Whilst a hierarchy of evidence has been defined for evidence-based practice with randomized- control trials constituting the “gold standard”, less attention has been given to exploring and acknowledging the role of the expert practitioner and the place of practice-based evidence.  If practitioner wisdom is to be fully utilized and valued it must be rigorously defined and the processes through which it comes to influence practice identified. This paper reports on a study which is seeking to do that.

 This project aimed to study the perceptions of early childhood intervention practitioners and researchers working in Australia and internationally and to determine their understanding of practice-based evidence. Specifically: 1) What characterizes the expert practitioner? 2) What makes their practice worth emulating?  3) What is meant by practice-based evidence? 4) Through what processes does expert practice inform intervention?; and 5) What weightings are given to “best evidence”, practitioner expertise and client values in determining practice?

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