Alexis Spencer is part of a new generation of educators promoting Indigenous people to have meaningful careers in early childhood teaching, and bringing educational opportunities to children in remote communities.
A Deakin Indigenous graduate, she has worked in the field of early childhood education for 20 years across remote Australian communities, and recognises the necessity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people having teachers from their own communities.
“We need to have Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from their own communities teaching their own children,” she said.
“Early childhood education in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is special and unique, but it needs more support. More work has to be done to enable and empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to become confident teachers in a system that down not privilege their knowledge or pedagogy.”
Ms Spencer is one of three recent graduate from a new post-graduate course in Indigenous Research at Deakin’s Institute of Koorie Education (IKE). She is passionate about supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to enrol in early childhood teaching degrees and facilitating pathways that overcome barriers to entry into teaching degrees.
“There are so many prerequisites that make it very difficult to be accepted to enrol, especially if you are a mature-aged Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student.”
“I love going to remote communities and supporting and encouraging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers and teachers’ aides to get their qualifications, while implementing early childhood programs in a culturally-appropriate way.”
Ms Spencer has set her sights high, and has plenty more ambitions, including pursuing a PhD to continue research into Indigenous perspectives of pedagogy in early childhood education.