Inclusive Education Through the Creative Arts in the Early Years

Dr Amanda Niland (PhD) is a senior lecturer in early childhood at the University of Sydney and program director of the Master of Teaching Early Childhood. Amanda has extensive experience as an early childhood teacher, music specialist and early childhood intervention teacher. Her research interests are in the creative arts, particularly music and children’s literature, with a focus on their potential for supporting a positive sense of identity and belonging for all children. Amanda has published more than 30 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and monographs, and is an editorial committee member for the International Journal of Music Education, International Journal of Music in Early Childhood and Journal of Early Childhood Literacy. She enjoys singing, playing the piano and ukulele, and writing songs and stories for children, and is the author of two picture books. Dr. Laura Huhtinen-Hildén (Ph.D. MMus) is a principal lecturer and researcher at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences  (music education & creativity, arts, health and wellbeing) and head of the Master’s degree programme Creativity and Arts in Social and Health fields. She also leads the Cultural Wellbeing, Research and Education Centre (CuWeRE) in Finland. Laura developed and served as chair for the BA programme in Early Childhood Music Education and Community Music (2007-2022). Her research interests include pedagogically sensitive music education, developing professional knowledge and narrative as well as advancing well-being and health in and through creativity and arts related practices. Laura has served on the board of the European network for Music Educators and Researchers of Young Children and is currently a board member of the early childhood music education commission of the International Society for Music Education. Dr Kathy Cologon (PhD) is Principal Consultant at Toward Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Inclusive Education at Macquarie University, Sydney. Kathy is privileged to work with children, families, educators, allied professionals, services, and organisations. Driven by a belief in the value of human beings in all our wonderful diversities and recognition of the important implications for the early years and beyond, Kathy seeks to contribute to increasing knowledge and understanding to support opportunities for all people to flourish as valued community members. This requires challenging normative and deficit assumptions and engaging with practical issues relating to children′s rights and inclusion. With extensive experience in the early years, and 15 years of educating teachers, Kathy has a depth and breadth of understanding of the many facets of inclusive education. Nationally and internationally renowned for her work in Inclusive Education and Disability Studies, Kathy has published more than 50 papers, book chapters, and books.