The best of early childhood news! Welcome to the latest issue of ECA WebWatch featuring the Early Childhood Development Workforce: Release of final report. In this issue: The Bandaged Bear Appeal—March 2012 Early Childhood Development Workforce: Release of final report SNAICC on the National Framework for the Protection of Australia's Children 2009–2020 when the best start in life turns out to be an early start Fraser Mustard—a life devoted to healthy development for all Goodstart Early Learning launches with a commitment to champion early years frequent cuddles from mum could help children resist taking drugs Australian Government launches the Inclusion and Professional Support Program (IPSP) National Children''s Commissioner. Plus regular ECA WebWatch items: Early Years Learning Framework Professional Learning Program update ECA Greenwatch quality–assured early childhood resources conferences and dates the ECA values statements.

If you have a trusted resource you would like to share with other ECEC practitioners in the field, we would like to hear from you. Email us to start sharing. Email us if you have an ECEC-related conference or event that you would like to publicise in ECA WebWatch. Join the ECA WebWatch mailing list. Access previous editions of ECA WebWatch. Go to the Early Childhood Australia homepage.

Thank you to all our members and readers for your support during 2011. We wish you a wonderful festive season and a happy New Year in 2012!

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Appeals

The Bandaged Bear Appeal—March 2012

The Children's Hospital at Westmead's biggest fundraiser for the year—the Bandaged Bear Appeal—will take place again in March 2012. Next March lets come together as a community to touch the lives of seriously-ill children through making donations or purchasing Bandaged Bear merchandise. Donations made throughout the Appeal go to areas of our Hospital most in need, including research into childhood illness, equipment and the provision of patient services. Keep an eye out for 2012 updates!

Early childhood news

Early Childhood Development Workforce: Release of final report

The Productivity Commission Early Childhood Development Workforce report looks into how the early childhood workforce needs to change for the Australian Government's reform agenda to take effect.

SNAICC on the National Framework for the Protection of Australia's Children 2009–2020

This article talks about SNAICC (Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care) members' reflections on the National Framework for the Protection of Australia's Children, 2009–20.

When the best start in life turns out to be an early start

This article talks about how measures of early childhood development are important indicators to future skills and the role that quality early childhood education and care plays in shaping the economic future of Australia.

Fraser Mustard—a life devoted to healthy development for all

This tribute to the late Fraser Mustard talks about his far-reaching impact on the development of early childhood policy around the world and the research that he conducted which underpinned these developments. Read the tribute to Fraser Mustard, with links to some of Fraser Mustard's groundbreaking research.

Goodstart Early Learning launches with a commitment to champion early years

More than 650 ABC Learning centres across Australia have be renamed Goodstart Early Learning, in line with their vision and new strategic direction. Goodstart was founded by Mission Australia, The Benevolent Society, The Brotherhood of St Lawrence and Social Ventures Australia in 2009, and has 15,000 dedicated staff caring for and educating 72,000 children in all states and territories. Goodstart's vision is for Australia's children to have the best possible start in life; to inspire a love of learning. For more information, visit www.goodstart.org.au.

Frequent cuddles from mum could help children resist taking drugs

'An attentive, nurturing mother may be the key to helping her children resist the temptations of drug use as adults', a study carried out by Researchers from Duke University and the University of Adelaide in Australia, has found. Read the full article.

National Quality Framework

Australian Government launches the Inclusion and Professional Support Program (IPSP)

In this media release, the Hon Kate Ellis announces that $350 million in grant funding will be made available to quality organisations '… to deliver professional development and inclusion support for early childhood education and care services'. Find more information about the Inclusion and Professional Support Program (IPSP) and how to apply for grants.

Supporting ECEC practitioners

A national Children's Commissioner

The Australian Government has released a discussion paper exploring the possible role for a National Children's Commissioner in safeguarding the rights and nurturing the development of children which is one of the most important responsibilities of any government. Written responses to this paper can be provided to the Children's Policy Branch, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs at child.protection@fahcsia.gov.au, no later than Friday December 16, 2011.

EYLF Professional Learning Program update

Announcing What do you think?

We are happy to announce the new weekly EYLF PLP feature pieces by Anne Stonehouse—a respectable presence in the early childhood profession. Her What do you think? opinion articles surrounding National Quality Standard (NQS) topics will be posted on the Facebook Notes tab every Friday. Read and share the first article Responding to Children's Creations, posted last Friday (9 December 2011). We welcome you to leave your comments on her postings.

New Vignette in the Observing Practice series is now available

Finger paint—a great sensory and fun experience video Vignette is now available on the EYLF PLP Facebook page. Discuss the learning that is taking place with other members of the EYLF PLP Facebook community. Ask yourself: 'What type of interactions can I see?', when you watch all the Vignettes in the Observing Practice series. This video is also downloadable for offline viewing; the instructions for downloading are available just underneath the Vignette on Facebook.

ECA Greenwatch

Do the right thing, use the right bin

'A recent recycling initiative launched West Australian Basketball Centre during the 'Race to Recycle', a competition involving 60 Perth school children, has made an effort to support the recovery and recycling of plastic and glass bottles and aluminium cans.' Read on…

Quality–assured early childhood resources

All of ECA's publications are peer-reviewed by early childhood experts, so you can be assured that all our publications are of the highest quality, and relevant to you and your work. Why not browse the range of Early Childhood Australia publications available as e-books? Here are two suggestions:

Discovering letters and sounds
Letters and sounds are the foundation blocks for communication—the pathway to success in school and life. Make early literacy learning a fun and exciting process, using activities to tune young children's ears, learn about rhymes; connect letters with sounds, and more!

Capture the moment: Using digital photography in early childhood settings
Digital photography opens up a whole new world of communication within early childhood settings, giving scope for devising more effective ways of engaging children, producing resources and encouraging interaction with parents.

Conferences and dates

New Zealand's 13th Annual Early Childhood Research Conference—26–28 January 2012
Concept-based Curriculum and Instruction for Elementary Schools—14–15 February 2012
Training and professional development: Family Partnership Facilitator Training Program—15–17, 20–22 February, 2012
Building Language and Literacy Skills through Spontaneous Dramatic Play—22–24 February
Implementing Differentiated Instruction in Your Classroom : PreK to Elementary—27–29 February 2012
Using Media Texts to Support Persuasive Language—3, 5 & 6 March 2012
The 3rd Australian Conference on Children and the Media—The Corporate takeover of childhood: who’s paying the price?—9 March 2012
2012 Sunshine Coast C&K Conference—17 March 2012
Orff Level 1 & 2 Courses—10–14 April 2012
2012 Montessori International Conference And Masterclasses—11–15 April 2012
QSA’s Annual Conference 2012—11–13 April 2012
Child Friendly Cities Conference—Valuing Children as Citizens—1–2 May 2012
Australian Community Children’s Services (ACCS) Conference—18–19 May 2012
New Zealand Early Childhood Council 2012 Conference—25–27 May 2012
2012 Brisbane C&K Conference—26–27 May 2012
Inclusive Strategies for Special Needs Learners—30–31 May 2012
Technology in K-12 Education National Congress 2012—30 May–1 June 2012
2012 Early Childhood Education Conference—1–2 June 2012
Practical And Effective Strategies for Implementing Differentiated Instruction in the Elementary Classroom workshop—1–2 June 2012
Family Day Care Australia National Conference: Children—The heart of the dream—18–21 July 2012
National Protective Behaviours Australia Conference—20–21 July 2012
Early Childhood Australia National Conference: Consulting the Compass—defining directions—3–6 October 2012

The ECA Events Calendar has been disabled until further notice due to technical difficulties. Contact us to have your conference or event added to the ECA WebWatch calendar.

The ECA values statements

Early Childhood Australia is guided in its work by endorsed values. These sit alongside ECA’s Principles, Positions, Code of Ethics, Scope of Activities and Governance Guidelines as our Foundation Materials. With the other Foundation Materials the ECA values inform ECA’s Strategic Directions and all our day-to-day work. View the ECA Values statements.

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ECA WebWatch - Issue 129, December 2011. © Early Childhood Australia.

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