Early Childhood Inclusion: A Silver Lining in the Dark Clouds for African Immigrant Children?.

Introduction Since the break-out of civil wars during the late 1990s and early 2000s in some sub-Saharan African countries such as Liberia, Sudan, and Sierra Leone, substantial numbers of African refugees have entered Australia (Vicker, 2007). conspicuous presence of dark-skinned African people in 'white' dominated nation, Australia, makes them target for public and media scrutiny (Casimiro, Hancock & Northcote, 2007; Hancock, 2009; RRAC, 2002). Hancock (2009) acknowledges sweeping, unverified claims, and stereotyping impacts on community perceptions and treatment of African people, creating fear and suspicion (p. 2). Suspicion and feeling of exclusion are sources of potential tension and harmful consequences for individuals from African immigrant community (Andrews & Sibbel, 2003; RRAC, 2002). For example, in 2007, the then Australian Immigration Minister, Kevin Andrews, claimed that young African refugees are involved in race-based gangs and nightclub fights (Hancock, 2009), coupled with engaging in crime and drinking in parks at night (Evidence' sparks new refugee row, 2007; Lampathakis, 2007). Concerns have been expressed by some politicians in Australia about the general lack of African immigrants' inability to integrate properly into Australian society (Hancock, 2009). Canadian Council for Refugees, refugee rights NGOs in Australia, the Refugee Council of Australia, the Victorian Human Rights Consultation Committee, and members of the public have denounced the discriminatory comments by the Government of Australia. Yet, on 14th August 2009 racist leaflets warning residents of an influx of Africans moving to live in their neighborhoods have been sighted in some suburbs in Victoria, Australia. first spate of material was sighted on car windscreens in Mildura, in northwestern Victoria, claiming the local council had tried to sneak 30 Sudanese refugee families into their city. leaflet claims Sudanese refugees will cause endless social terrorism and bring a primitive lawless tribal culture and pack mentality into the community. It asserts that people of Sudanese origin are 400 to 800 per cent more likely to commit serious crime than an Australian national and that many of them are infected with AIDS. In Frankston, suburb of Melbourne, an anonymous leaflet under police investigation after it was found in mailboxes and on car windscreens reads: Do you want Frankston to become like Dandenong? The levels of violence in Dandenong and Noble Park have risen sharply since the huge increase in the African (Last.fm., 14/08/2009). (Note: Dandenong is suburb in Melbourne where this study was conducted. It has high population of African migrants). With research suggesting that there is increasing discrimination against African immigrants in Australia (Casimiro, Hancock & Northcote, 2007; Hancock, 2009; RRAC, 2002), there are compelling grounds for research to investigate the perception of sub-Saharan African immigrant patents regarding their children's wellbeing in early childhood settings in Australia. This pilot study was conducted in light of current major reform designed to improve and provide for quality and equity in early childhood education in Australia. Australian National Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) supports the provision of inclusive-based approach to delivering services to children and families. It is program geared towards holistic education of all children (socialisation and childcare). framework is consistent with rights-based approach that emphasises high quality, integrated, seamless systems of early childhood education and care (DEEWR, 2009). purpose of the national quality framework is to drive systems-wide quality to provide education, care equity and support to all children, and families (DEEWR, 2009). It is consistent with Article 2 of the United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child: State parties shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the present Convention to each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child's or his or her parent's or legal guardian's race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status (United Nations, 1990, p. …

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