Your guide to early childhood news on the web!

Welcome to the latest edition of ECA WebWatch. In this issue, we encourage you to read through Early Childhood Australia's response to the Regulatory Impact Statement for Early Childhood Education and Care Quality Reforms.

Also in this issue:

• Report on child health
• Diversity and inclusion
• The power of storytelling

Plus:

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

ECA WebWatch feature item

ECA response to Regulatory Impact Statement for Early Childhood Education and Care Quality Reforms

Early Childhood Australia supports the vision that underpins the National Quality Standards and Rating Framework.

ECA believes that this is a moment in time when it is possible for the nation to chart a course for real quality reform in the early childhood education and care sector. We believe this because the proposals in the Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement for Early Childhood Education and Care Quality Reforms (RIS) are an attempt to come to terms with what the evidence says about the structural and process characteristics of high quality early childhood services. This is a first for Australia.

New health report released

Preventative Health Taskforce release new report
The government has recently released a new report on the current state of health in Australia. The report 'seeks to constructively influence markets, develop and implement effective policies, enhance national preventative health infrastructure, and overcome the limited implementation of past and existing national strategies.'

Study offers potential new outline for marketing food
Research on food marketing to children requires a better understanding of the research gaps in order to inform the development of cohesive arguments and policy.

This study looks at four different components of research: exposure, effects of exposure, regulation and breaches of regulation.

KidsMatter State/Territory Facilitator positions available with Early Childhood Australia

Applications open for KidsMatter State/Territory Facilitators
The Department of Health and Ageing has funded Early Childhood Australia, working with the Australian Psychological Society (PSA) and beyondblue: the national depression initiative, to create and trial a framework to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children aged birth to school age in preschools and long day care centres.

State/Territory Officers will contribute to the implementation of KidsMatter resources and provide support to pilot services participating in the KidsMatter Early Childhood initiative.

Download the project overview, position description with selection criteria.

Applications close 10:00am AEST, 28 September 2009.

Watch out in the next ECA WebWatch for further information about applying to be a pilot centre for the KidsMatter initiative.

Diversity and inclusion

The inclusive teacher-carer
Certain behaviours and teaching strategies help teachers to build a stronger teaching/learning relationship with culturally diverse children.

Gifted and talented children
Gifted children, like other children, need appropriate education, satisfying friendships and supportive parenting.

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

National Child Protection Week 2009

Get involved – do the survey!
National Child Protection Week 2009 will mark the start of a two month campaign to engage the whole of the Australian community in the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

From the beginning of National Child Protection Week on 6 September to the end of Children's Week on 1 November, the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) and its partners are conducting a survey designed to gather information which will help in the planning of effective strategies to prevent child abuse and neglect.

Participate in the survey at www.preventingchildabuse.com.au

If you do not have access to the internet you can be part of the survey by calling Ph: 1800 126 456.

Storytelling a powerful tool for learning and social justice.

New study into how children respond to stories
Storytelling can be a way to make young children aware of political issues, according to a QUT researcher.

Louise Phillips, a PhD researcher with the Faculty of Education, recently completed a study during which she examined children's responses to a range of told stories that presented experiences of injustice.

Ms Phillips said the point of her research was to explore the capacity of young children to engage as active citizens, share opinions and be political.

Also available from Early Childhood Australia:

Everyday learning about storytelling
Getting children involved in telling and listening to stories can help them to learn new words; learn about their culture and the cultures of others; learn about numbers, colours and sizes; learn to concentrate and stimulate their imagination.

Resources for greening your centre
Check out these new books, which can help you green your life, your home, or your centre. Learn about composting, organic gardening, and even green babycare – discover how to clothe, feed, entertain and clean babies in a planet-friendly way.

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.

Insights: Behind early childhood pedagogical documentation
These essays will lead us to search for new and more equitable ways of living with, learning from and teaching young children and promoting social justice.

Knowledge and understanding of the world
Activities to help develop the knowledge, concepts, skills and attitudes that students require to make sense of the world and acquire effective tools for future learning.

ECA calendar

Children's festival of fun
20 September 2009
Mitchell Dr
Kariong, NSW

This fundraising event is aimed at women who are pregnant and families with children aged zero–12 years. All profits from the festival will be donated to the New Hope Children's Centre in Kenya.

Inaugural National Stronger Smarter Summit
28-29 September 2009
Sofitel Brisbane Central
249 Turbot Street
Brisbane

This conference will explore practical ways to develop educational leadership and enhance the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of school leaders and managers across the sector.

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

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 80, September 2009. © Early Childhood Australia.