What does early childhood education look like on the other side of the world?
That was the question explored when BPA Early Learning welcomed 20 early childhood education students from Hong Kong as part of a study tour facilitated in partnership with Victoria University.
Across six of our services, students had the opportunity to experience Australian early childhood education in action, observing how play-based learning, outdoor environments and meaningful relationships support children’s development every day.
For many of the students, it was their first experience seeing large outdoor learning spaces and sensory play integrated into an early childhood program.
The visit began with an introduction to BPA Early Learning, our philosophy and our commitment to learning through play.
Students then toured our learning environments before spending time immersed in classrooms alongside our educators. They observed play-based learning in action, explored indoor and outdoor environments, and asked thoughtful questions about planning, documentation and the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF).
Several BPA educators who speak Cantonese and Mandarin helped bridge conversations, creating opportunities for deeper discussion and cultural exchange.
Throughout the visit, the students were especially interested in Australia’s integrated kindergarten and childcare model, asking thoughtful questions about how services support children of different ages within one learning community. They also joined children during group time, singing, dancing and spending time in outdoor learning spaces, including Orama Street Children’s Centre’s Indigenous garden.
"The two hours flew past so quickly, and it was a wonderful experience had by all."
Learning flowed both ways.
The visiting students shared activities they use in Hong Kong, while BPA educators shared practical resources, including playdough recipes and information about the VEYLDF.
Of course, no Australian visit would be complete without a few local favourites. Students sampled Tim Tams, Lamingtons, Caramello Koalas, Shapes and even enjoyed a traditional sausage sizzle, fish and chips and pavlova during their visit.
Experiences like these strengthen the early childhood profession by encouraging educators to learn from one another across cultures.
By opening our services to future educators from around the world, BPA Early Learning is proud to contribute to professional learning that extends well beyond our own communities.
We thank the educators and leadership teams from Dobson Kindergarten, Ardeer Kindergarten, Movelle Kindergarten, North Maidstone Kindergarten, Fraser Rise Kindergarten and Orama Street Children’s Centre for generously sharing their knowledge and showcasing the outstanding work happening across BPA every day.
These connections remind us that while early childhood education may look different around the world, every child benefits when educators continue learning from one another.
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