Your guide to early childhood information on the web!

Welcome to this fortnight's edition of ECA WebWatch. Right now, we are thinking about the new paid parental leave scheme announced by the government.

Also in this issue:

• Australian awards for teaching excellence
• New national framework for protecting children
• Push to ban junk food advertising to kids

Plus:

• ECA calendar
• Quality-assured early childhood resources

ECA WebWatch feature item

Paid parental leave

Paid parental leave a step in the right direction
The government has recently announced a new paid parental scheme, due to come into effect in 2011. The scheme will entitle parents where the primary earner earns less than $150,000 per year to 18 weeks of paid leave after the birth of their child.

Early Childhood Australia CEO Pam Cahir says that 'This is the most robust commitment to children's early development the country has ever seen ... a great first step for children and families.'

We will be discussing this important development further in the next issue of ECA WebWatch.

Help Teaching Australia celebrate our teachers and carers!

Australian Awards for Teaching Excellence
The Australian Awards for Teaching Excellence recognise and celebrate the exceptional achievements of teachers, principals, support staff and schools from early childhood through to senior secondary. The award categories of Excellence by a Teacher and Excellence by a Beginning Teacher are of particular relevance to registered teachers working in early childhood settings.

For more information, visit the Teaching Australia website.

COAG National Child Protection Framework

National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009–2020 (PDF)
All Australian governments have endorsed the first National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009-2020, a long-term, national approach to help protect all Australian children.

The National Framework represents an unprecedented level of collaboration between Australian, State and Territory governments and non-government organisations to protect children.

Read the SNAICC media release about the National Child Protection Framework

Children learning through routines and play

Routines and rituals
Read about how everyday routines and rituals are important in supporting children to manage transitions, and to develop control and social skills.

About play
Articles reflecting on the way children have an inbuilt desire to explore and learn – play is the tool for doing this.

Visit ECA's Supporting Best Practice link directory – an outstanding resource for early childhood professionals, parents, other caregivers and early childhood knowledge brokers.

Save the Children release 'State of the world's mothers' report

Early childhood development report card
Australia is falling behind most of the developed world when it comes to early childhood development, according to the 10th annual State of the world's mothers report released by Save the Children.

Download the Executive summary of the State of the World's Mothers report (PDF)

Download the full State of the World's Mothers report (PDF)

Visit the Save the Children website.

May is Premature Babies Awareness Month

Bonnie Babes Foundation
In Australia, 1 in 20 babies are born prematurely, with almost half of these babies needing to spend time in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. National Premature Babies Awareness Month is an initiative of the Bonnie Babes Foundation, raising awareness for the medical research and equipment required to help premature babies.

Ban junk food advertising to children

Support the ban on junk food advertising
Children do not understand the persuasive intent of advertising, yet they are exposed to around 10 television food ads every day, and almost two thirds of these are for unhealthy foods.

Let the Government know that you want it to put a stop to TV advertising of unhealthy food to children.

You can view the 'Shamburger' campaign ad

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.

Everyday learning about storytelling
This book is aimed at helping parents and carers find the confidence and inspiration to invent and share stories with children.

Nurture through nature
Offers learning methods which blend sensorial, kinesthetic and collaborative experiences, allowing children to explore and connect with nature.

ECA calendar

Family Day Care Australia National Conference 2009
20–23 May 2009
Hotel Grand Chancellor
Hobart

The program will cover hands-on aspects of childcare as well as current research and forward thinking approaches to early learning.

2009 Early Childhood Education Conference
29 May 2009 – 'Our sector'
30 May 2009 – 'Our world'
Caulfield Racecourse
Melbourne

This conference aims is to inspire early childhood professionals and organisations, and further the provision of quality care in early childhood.

Visit Early Childhood Australia's online calendar – it's the easy way to keep track of important events, conferences and dates.

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.

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ECA WebWatch - Issue 72, May 2009. © Early Childhood Australia.