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Welcome to another huge ECA WebWatch! This issue keeps you up to date with some of Early Childhood Australia's recent advocacy work.
There are also great links on:
- standing up for Indigenous children
- supporting children's developing language and communication skills
- how to communicate effectively with policy-makers and the public
- creating policy based on research into brain development.
Plus the latest early childhood news, events and quality-assured resources.
Early Childhood Australia advocacy
What needs to happen in child care?
This open letter from Pam Cahir, CEO of Early Childhood Australia, was addressed to the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) and was also sent to Government and Opposition.
In her letter, Ms Cahir tackles 'an unwillingness to address the fundamental issues facing child care in this country', and argues that 'we can not fix the childcare system by tinkering around the edges'.
Responses to the letter are invited; please email webwatch@earlychildhood.org.au.
Early Childhood Australia and Thomson Education Direct
Thomson Education Direct now provides all of its Certificate III and Diploma students with student membership of Early Childhood Australia and a subscription to the Everyday Learning Series for one year.
This means these students are all in contact with Early Childhood Australia—when they receive Every Child magazine, the ECA Voice newsletter, the Everyday Learning Series and the fortnightly ECA WebWatch e-newsletter—and they are linked into all of the activities of ECA's state/territory branches.
Click here for more information about membership of Early Childhood Australia.
Early Childhood Australia's purpose in entering into this relationship is to:
- provide direct support to early childhood students as they enter the profession, by linking them to branches
- support them as beginning early childhood professionals by providing access to Every Child magazine and other high-quality early childhood information
- give them information about current professional issues through ECA Voice and ECA WebWatch newsletters.
Early Childhood Australia is keen for other registered training organisations to provide their students with ECA membership and subscription to the Everyday Learning Series. Please contact Early Childhood Australia if you are interested.
Aboriginal child protection and disadvantage
'Take action': Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS)
ACOSS is calling on everyone who cares for children to show your support for effective and proven ways of protecting children in the Northern Territory. See the display box on the left of the ACOSS homepage for a quick way to email your local Member of Parliament.
Racism and prejudice (Supporting Best Practice)
This collection of links from Early Childhood Australia's Supporting Best Practice web directory provides practical advice to assist carers and educators in working against racism and prejudice in young children's lives.
ECA WebWatch, Issue 32, July 2007
You may have missed the most recent issue of ECA WebWatch, in which we took an in-depth look at the Government's intervention in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory.
Practical support for language development
Learning play and speech
A handy reference chart outlining how children's play develops over time, and suggestions of how you can support this.
Communication tips for preschool children
Dozens of great ideas, categorised by age group, to support children's development of speech and language skills.
Nurturing learning and literacy with non-confident learners through the Learning Basket Approach
An overview of a fantastic approach for parents lacking confidence in learning, which also benefits their children.
Early childhood policy and research
Framing early childhood development
Recommendations for infant/toddler professionals and advocates
How early childhood researchers and professionals should frame their arguments to engage policy-makers and the public, so they can understand the issues and become our allies in advocating for children.
The science of early childhood development: Closing the gap between what we know and what we do (PDF)
An inspiring document which encourages us to take stock of decades of research into young children's brain development—rather than chasing new, unproven ideas—so that we can make the most effective decisions about how we teach.
Enriching children, enriching the nation: Facts and figures (PDF)
This fact sheet is US-based, but its data on the costs and benefits of investment in children is very relevant to Australia's early childhood sector.
Latest early childhood news
Visit the Early Childhood Australia news page for the latest developments in the sector.
Early childhood events
Early Childhood Australia's online calendar is the quick and easy way to keep track of what's happening in early childhood!
National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day
Raise children strong in culture: Pathways to healing and revival
4 August 2007
National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day is a time for all educators and carers in children's services throughout the country to celebrate children and their importance to Indigenous communities. The day is hosted by the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC).
What Works For Children – Bridging the Gaps conference
Effective integration of early childhood services
29–30 August 2007
Rydges Lakeside, Canberra
This conference will focus on successful models of inter-sectoral integration and collaboration in early childhood service delivery systems; and will explore policy, practice and research in an interactive way that focuses on solutions.
Parenting resource
The Raising Children Network website is a great source of ideas and practical advice for Australian parents.
Quality-assured resources from Early Childhood Australia
Dreaming Stories: A springboard for learning is a special book and DVD set giving children an experience of the Dreaming Stories which creates a unique launch pad to explore a huge range of learning areas.
Marketing play: Using marketing strategies to explain the benefits of a play approach in early childhood education borrows the ideas and language of marketing to help carers and educators to 'sell' the value of play.
Let us know what you think!
We welcome any suggestions or comments you have: webwatch@earlychildhood.org.au.
Past issues of ECA WebWatch are available on the Early Childhood Australia website.
Subscribing
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ECA WebWatch - Issue 33, July#2 2007. © Early Childhood Australia.
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