Consultant and Research Fellow, University of Melbourne and Lady Gowrie, VIC

Dr Rachel Pollitt completed her PhD in 2018 (Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne) actively engaging early childhood professionals across Melbourne to explore, research and facilitate play-based approaches to assessing, teaching, and learning mathematics in early years education.

This led to her becoming a Research Fellow with the REEaCh Centre, and EDGE Study, University of Melbourne. She is a coach for Gowrie Victoria, and shares responsibility for nurturing, understanding, and appreciating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures with emerging leaders, educators, and new generations of children. Rachel coaches alongside Department of Education Leaders, and Early Childhood Professionals to create communities of practice which foster inquiry, connection, and collective growth.

During her career Rachel has built strong and lasting relationships, which have collectively led to new research being embedded in everyday practice. She promotes a strengths-based approach toward growing capacity across the EC profession and holds respect, kindness, and inclusion at the core of this work. She is an experienced EC teacher, centre director, researcher, clinical teaching specialist, policy writer, and lecturer. Her publications and conference presentations promote practical ways to embed theory in practice. Rachel facilitates professional development with early years professionals and pedagogical leaders, believing that trusting relationships, evidence-based knowledge, and communication are foundational to professional growth.

“I value evidence-based inquiry, curiosity and active reflective practice which play a critical role in creating improved outcomes for EC professionals and the provision of equitable inclusion, unity and access to early years programs for all children, their families and communities.”