2012 Thinker in Residence – Dr Stuart Shanker

In June 2012, the Commissioner was pleased to bring to Perth one of Canada’s foremost child development specialists Dr Stuart Shanker as the 2012 Thinker in Residence.

The Commissioner welcomed Dr Stuart Shanker as the second Thinker in Residence. 

The theme

During his residency, Dr Shanker examined the importance of self-regulation in children and young people, with a particular focus on pregnancy, infancy and the early years period, where there is a particularly important opportunity to enhance both child and parental self-regulation.

Dr Shanker's research into self-regulation techniques and programs also suggests new approaches to enhance the capacities of children with developmental delays and disorders, and he was able to draw on the success of evidence-based programs in Canada that are strengthening and improving self-regulation in children and young people.

Dr Shanker spoke about what parents, health and other professionals, early childhood educators and teachers can do to enhance the self-regulation of Western Australian children.

Partners 

The 2012 Thinker in Residence project was supported by a number of partner agencies from the government, non-government and private sectors:

• Government of Western Australia
• Rio Tinto
• Western Australian Council of Social Service Inc
• Telethon Kids Institute
• Child Australia
• Edith Cowan University