The early childhood news you need to know!

Welcome to this fortnight's edition of ECA WebWatch. Check out Early Childhood Australia's Strategic Directions (2009–2011), which outlines the future direction of our organisation.

Also in this issue:

• New early childhood Minister
• Advanced Teaching Standards national forums
• Changes to Victoria's childcare policy
• Royal Children's Hospital latest policy brief

Plus:

• ECA calendar
• Quality-assured early childhood resources
• ECA GreenWatch

ECA WebWatch feature item

ECA Strategic Directions (2009–2011)
Early Childhood Australia's Strategic Directions (2009–2011) is a significant document, because it outlines the future direction of the organisation.

Early Childhood Australia's goals for 2009–2011 are:

        Goal 1: ECA will be a clear and credible advocate for the rights of young children
        Goal 2: ECA will advocate for and support programs and services that deliver high-quality outcomes for young children
        Goal 3: ECA will be a strong, progressive and sustainable organisation that is future-focused

Download Early Childhood Australia's Strategic Direction's (2009–2011) (PDF)

Kate Ellis named as new Minister for Early Childhood Education, Childcare and Youth

Rudd reshuffles his Ministry
Kevin Rudd has just announced a reshuffle to his Ministry, aiming to underline 'the Australian Government's core priorities of nation building for recovery and strengthening Australia's national security'.

The big news for the early childhood world is that Kate Ellis has been appointed the new Minister for Early Childhood Education, Childcare and Youth. She will continue as Minister for Sport.

Kevin Rudd states that:
'Establishing a Ministry for Early Childhood Education and Childcare for the first time reflects the importance the Australian Government places on these policy challenges.'

Early Childhood Australia looks forward to working with the new Minister on the Government's policies for early childhood.

Advanced Teaching Standards national forums

ECA State and Territory branches will be holding a series of consultation forums on the development of the Advanced Teaching Standards for early childhood. The first will be held in NSW.

NSW Advanced Teaching Standards forum
11 June 2009
6:30–8:30 pm
The Board Room
SDN Children's Services
Level 2, 86-90 Bay Street
Broadway NSW

This forum will be an opportunity to review and discuss the development of Advanced Teaching Standards for early childhood teachers.

For more information, and dates of forums in other states, see the Advanced Teaching Standards Forums on the Early Childhood Australia website.

Royal Children's Hospital latest policy brief

Caring for young children: What young children need
This policy brief explores the importance of secure attachment between young children and their carers. It examines the relationship between stress and nurturing, and provides considerations for policy and programs to ensure that young children receive attentive, sensitive and responsive care.

To read previous policy briefs, visit the RCH website.

Childcare services in Victoria to change their staff-child ratio by 2012

Victorian childcare staff ratio drops to 1-4 from 2012
New Children's Services Regulations passed by the Victorian Government will ensure a staff-child ratio for children under three of 1-4, instead of 1-5, in all childcare centres, from 2012.

By 2014 all staff must have Certificate III training, and will also be required to do first aid training.

Children's emotional learning and development

Feeling safe and in control
Help children learn the skills to control their actions and develop self-regulation, self awareness and social understanding.

Resilience
Resiliency is an important quality in young children – you need to support children to go through the process of becoming resilient.

Visit ECA's Supporting Best Practice link directory, which has been developed to help you extend your knowledge on many topics relating to early childhood. Take advantage of the wealth of resources we have collected, which are relevant to early childhood professionals, parents, other caregivers and early childhood knowledge brokers.

New CEO and new Chair at SNAICC

Learn about the new faces
The Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care recently elected a new chair: Steve Larkins, who brings a wealth of experience in working with Aboriginal children and youth.

There is also a new CEO taking the reigns: Frank Hytten. Frank has been working in community development and with youth since the early 1970s, and has continued in the social and community services as a manager, policy bureaucrat, sector-based trainer and consultant.

SAFE Road Show – 'Safety Around Farms Education'

Attend workshops: 'Play safe, be safe, farm safety'
Safety Around Farms Education Limited (SAFE) is a non-profit organisation which aims to provide young children between three and 10 years of age with safety awareness knowledge and information so that they are better able to assess dangers and behave in a safe manner when living on or visiting a farm, and at home.

SAFE has recently received funding to present the 'SAFE Road Show' workshops across each region in NSW. Download the flyer to find out more information about workshops in: Griffith, Cowra, Cobar and Dubbo.

Download the SAFE workshop registration form (PDF).

ECA GreenWatch

Eco Voice - The environment newsletter
Check out Eco Voice – an online environmental newsletter. Keep up to date with the latest environmental news, check out the eco guide, and find activities and information about greening your centre and helping children learn about sustainability and the environment through games, programs and workshops.

AJEC Online

Don't forget – AJEC is now available online
We've moved your favourite early childhood journal online. Electronic access is now free to all current subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, sign up now to benefit from this great new feature. If not, subscribe today to receive Australasia's premier scholarly early childhood journal.

Quality-assured early childhood resources

All of ECA's publications are peer–reviewed by early childhood experts, so you can be assured that all publications are of the highest quality and relevance to you and your work.

Dealing with bullying together: Prevention and resolution
Bullying is damaging both to children who are bullied and those who bully, as well as the parents of these children. This book offers a holistic approach to dealing with bullying in early childhood.

Safe sleep space: A gentle, loving approach for helping infants and children find sleep
Responding to a crying child is a natural instinct. Listening and responding to infant cries is the basis for understanding the needs of infants. This method shows a gentle, loving way of promoting feelings of safety and security in infants and young children.

ECA Calendar

Connecting with families regional training day and 40th annual general meeting
18 June 2009
Dubbo, Kingscliffe, Newcastle and Albury

Community Connections Solutions Australia (CCSA) invites you to attend their Regional Training Day and join in the celebrations for CCSA's 40th anniversary.

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

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

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Past issues of ECA WebWatch are available on the Early Childhood Australia website.

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ECA WebWatch - Issue 74, June 2009. © Early Childhood Australia.