All the early childhood news you want to know!

Welcome to this edition of the award winning ECA WebWatch. In our feature item this fortnight we encourage you to have your say in the 5th Annual Child Care and Workforce Participation survey.

Also in this issue:

• Your ECA Conference update
• New draft Australian curriculum released for comment
• Creativity and critical thinking

Plus:

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

ECA WebWatch feature item

Have your say on Australia's child care system
The 5th Annual Child Care & Workforce Participation survey is now underway.

The results of this survey have become a vital indicator of the health of our child care system for government, parents and the media alike.

Availability, affordability and quality of care remain the key issues, so please have your say to ensure we keep child care as an important agenda item.

Your ECA Conference update

This year’s conference will host both international and Australian speakers and presenters addressing a range of topics such as advocacy, curriculum and assessment, reflective learning, play, coherence, sustainability, and equity and inclusivity. They will focus on these topics and areas knowing that the Early Years Learning Framework is now being implemented around Australia.

In addition, the conference will provide sessions specifically focusing on the EYLF as well as abundant opportunities to discuss quality improvement in the sector.

Hurry! Call for papers closing soon
Applications to present at the Early Childhood Australia 2010 National Conference have opened. This submission period will close 31 March 2010. More information about the call for papers can be found here. You will receive an email confirmation receipt within 15 minutes of your submission. If you do not receive this email please contact the conference secretariat on 02 6242 1800 or email conference@earlychildhood.org.au.

Early Childhood Australia Tasmania branch 2010 Forum

'Sustainability: Our children’s future'
2010 Branch Forum
Saturday 22nd May 2010
Aspect Tamar Valley Resort 'Grindelwald'

This is the Branch's second one day forum, celebrating the significance of the early years and the people who work with young children in Tasmania. Be inspired by the variety of presenters who will share their stories, knowledge and experience. Enjoy the company of colleagues, be stimulated by discussion and the sharing of ideas and have fun at the celebration dinner.

Brochures and forms about this event will be coming to Tasmanian members shortly.

Register early to secure your place.

Contribute your thoughts on the new draft Australian curriculum

ACARA release new draft curriculum for comment and feedback
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) recently released the new draft curriculum which covers the four learning areas of English, mathematics, science and history. The curriculum covers Kindy/Prep to year 10.

The draft curriculum is available to be downloaded for review and comment, and there is also a survey which you can complete if you wish. You can contribute your feedback until 23 May 2010.

Creativity and critical thinking

Effective practice with creativity and critical thinking
This PDF document will help you understand the connections between creativity and critical thinking, and will help you guide children through exploring and developing ideas and initiatives.

Improved safety in QLD childcare centres

New laws improve safety and transparency in centres
New laws have just been passed in QLD which require all childcare centres to maintain and display a compliance log book, which allows parents to have easy access to information about centres, staff and safety issues.

Children's Hospital at Westmead: New fact sheets released

Download the new fact sheets now!
The Children's Hospital at Westmead has released new child health fact sheets, to add to their already comprehensive guide. The new and updated fact sheets include: Evaluating health information on the internet, Chronic illness and Weight management tips for parents, among others.

There are also translations available of several of the fact sheets, as well as health and safety colouring-in sheets.

ECA Greenwatch

Lights out for climate change!
8:30pm, Saturday 27 March, is Earth Hour – help raise awareness of climate change by turning off your lights for one hour.

Children can participate in Earth Hour and learn about climate change too – the Earth Hour website has lots of fun activities for kids, including a lantern-making kit, a virtual lantern and activity packs available for download.

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.

Play as therapy
This book will give you a solid foundation for identifying and assessing play dysfunction, play in different cultural contexts, and considerations when intervening with play.

Food and health in early childhood
Food contributes to health in terms of nutrition, but it also contributes in a real way to children's emotional and socio-cultural experience, and is linked to their developing sense of wellbeing and identity.

ECA calendar

National Centre Against Bullying Conference 2010
9 – 10 April 2010
Hilton on the Park
Melbourne

The 2010 conference promises to give schools evidence-based information and strategies about cyber safety, how to use the new technologies to enhance learning, and ways to improve student wellbeing.

Kidsafe Playground Conference
19 – 20 April
Subiaco Arts Centre
Perth

This conference aims to explore how the natural environment can support and extend children's play and learning; how the wider community benefits from playgrounds that engage and inspire and how these in turn can add strength and vibrancy to the community.

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/mai l

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

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ECA WebWatch - Issue 89, March #2 2010. © Early Childhood Australia.