Episode 4: Elevating Practitioner Inquiry

Practitioner inquiry is often misunderstood; seen as complex, academic or something extra to fit into already busy days. In this episode, we gently reframe what inquiry really is and why it matters so deeply across all age groups.  

At its heart, practitioner inquiry is about noticing, wondering, reflecting together and responding intentionally. It’s not about having the answers, rather about being curious.  

We explore how this approach aligns with Gowrie NSW’s Program Foundation of Practitioner Inquiry, where educators are recognised as thinkers and researchers and inquiry is embedded into everyday practice rather than ‘added on’ as professional development.  

Through a birth to 3 age lens, we unpack why inquiry is particularly important in infant and toddler settings where much of the work is relational and often invisible. Inquiry helps make this work visible; it supports equitable decision-making and strengthens educators’ professional judgement.  

This episode highlights what inquiry makes possible: professional courage, deeper collaboration and intentional practice. As Gowrie NSW pedagogical coaches, our role is not to provide answers, but to create the conditions where educators feel safe to question, reflect and act.  

When inquiry becomes a way of working, it strengthens relationships, builds educator agency and improves outcomes for children and families.  

Hosts:  Michelle Richardson & Victoria McDowell   

Guest:  Fiona Veld-Brown   

Recommended audience:  Aimed at educators and teachers in early and middle childhood service settings at any stage of their professional career who are interested in different ways of working, action research and being agents of change through practitioner inquiry.  

Links:  

• Education Hub Gowrie NSW Education Hub  
• Professional Learning Calendar 2026 Online Flipbook  
• Thought Leadership Article: Embracing Practitioner Inquiry at  Gowrie NSW  
• Book: Unlocking Practitioner Inquiry: Growing Professionally in Early Years 

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