There has been minimal Australian research focussed on the management and leadership aspects of directors' work in centre-based child care to date. In Australia, practices in early education have been largely drawn from studies in other cultural contexts, particularly research undertaken in the United States. It is timely that Australian research should inform its social policy about quality child care programs. The focus of this research was on the nature and characteristics of effective management and leadership practices in centre-based child care. Research (Jorde Bloom, 1992b; Morgan, 2000; Poster & Neugebauer, 2000; Rodd, 1994) indicates that quality of child care programs is influenced mostly by the leadership that the centre director can provide to staff within the centre. The conceptual framework adopted in this study views leadership from a Social Systems framework. Central to a Social Systems framework is the notion that organisations do not exist in isolation rather, leadership and management in these settings are embedded in a broader social context. A Social Systems Model has received little attention in contemporary research on child care in Australia, and this study aims to build a framework for future studies in this area. The aim was to investigate leadership and management in child care in social, legislative and economic context. The findings seek to inform researchers, policy makers and practitioners. Eight directors were purposively selected from community-based and privately based centres in urban and rural areas, and from accredited centres in South East Queensland. The selection of varying locations allowed the researcher to gain a broader perspective of the directors' daily lives, as different contextual and environmental conditions were anticipated to influence management and leadership within the child care centres. Within this study, case studies of directors of child care centres were developed through interviews with the directors. The interview methodology focussed on exploratory semi-structured, open-ended questions in relation to management and leadership in centre-based child care. Directors were interviewed on two occasions within a three month period. In the current context of the delivery of child care services in a market driven climate, the language of business and organisational theory has entered the lexicon of the early childhood field (Press, 1999). The findings indicate that the director of a child care centre needs to have training and experience in business management and leadership to enhance their competencies for management of centres in today's competitive environment. Growth in child care franchises is significantly changing and truly developing a "child care industry" (Murdoch, 2004). Also, consideration needs to be given to increasing accountability in child care service delivery, and how to better support directors in their role as advocates in the broader early childhood field. Further, families in specific communities have varying needs and early childhood programs should reflect the needs of the local community. Leadership models within child care centres should encompass the micro and macro influences on the operation of centres. Literature suggests that early childhood centres provide an opportune place to support families in a variety of ways through integrating support services to address the underlying social and policy factors that affect young children and their families (Commonwealth of Australia, 2003; Corter, 2001).

La saine alimentation dès le plus jeune âge est essentielle dans la prévention de l’obésité. Pour y arriver, les mesures de promotion doivent être présentes dans tous les milieux fréquentés par l’enfant, incluant le service de garde (SG). C’est d’ailleurs l’un des buts de l’organisme Croquarium avec son programme Un trésor dans mon jardin (UTJ). Objectif. Analyser les perceptions d’intervenantes du milieu de la petite enfance concernant l’implantation et l’impact du programme UTJ sur l’environnement alimentaire des enfants qui y sont exposés. Méthode. Les perceptions des intervenantes en SG et de Croquarium ont été recueillies par le biais d’entretiens semi-dirigés. L’analyse qualitative des données est basée sur une adaptation de la théorie écologique du développement humain de Bronfenbrenner. Résultats. Au total, quatorze entrevues ont été menées. Les répondantes ont perçu des changements dans plusieurs sphères de l’environnement alimentaire, soit dans les activités réalisées avec les enfants et leurs comportements face à l’alimentation, mais aussi au niveau des relations avec les parents. De plus, il semble que les principales barrières à la pérennité d’UTJ soient le manque de temps, une implication déficiente des intervenantes en SG et des ressources financières insuffisantes. Conclusion. Cette étude a permis de mieux comprendre comment est implanté UTJ en SG. Entre autres, il semble que l’arrivée d’UTJ ait modifié positivement l’environnement alimentaire des enfants participants. Toutefois, les données recueillies suggèrent que pour assurer la pérennité du programme en SG, l’implication de tous les acteurs du milieu est nécessaire. / Healthy eating starting during early childhood is essential for obesity prevention. To be successful, its promotion must be done everywhere children evolve, including in child-care settings. This is one of the goals pursued by the organization Croquarium with their program Un trésor dans mon jardin (a treasure in my garden) (UTJ). Objective. To analyse child care providers’ and Croquarium team members’ perceptions of the implementation and impact of UTJ on the food environment of children exposed to this project. Methods. Respondents’ perceptions were obtained by semi-structured interviews. Qualitative analysis of the data was based on an adaptation of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Social Theory. Results. In the end, fourteen interviews were conducted. Respondents perceived changes in many areas, like in the type of activities realized with children and their behaviours around food, but also in the communications with parents. Furthermore, it seems that the major obstacles of UTJ’s continuity is the lack of time, the lack of involvement from child-care providers and insufficient financial resources. Conclusion. This study gives us a better understanding of how UTJ is implemented in child-care settings. Also, it appears that UTJ has a positive influence on the food environment of participating children. However, data suggest that the involvement of every stakeholder is needed.

The study examined the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents infected with HIV and AIDS. This was a qualitative study that involved semi-structured interviews and observation. The sampling method used was purposive and it entailed 10 adolescents (4 boys and 6 girls) who are living with HIV at Chiedza Child Care Centre in Zimbabwe. This study revealed that adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health needs are the desire to have sex, desire to have children, the need for prevention of unwanted pregnancy and care and treatment support. However, their knowledge of HIV and AIDS was inadequate. Adolescents also revealed their lack of proper information regarding their health care and treatment needs. However, adolescents illustrated an adequate knowledge of the services available for them for their health, treatment and care needs. The study recommended that there is need to strengthen the provision of information and services on adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health issues. The study also recommended that counsellors should improve their counselling skills so that they can empower adolescents living with HIV to be able to negotiate condom usage, matters of dating and handling relationships. / Sociology / M. A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV and AIDS)