Dr Jennifer Masters, from the Early Childhood Education program at La Trobe University, will take paintings by Loti Floyd, 5, and Audrey Grose, 4, to the World Forum on Early Care and Education in Honolulu, which she is attending on behalf of La Trobe University.

“In conjunction with the forum they have an art exhibition and every participant brings a picture,” she said.

The colourful paintings are of Bendigo’s Sun Loong dragon, a subject the children have been covering in the South Bendigo Kindergarten’s after-school care program.

Dr Masters said she was impressed by the standard of the youngsters’ art.

“I work with young children and computers using things like iPads and social networking,” she said.

Dr Masters is co-ordinator of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education program at La Trobe, which is running for the first time this year and has 37 students.

“It’s good for Bendigo because we have a shortage of early childhood teachers and we also offer opportunities for people wanting to get more skills in early childhood,” she said.

Dr Masters will depart for the forum today at which 700 other early childhood specialists from around the world are expected to attend.