This conceptual and theoretical chapter focuses upon the challenges and opportunities of leading in Australian early childhood education (ECE). Leading and leadership in ECE is enacted within a complex landscape comprising complicated legislation, a volatile workforce, comprehensive standards of practice and a diversity of children and families. In that context, the chapter highlights the perceptions that reinforce the challenges of leading in ECE and goes on to discuss an alternative theoretical framework; -complexity leadership theory and complex adaptive systems theory. This framework is proposed as a way of thinking about the emergence of leadership in an environment where educators can
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