curriculum Framework also influences our work. Its principle of the importance of relationships is relevant to our practice.