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A thinker in our midst

Thursday, 19 October 2006

One of the world's leading experts on early childhood development, , will launch his South Australia tenure at an event hosted by the University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ 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 from 4.30pm-6.30pm at the .

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

Dr Mustard co-chaired the 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 ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ Thinkers in Residence program.

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

• A/Professor Colin McDougall, Department of Public Health,
  
• Ms Chris Christensen,
  
• Dr Fiona Arney, .

The Executive Dean of the at the University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ, Professor Michael Innes, will moderate the session which has been organised by .

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