All the early childhood news you need to know!

Welcome to the latest edition of ECA WebWatch. This fortnight, check out the information regarding the federal government's proposed mandatory internet filter, and what children's rights groups are saying about it.

Also in this issue:

• The impact of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment
• Children's rights
• National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day 2009

Plus:

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

ECA WebWatch feature item

Child protection advocates join campaign against net censorship
Several organisations, including Save the Children, Civil Liberties Australia, the National Children's and Youth Law Centre and GetUp! have united to urge the federal government to cease its plan for mandatory internet censorship.

The plan will filter all internet traffic and block a range of 'prohibited' material. Under the proposal, the government's list of blocked sites will remain secret.

Child protection advocates argue that:
'The proposed filter fails to meet the test of an effective child protection measure that respects the rights of children. Mandatory internet filtering curtails our human rights without offering any effective protection for children ... We argue that the tens of millions of dollars that such a scheme will cost should instead be diverted to appropriate child protection authorities and police to prevent the abuse of children, and towards effective community based education strategies that give children and parents the skills to protect themselves.'

For further information, read the GetUp! factsheet.

Submit an abstract for 2nd National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family & Community Strengths Conference

'Strong Story l Strong Mob l Strong Kids l Growing Up Together'
The 2nd National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family and Community Strengths Conference will be held from 1 – 3 December 2009.

You are invited to submit your abstract for consideration. For more information on the different kinds of presentations, and requirements for the conference, visit the conference website.

You can also learn more about the conference or register online.

Teaching for and about children's rights

Children's rights everyday
Support children's rights by learning about the Convention on the Rights of the Child and think about how its principles can be mirrored in everyday practice with young children.

Teaching for children's rights – A framework
Learn about the underlying principles of human rights, and how to put these into a framework for working with children.

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

SNAICC respond to new report on the consequences of Indigenous incarceration on children

Bridges and Barriers – The impact of incarceration on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
The National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Committee of the Australian National Council on Drugs (NIDAC) has released a new report titled Bridges and Barriers - Addressing Indigenous Incarceration and Health, describing the appalling rates and consequences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment.

In broad terms SNAICC supports the report's recommendations, in particular the relaxation of requirements to enter juvenile diversion programs and the development of an individual education support fund to assist their participation within the education system.

National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day 2009

Support Children's Day on or around 4 August 2009
The theme for 2009 is 'Good Child Protection – We do it better together'.

National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day is an opportunity for families, community and service providers to come together socially to share, network, learn, recognise and build upon the strengths of family and community partnerships.

To get some ideas for activities, to register your event or to order activity kits, visit the SNAICC website.

ECA GreenWatch

A healthy, green alternative to traditional fundraisers
Australian schools, kindergartens and community organisations now have a fun, fat-free alternative to the chocolate drive with 'Living Fundraisers' – a new organisation which offers kits of vegetable or herb seeds for children to sell as fundraisers for their school. The kits encourage students and families to get out into the garden, and soon they will be able to reap the benefits with healthy, fresh food.

5% of all vegetable seed sales are donated to the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation.

Free environmental workshops from ECEEN

If you are a teacher or parent at a child care service or lower primary school program, the NSW Early Childhood Environmental Education Network (NSW ECEEN), together with Hornsby Shire Council, invites you to participate in their ECO CENTRES for Early Childhood project.

This free course consists of five workshops designed to inspire your program to embrace sustainable practices and enhance environmental awareness.

For more information about how to attend these workshops, download the information flier, or to register your interest, download the expression of interest form.

ECA has a new home!

The Early Childhood Australia National Office has recently moved from our long-time home in Majura Primary.

We can now be found at:
     7/42 Geils Court
     DEAKIN ACT 2600

Our new postal address is:
     PO Box 86
     DEAKIN WEST ACT 2600

Help young children have fun with science!

Experiment and learn in the kitchen
Help children experiment and learn about science with these fun tips and experiments, using materials you will already have in your home.

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.

A piece of cake? Inclusive practices in early childhood settings.
An opportunity for all early childhood professionals to reflect on their current practice, while enhancing their understanding of inclusion for children with a disability or developmental delay, and their families.

Capture the moment: Using digital photography in early childhood settings
Digital photography opens up a whole new world of communication within early childhood settings, giving scope for devising more effective ways of engaging children, producing resources and encouraging interaction with parents.

ECA Calendar

National Tree Day 2009 – Schools Tree Day
31 July 2009
Australia-wide

Drop the books and get outside – it's tree-planting time! Schools Tree Day is a 'tree-mendous' opportunity for children to take an active role in helping protect the environment and combat climate change.

Connecting empathically with children – training workshop
10 - 13 August 2009
Jubilee Hall
Macedon
VIC

Presented by The Empathy Foundation, this professional facilitator training is for people who work with children and families, and all who know and care deeply about how we treat children and their importance for humanity's future.

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
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ECA WebWatch – Issue 77, July #2 2009. © Early Childhood Australia.