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Research is a priority for Drama Australia, as it helps to shape and inform the
development of our practices and pedagogies.
Our current Research Goals and Priorities are to:
- Actively promote Research within Drama Australia and broader National Arts
Education networks
- Encourage, maintain and organise (in consultation with the Director of
Publications) publishing of research including the research initiated and/or
supported by the Association
- Support research projects under the guidance of our Director of Projects
- Maintain our on-going financial commitment to innovative and creative research
projects and initiatives
- Connect with other research communities
- Advocate for arts-based research at state, territory, national and international
levels
Building on tradition
Since its inception, NADIE (the former name of Drama Australia) has had a strong tradition of research publication. NJ is an internationally recognised refereed journal attracting research articles from Australia and the rest of the world.
Commitment to shaping the future.
The publication of Doing Drama Research: Stepping into Inquiry in Drama Theatre and
Education by John O’Toole, launched at the Turning the Tides National conference in
Sydney, October 2006, is a key research initiative of Drama Australia. The forthcoming
issue of NJ, supporting this publication is further evidence of Drama Australia’s
commitment to developing and supporting a culture of research. As the number of higher
degree and undergraduate research-focused students increases, this is a timely and
necessary publication that draws together not only John’s career of research but also the
Drama Australia research community.
In a similar vein, the the Drama Australia Research Monograph series, Drivers of
Change: Contemporary Australian Theatre for Young People by Drama Australia
President Sandra Gattenhof, continues our commitment to publishing research.
Initiatives
New research monograph
Drama Australia is proud to announce that it will publish and launch a new Research
Monograph based on the Risky Business Research Project lead by Dr Angela O’Brien and
Dr Kate Donelan. The launch will be part of the Generate Drama Australia National
Conference, Friday 9th May – Sunday 11th May 2008 hosted by SAADIE.
NJ Research-focused edition
The Director of Publications has signalled that the next edition of NJ will be themed
around research. If you are writing in this area, consider submitting articles.
Click on the Publications tab at the top of the page for links to the research
monographs and other publications.
Drama Australia Conference, Adelaide 9-11 May 2008
In addition, at the Generate conference there are (at least) two research focused
opportunities.
- Engaging with research – extending a research culture through Drama Australia. A
forum.
- If there’s going to be a National Drama Curriculum, what might it look like? An
invitational round table/forum.
Look for them in your program.
If research in drama and arts education is your focus, consider signing up for these
sessions.
At the 2007 Drama Australia Annual Meeting of Council held in Brisbane in August 2007,
the Director of Research, Robin Pascoe, presented a report addressing the follow major
issues considered in the research portfolio:
- Impact of the Australian Government Research Quality Framework (RQF) on drama
education researchers
- Engaging the broader membership of Drama Australia in a research culture
- Closure and contraction of tertiary drama education courses (as distinct from drama
teacher education courses)
- Moves to rationalise the curriculum of Australian primary schools - Primary Principals
Association of Australia Charter
- Reporting from IDEA2007
- World Creativity Summit 2007
- Some gaps in Drama Education research
- Looking to the future
Since that Report was prepared and discussed, the change of Australian Government has moved on the national research agenda though the implications of the Rudd Labor
Government’s approach has yet to be spelt out. Australian arys education and drama
education researchers are advised to watch this space as the saying goes.
Download a Full Report Below:
National Statement on Arts Education
While a long time in development (and even longer time in political endorsement) in
September 2007, MCEETYA (Ministerial Council on Education,Employment, Training and
Youth Affairs) and CMC (Cultural Ministers Council) - representing the Australian and
State/Territory Governments, issued a National Education and the Arts Statement
http://archive.dcita.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/74815/
National_Education_and_the_Arts_Statement_September_2007.pdf
This Statement represents current Australian policy on arts education and is a powerful
lobbying and advocacy tool. Highly recommended.
National Curriculum
Both major parties went to the last Federal Australian election with a commitment to a
renewed agenda for a national curriculum. On January 30, 2008, Prime Minister Rudd,
announced Professor Barry McGaw as the head of the federal government's new National
Curriculum Board, to be established by January 1, 2009. Professor McGaw, director of
the Melbourne Educational Research Institute, will be part of a 12-person board
comprised of representatives from state and territory governments, Catholic and
independent schools.
The Labor government's national curriculum, slated to take effect in 2011, will initially
cover English, mathematics, science and history from kindergarten through to year 12.
Implications for drama and arts education are not yet clear.
International Research-Focused Opportunities
While details are not yet finalised, there is work proceeding to organise a follow up
World Creativity Summit (developing on from the WCS held in Hong Kong at the
conclusion of IDEA2007. Proposed dates are: June 5-8 in Taipei, Taiwan.
A second piece of recent news of interest to Australian drama researchers is the
announcement that in 2009 the International Drama in Education Research
Institute (IDIERI) will be hosted by the University of Sydney. July 16-21, 2009. There
are no further details as this update is made but watch for announcements.
The following material has previously been published in the Drama Australia Research
web site. It is archived here for historical and other research purposes. Changing political
and organisational circumstances make some of the information contained here of
“academic” interest and all should be read in light of the contexts in which it was written.
2006 Research Update, presented at the Turning the Tides conference.
As a flow on from the Turning the Tides conference, Mary Mooney, Jennifer Nicholls
and Michael Anderson organised a 2006 research focused Tertiary Drama Forum at
Currency Press.
In preparation for this 2006 forum, Robin Pascoe, Director of Research, prepared a
discussion paper.
There are significant changes for research in universities following the adoption by
the australian Government of the RQF (research Quality Framework). In response
to these changes, the following article on implications of RQF for drama educators
was written and submitted to The Australian Higher Education supplement (but not
published).
Research focused seminars and activities are occurring across Australia (and New
Zealand). IDEA2007 in Hong Kong July 16-22,2007, (www.idea2007.hk) will also
have a strong research focus.If you are interested in this sort of activity send an
email to research@dramaaustralia.org.au for the latest information.
If you are interested in the area of arts-informed research, the following
information that was previously published on the Drama Australia website is a
useful starting point.
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