Journal of Early Years Insights

This special issue of the Journal of Early Childhood Education Insights (JoEYI) presents a collection of abstracts from Victoria University’s International Conference on Contemporary Perspectives in Early Childhood (CoPEC), held at the Footscray Park Campus in November 2025.

The conference brought together scholars, educators, and practitioners from across Australia and internationally to engage with emerging research, innovative practices, and critical discussions in early childhood education. The abstracts featured in this issue reflect the breadth and diversity of contemporary scholarship, with a strong focus on inclusive practice, child development, pedagogical innovation, and educator perspectives.

As a collection, these abstracts capture current directions in research and practice, highlighting key themes such as equity and inclusion, trauma-informed approaches, play-based learning, and professional learning in early childhood contexts. This special issue aims to provide a platform for knowledge sharing, scholarly dialogue, and ongoing collaboration within the early childhood education community.