Robert is a visual arts lecturer working in primary and early childhood education. He also acts as Project Manager at The University of Melbourne's Early Learning Centre, Abbottsford, a research and demonstration centre that provides an arts-centred early childhood program for children aged 3-5 years. In 2007 Robert will begin a three year role as Senior Research Associate in an ARC project investigating the practices of ArtPlay a unique facility established by The City of Melbourne, that provides artist-led programs for children.

Robert has been a councillor for Arts Education Victoria for several years and acted as secretary in 2006.

Bachelor of Arts and Crafts (Melbourne State College)
PostGraduate Diploma in Education (The University of Melbourne)
Masters of Education (Completed 1996) (The University of Melbourne)

Visual Arts Education (Primary and Early Childhood)
Curriculum Studies

Robert's on-going research interests include;teacher reflection, Indigenous story and storytelling, culture and the arts, and arts-centred pedagogies.

Books

Raban, B., Waniganake, M, Nolan, A., Brown, R., Deans, J. & Ure, C. (2007) Building Capacity: Strategic professional development for early childhood practitioners. South Melbourne: Thomson – Social Science Press

Reereed articles

Jeanneret, N., Brown, R. Bird, J., Sinclair, C., Imms, W., Watkins, M. & Donelan, K. (2006) Encounters with engaging pedagogy: Arts education for the pre-service primary generalist. Surrey Hills, New South Wales: Australia Council for the Arts.
Deans, J. and Brown, R. (2005) Coming Closer. Sharing Australian Aboriginal Stories through Drawing, Painting and Words. International Journal of Diversity in Organisations, Communities and Nations, Vol. 4. www.Diversity-Journal.com
Deans, J., Brown, R. and Dilkes, H. (2005) A place for sound: Raising children’s awareness of their sonic environment. Australian Journal of Early Childhood. Vol.30, No.4, 43-47
Raban, B., Nolan, A., Waniganayake, M., Ure, C., Deans, J., & Brown R. (2005) Empowering Practitioners to Critically Examine their Current Practice. Australian Research in Early Childhood Education. Vol 12, No. 2, 1-16
Brown, R. & Deans, J (2004) Children’s Art-The creative expression of ideas, feelings and life experiences. In Celebrating Children’s Creativity. An Exhibition of Children’s Art. Catalogue. OMEP XXIV World Congress. Melbourne: OMEP
Deans, J., Brown, R., & Care, E. (2004) What do young children have to say about the future and their role in shaping it? In Global Conference on Excellence in Education and Training Proceedings, May 20th-22nd. Singapore Polytechnic. Singapore. (CDRom)
Brown, R and Deans, J. (2003) Expressive Thoughts or Fine Skills? Sharing Perspectives on Arts Education through a China-Australia Cross-cultural Collaboration. Article. Vol 6. No 4, 33-39
Dilkes, H., Deans, J.& Brown, R. (2003) A sense of place: an investigation of sound with young children. Acoustic Ecology International Symposium Proceedings 2003. The World Forum for Acoustic Ecology. WFAE. Melbourne. CD Rom
Raban, B, Waniganayake, M. Deans, J. Brown, R. Ure, C and Reynolds, B (2003) Describing Quality In Practice: Developing A Framework. Journal of Australian Research in Early Childhood Education. Vol 10, No 1. 56-68
Deans, J. and Brown,R. (2003) Including Environmental Education in Early Years Curriculum'. Proceedings of Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa/. New Zealand Childcare Association 40th Annual Conference. Wellington, July 11-13

Multi-media Productions

Deans, J. & Brown, R. (2002) Imagine: an introduction to The University of Melbourne’s Early Learning Centre. Parkville, Vic.: The University of Melbourne (CDRom).

In 2007 Robert will begin a three year role as Senior Research Associate in an ARC Linkage project investigating the practices of ArtPlay a unique facility established by The City of Melbourne, that provides artist-led programs for children aged 3-12 years across all artforms.

This project led by Professor John O'Toole and Dr Neryl Jeanneret, involves a partnership with The City of Melboure and the Australia Council for the Arts. It will use ethnographic and action research methods to investigae the effects on children, over time, of artists working with them in a purpose built art and play environment. The study seeks to identify and define the children's engagement in these workshops, to map the effects in terms of engagement, learning and cultural citizenship. Expected outcomes include increased understanding of the links between art and play and children's engagement in them, and improved programming, training and implementation of arts programs for children at ArtPlay and beyond.