October 7, 2014

World-renowned education pioneer to visit Wollongong

Professor Joseph Sparling, who four decades ago pioneered an innovative approach that has radically changed the lives of children in disadvantaged communities around the world, will give a free public lecture in Wollongong on Thursday 9 October.

The event is the first forum of UOW's Three Chimneys Public Forum Series, which is hosted by the Early Start Research Institute.

In 1972, Professor Joseph Sparling pioneered a new way to reach out to disadvantaged communities and help them to re-engage with learning.

By the time the impoverished children following his now world-famous Abecedarian approach were 30, they were four times more likely to have earned a university degree, and had far better health, economic and employment outcomes.

Recently he's been working with the University of Melbourne to apply this same Abecedarian method to remote Aboriginal communities.

At the Three Chimneys event, Professor Sparling will discuss how quality education in the early years can bring benefits for life.

Event details: UOW’s Three Chimneys Public Forum is on Thursday 9 October, from 4.30-6.00pm at Three Chimneys – Unit 3 63/65 Crown Street, Wollongong (behind the IPAC Theatre).

Note to media: Professor Sparling will be available for interview on Thursday 9 October.

Media contact: Elise Pitt, Media & PR Officer, +61 2 4221 3079, +61 422 959 953, epitt@uow.edu.au.