Early Childhood news delivered straight to you!

Welcome to the latest issue of the award winning ECA WebWatch. Our feature item this week is the Government's Paid Parental Leave scheme.

Also in this issue:

• NAIDOC Week
• celebrate National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day
• a human rights approach to Indigenous wellbeing: AIATSIS
• NSW Commissioner for Children appointed
• investments for the early childhood sector
• education International Africa seminar on Early Childhood Education
• tracking Community Attitudes to Child Abuse and Child Protection
• hold a market day at a children’s service.

Plus:

• ECA Greenwatch
• your ECA Conference update
• quality-assured early childhood resources.

ECA WebWatch feature item

Paid Parental Leave scheme

Legislation for the Australian Government's Paid Parental Leave scheme has been passed by Parliament. From 1 January next year parents will receive paid parental leave. The scheme means that new parents will be able to access 18 weeks of government-funded parental leave pay at the National Minimum Wage ($570 per week). It will apply for all eligible parents of children born or adopted on or after 1 January 2011.

Information has been provided by the Department of Human Services. For updates go to www.familyassist.gov.au

Investments for the early childhood sector

The Australian Government is investing $273.7 million to support the introduction of the new National Quality Framework for early childhood education and child care, to create better staff-to-child ratios, infrastructure for early childhood services located in rural and remote areas and a range of other investments to help with improvements across the sector.

Learn more about how these reforms will affect you by reading a joint statement made by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth Kate Ellis here.

Your ECA Conference update

The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) impacts on everyone in the early childhood profession. The ECA conference will hold sessions specifically focusing on the EYLF. The sessions will be presented by people involved in the development of the EYLF and by those currently working to implement it in their services. Some issues, which will be of particular focus are intentional teaching, sustained shared thinking, what the EYLF means for pedagogical leadership and much more.

Visit the conference website www.ecaconference.com.au

Quality-assured EYLF resources

ECA has put together a list of resources that will help services to implement the Early Years Learning Framework.

NAIDOC Week

This week is NAIDOC week. NAIDOC Week is a celebration of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The theme ‘Unsung Heroes- Closing the Gap by Leading Their Way’ recognises the part played by the quiet achievers in the Indigenous community and shows how Indigenous people are taking ownership of closing the gap in knowledge and understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Find out how you can participate in NAIDOC week, visit www.naidoc.org.au

Celebrate National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day

August 4 is National Aboriginal and Islander Children’s Day (NAICD). Everyone working with young children is encouraged to celebrate this day.

This year’s theme is ‘Value My Culture, Value Me’. It focuses on the need for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to feel loved and valued, and highlights the importance of promoting new attitudes for the benefit of all Australians.

Learn more visit the SNAICC website.

A human rights approach to Indigenous wellbeing: AIATSIS

Visit the Australian Human Rights Commission website to read Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mike Gooda’s seminar on Indigenous wellbeing.

NSW Commissioner for Children appointed

A new NSW Commissioner for Children and Young People has been appointed. To read more about Megan Mitchell’s appointment visit www.kids.nsw.gov.au

Education International Africa seminar on Early Childhood Education

Education International (EI) represents 111 affiliates in 50 African countries. EI is working on two current challenges being faced by the continent of Africa: the realisation of the Education for all UN Millennium Development Goal; and the halting of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Download a report on an Early Childhood Education seminar organised by EI in 2009 here.

Tracking community attitudes to child abuse and child protection

The Australian Childhood Foundation, in conjunction with Child Abuse Prevention Research Australia at Monash University, has commissioned a comprehensive national attitudinal survey in relation to child abuse and child protection.

The findings of this study can be found here.

Hold a market day at a children’s service

This idea introduces children to local food systems and seasonality. It was originally developed in the U.S for an older age group but the idea is lovely.

To learn about how you can organise one at your service read the full article.

ECA Greenwatch

For a wonderful free resource on native plants download The Australian Native Plant Guide. This application can help your service learn about different Australian plant species, when and where to plant them and how to care for them.

ECA website usability survey

We need your help! We are asking people who use the ECA website for their opinions. Can you please spare a minute and answer our 4 simple questions? We'll use this information to make a better website. Please help us out with ECA's website usability survey.

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ECA WebWatch - Issue 93, July 2010. © Early Childhood Australia.