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About Us

Our Approach

For children living with significant and multiple vulnerabilities and risk factors, there is powerful evidence of the need for a targeted ‘intensive care’ early childhood education and care (ECEC) model where the program elements, the dosage and duration of the intervention are able to redress harms, overcome the effects of trauma, reduce toxic stress levels and enable children to learn in partnership with their families1.  

Parkville Institute is focused on supporting children and families living with significant social disadvantage and family stress. Evidence underpinning the model indicates that the risks, disadvantages, and adverse childhood experiences, persist throughout childhood and have long-term impact without early, intense, high-quality interventions.

The children participating in the model are:

  1. referred into the program by family services or child protection services,
  2. aged between birth and three at the time of enrolment; and
  3. assessed as having two or more risk factors.

Children participate in the program for 5 hours a day, 5 days a week, 50 weeks of the year for three years.

  1. Shonkoff, J.P. (2011), ‘Protecting brains, not simply stimulating minds’, Science, 333(6045), 982-83.

Our People

Parkville Institute brings together highly qualified, experienced, and committed experts working to achieve a shared vision to improve the life trajectories of young children living with significant social disadvantage and family stress.

Board of Directors

Jane Hunt, Non-executive Director
Jane Hunt
Chair
Associate Professor Brigid Jordan AM, Executive Director
Associate Professor Brigid Jordan AM
Executive Director
Dr Anne Kennedy, Interim Chair
Dr Anne Kennedy
Executive Director
Emma Sydenham, Non-executive Director
Emma Sydenham
Non-executive Director
Dr Philip O’Meara
Non-executive Director
Prof. Vicki Anderson, PhD
Non-executive Director

Parkville Institute Team

Casey Hazlett, General Manager
Casey Hazlett
General Manager
Nichola Coombs, Senior Advisor (Infant Mental Health)
Nichola Coombs
Senior Advisor (Infant Mental Health)
Madeleine Saffigna, Senior Advisor (Curriculum & Pedagogy)
Madeleine Saffigna
Senior Advisor (Curriculum & Pedagogy)
Emma Sydenham, Non-executive Director
Liz Dullard
Senior Advisor (Curriculum & Pedagogy)
Catherine McPhee
Senior Advisor (Infant Mental Health)
Brydie Mckenzie-Edwards
Operations Coordinator