The best of early childhood news!

Welcome to the latest issue of the award winning ECA WebWatch. This issue of WebWatch focuses on equality and diversity.

In this issue:

• the Early Childhood Australia 2010 National Conference a great success
• giving families more access to preschool
• MP Kate Ellis responds to private childcare sector’s stance on childcare costs
• address the nation—end Indigenous disparity in one generation
• social justice Commissioner welcomes child protection approach in the NT
• large organisation introduces new childcare allowance
• attitudes harden towards the lot of a working mother
• valuing male childcare professionals
• too much TV is bad for children’s mental health
• hygiene and safety standards in childcare: what parents should look out for…
• announcing a new Australian website for early years practitioners
• teaching degrees for remote communities
• including Indigenous Australia in your service
• case study: two Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services achieving Accreditation
• National Children’s Week 2010

Plus regular WebWatch items:

• Early Years Learning Framework Professional Learning Project update
• quality–assured early childhood resources
• ECA Greenwatch
• find ECA on Facebook!

Early Years Learning Framework Professional Learning Project update

The four initial Implementing the EYLF sessions presented at the conference have now been uploaded to the EYLF PLP website as Master Classes (beta versions).

Help others to learn from your experiences—send us your case studies

If your service has already started implementing the EYLF and you have a story/case study that you think represents the everyday reality of the EYLF in your service, the author of the EYLF PLP e-Newsletter would like to hear from you! For more information, please visit the EYLF PLP homepage.

For those of you that have not yet visited the EYLF PLP Forum, it is well underway and our EYLF PLP Champions are happy to answer your questions.

The Early Childhood Australia 2010 National Conference a great success

The Early Childhood Australia National Conference 2010 in Adelaide was a resounding success. With almost 1200 delegates attending across the three days, the conference provided inspirational opportunities to explore and develop early childhood education and care. Some of the highlights included the Keynote Speaker addresses, the exhibition hall and the exciting social program.

Look out for the papers, videos and transcripts of Keynote speakers available for download—coming soon.

Giving families more access to preschool

In Federal Minister for Early Childhood Peter Garrett’s recent media release, he reiterates that the National Quality Agenda, the Childcare Rebate and the Paid Parental Leave scheme have all been implemented to make high quality childcare accessible to every Australian child—creating equal opportunities for Australia’s diverse children to have a good start to their future.

MP Kate Ellis responds to private childcare sector’s stance on childcare costs

Read Federal Minister for Child Care, Kate Ellis’ response to the argument made by some entities within the private child care sector, that the price of childcare will need to rise between $13 and $22 a day due to rises in childcare quality.

Address the nation—end Indigenous disparity in one generation

Watch the address to the nation on the future of Indigenous Australians. Tune-in Sunday 24 October, 7 pm on any TV channel to witness this historical event. Find out more by watching the introductory video here.

Social Justice Commissioner welcomes child protection approach in the NT

‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda, has welcomed the report released yesterday by the Board of Inquiry into the NT's Child Protection system and congratulated the NT Government for its prompt response … to support the development of culturally appropriate child safety and family support services…’ based on ‘…child protection models to focus on prevention rather than punishment’. Read on.

Large organisation introduces new childcare allowance

‘ANZ has announced a new childcare allowance worth $4,000 in order to promote top-tier talent returning to work after taking Paid Parental Leave’ in order to ‘...attract and retain talented women’ and improve ‘...the representation of women in senior executive roles and on boards’. Read the full story here.

Attitudes harden towards the lot of a working mother

A recent study carried out at the University of Queensland into gender equality has shown that ‘...women's movement into paid work was accepted as long as it did not challenge their role as mothers’.

Valuing male childcare professionals

This article published by the National Childcare Accreditation Council (NCAC) talks about the value of male childcare professionals, as role models for male children and as role models for society to show that ‘...real men care for others’.

Too much TV is bad for children’s mental health

A study at the University of Bristol, UK, has found that ‘...children who spend more than two hours a day watching television or playing computer games could be at greater risk’ of developing psychological problems.

Hygiene and safety standards in childcare: What parents should look out for…

This helpful article by Careforkids.com.au outlines some of the key things parents should be able to find out when selecting childcare services for their children.

Announcing a new Australian website for early years practitioners

Have a look at this new Early childhood care and education: Developing and sustaining pedagogical leadership website. This valuable resource is a free open source learning website, that aims to stimulate thinking in relation to working across the early years with a focus on integrated practice.

Teaching degrees for remote communities

Read about how ‘Charles Sturt University (CSU) is making its education courses more accessible to Indigenous people living in western communities’.

Including Indigenous Australia in your service

This resource created by the National Childcare Accreditation Council (NCAC) assists childcare services to foster inclusive environments in childcare services by understanding and embracing the histories and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Case study: Two Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services achieving Accreditation

This resource offers case studies of two Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services overcoming challenges during the Child Care Quality Assurance (CCQA) procedure, and offers insight into ways other centres can successfully participate in the CCQA.

National Children’s Week 2010

National children’s week is 23—31 October 2010, and celebrates the right of children to enjoy childhood. Find out more information on what activities and events are happening in your state to celebrate the right of children to enjoy childhood.

ECA Greenwatch

Tiny tots show the way to an eco-friendly world

Check out these practical ideas from the Little Nest Nursery at Mankhool, United Arab Emirates, where the children are ‘...being taught the need to save paper early on.’ 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.

Here are some books that offer inspiration and guidance about developing an inclusive environment and celebrating diversity in your service.

All the colors we are: The story of how we get our skin color

Magnificent photographs and simple, engaging language capture the essence of one way we are special and different from one another. Answers the 'what and why' questions that children love to ask about skin colour, and includes unique activity ideas.

Building Bridges book and DVD pack

A project involving Indigenous children and families. The narratives provide insight into differing cultural experiences and provide a framework for thinking about the many ways that literacy develops.

Diversity and difference: Lighting the spirit of identity

An inspiring yet confronting insight into the perceptions of cultural and racial equity of young children from a variety of backgrounds.

Diversity in early care and education

For anyone who wants to understand more about race, gender, ability, religion, social class and status and how these diverse issues relate to children.

Find ECA on Facebook!

Join Early Childhood Australia on Facebook, and help us create another way in which we can advocate for Australia's children, raise awareness and recruit more supporters.

ECA website usability survey

We need your help! We are asking people who use the ECA website for their opinions. Can you please spare a minute to answer our four simple questions? We'll use this information to make a better website. Please help us out with ECA's website usability survey.

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ECA WebWatch - Issue 100, October 2010. © Early Childhood Australia.