First day

The first day of school is a major step in the developmental process of children everywhere. This program follows 11 new starters from various religious, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds on their first day of school. Tim, the child of a fourth generation farming family in the Mallee, Sarah from Melbourne’s Turkish community, Roland, only child going to school in Rose Bay, Sydney, twins Kate and Jessie, Isaac in Nimbin, Ashleigh from a new housing estate in Melbourne’s East, Matthew and Jessie, twins with special needs, Sam, heading to a one teacher school and Gurrupiya, a small school in North Eastern Arnhem Land. Parents, family and friends discuss how their children have been raised and how it has contributed to their eduction skills thus far. Features footage of children on their first day of school and the thoughts and emotions they are experiencing. Research co-ordinator: Annemarie O’Brien. Narrator: Gordon Glenn.