The latest news, links and resources every fortnight ...

In this bumper issue of ECA WebWatch:

• Apply now for travel support to ECA's Biennial Conference
• Quality Standards Framework consultations
• Paid parental leave campaign
• Learning through play outdoors
• Creating a safe world for children
• Developing advanced teaching standards

Plus:

• a message from Margaret Young, ECA National President
• quote of the month
• our second instalment of ECA Greenwatch
• and more!

Travel support for ECA's Biennial Conference

$200 travel subsidy for rural/remote services

DEEWR has provided limited funding to subsidise the travel costs of carers from rural and remote areas of Australia so they can attend the ECA conference. Although there is no submission deadline, funding will be paid in the order of receipt of application, and funds are limited.

Download the application form above.

Register for ECA's 2008 Biennial Conference
3–6 October 2008
National Convention Centre, Canberra

Register now for what will be an outstanding conference that will challenge everyday practice and highlight the big ideas for the field into the future.

Book your place today!

Early Childhood Australia National President message

A few words from Margaret Young

'Over the past few months, along with others in Early Childhood Australia, I have been thinking a lot about some fundamental issues in early childhood education – such as the nature of early learning and outcomes from early education, the nature and quality of teacher education around the country, and the place of early education vis a vis the broad spectrum of education in Australia.'

Read Margaret Young's full President's Message in the upcoming issue of the ECA Voice newsletter.

Quality Standards Framework Consultation

Maxine McKew discusses the Quality Standards Framework
A range of consultations are currently being held across the country in regard to the federal government's proposed Quality Standards Framework.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Child Care, Maxine McKew, gave this important speech recently in Sydney.

Paid parental leave – GetUp Australia campaign

Support the GetUp campaign for paid parental leave
Australia is one of two developed countries without paid maternity leave. Research suggests the federal government should set six to 12 months as a minimum standard.

Add your voice to the GetUp campaign and call for a government commitment to Australian families.

ECA's Supporting Best Practice web directory

Learning environments
These four links from ECA's Supporting Best Practice web directory tackle the issue of children learning through play outdoors.

Research suggests:

'We should provide places where [children] can create, change, and personalise the environment. In addition to reflecting children's inner need to influence their environment (Moore, 1989), this practice also honours children's ways of coming to know and love the world of nature (Wilson, 1997).'

Botanic Gardens Conservation International, 'Special places for young children'

ECA GreenWatch - Gardening for children

The Horticultural Therapy Association of Victoria
Outlines what children can learn from gardening, how to get children interested, as well as some handy safety tips.

Soil sleuths – exploration activities
and
Gardening hints
These links from the US offer helpful activities and hints for early childhood practitioners.

Protecting children from the dangers of second-hand smoke

Call for nationwide ban on smoking in cars with children
Around 700 million children breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke. The Cancer Council Australia is working with 270 organisations worldwide to give children a smoke-free environment.

Report from UICC: the international union against cancer
A 40-page report on current research into the health consequences of children's exposure to tobacco smoke. Includes recommendations on what can be done to protect children.

Creating a safe world for children

Child Friendly Cities
UNICEF's Child Friendly Cities website is a rich source for knowledge and networking; designed to help anyone working to create safe, healthy and stimulating environments for children.

What makes a child-friendly city?
A useful overview of the characteristics of child-friendly cities and what we can do to create them.

Consulting with children
This Early Childhood Australia position statement, although under review, is well worth a read.

Quote of the month

Training programs for early childhood practitioners are based on competency standards. This month, we offer ECA WebWatch readers a reflection on competency:

'Competency is about delivering the present based on past performance; capability is about imagining the future and bringing it about.

'Competency is about control; capability is about learning and development.

'Competency is about fitness for (usually other people's) purpose; capability is about judging fitness of the purpose itself.'

Stephenson, J. (1992). Capability and quality in higher education. In J. Stephenson & S. Weil (Eds.), Quality in learning: A capability approach in higher education. London: Kogan Page

Developing advanced teaching standards

Early Childhood Australia is collaborating with Teaching Australia to undertake the development of advanced teaching standards for early childhood teachers working with children aged three to eight years. This work will be done over the next 12 months and Early Childhood Australia will consult widely with the sector in developing these standards.

For general information about teaching standards, visit the Teaching Australia website.

Latest calendar events

Early Childhood Australia Biennial Conference
Children: A nation's capital – 'Investing in our children'
3–6 October 2008
National Convention Centre, Canberra

Register now – ECA members can save up to $150 on conference registration!

Every Child Counts 2008 Conference
For our children: A better today, a better tomorrow – What's it going to take?
10–11 September 2008
A dynamic conference featuring leading international and national speakers, youth participation and practical workshops.

NIFTeY/CCCH Conference
Getting it together for Australia's children: What role for parent/child centres?
15–17 February 2009
The first call for papers for the 2009 National Investment for the Early Years / Centre for Community Child Health conference has been released. Please submit abstracts of no more than 250 words to niftey2009@conferenceaction.com.au by 19 September 2008.

Early Childhood Australia's online calendar helps you stay informed about important early childhood events, conferences and dates.

Quality-assured resources

Professional reading is an important part of early childhood advocacy and professional growth. Experienced early childhood practitioners quality assure every book sold by Early Childhood Australia.

Everyday learning about being green demonstrates easy, everyday ways you can engage children in thinking about the environment and the future, and the importance of sustainable practices.

The outdoor playspace naturally: For children birth to five years challenges perceptions about early childhood outdoor playspaces, and suggests ways to inspire change.

Help us expand the ECA WebWatch community
Please pass this e-newsletter service on to friends and colleagues with this link to subscribe: www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/mail

Early Childhood Australia's strength is determined by the strength of its members and supporters. It is only through your support that we can advocate for and on behalf of the sector. As a reader of ECA WebWatch you can make a big difference to the sector. By forwarding this newsletter to colleagues and inviting them to subscribe, you extend our advocacy chain – increasing our ability to communicate and work with the sector.

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
If you have received this copy of ECA WebWatch from a friend and wish to subscribe yourself, simply send a blank email to subscribe@earlychildhood.org.au.
Unsubscribing
If you do not wish to receive ECA WebWatch, send a blank email to unsubscribe@earlychildhood.org.au from the email address it was sent to.
Change of address
Please send an email to webwatch@earlychildhood.org.au, clearly stating your old email address as well as your new address.

(Please remember to add webwatch@earlychildhood.org.au to your safe senders list to ensure that you receive your copy of ECA WebWatch promptly.)

ECA WebWatch - Issue 59, September 2008. © Early Childhood Australia.