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As we approach the end of this special birthday year, it's good to reflect on the past contributions and achievements of ECA, to recognise friends and partners, to enjoy the present and look to the future, and – as always – to sharpen our focus on our main objective: the wellbeing of young children.
Since its beginning in 1938 (as the Australian Association for Preschool Child Development and later the Australian Early Childhood Association), Early Childhood Australia (ECA) has been a leader for the changing times – up-to-date with all the developments in society, governments and their policies and programs, and technology – while promoting debate about the major issues and challenges in our field.
The Commonwealth government's establishment of the Australian Preschool Association as national coordinator of the then brand-new Lady Gowrie Child Centres seems very long ago. The times when the only recognised services were preschools and long day care centres, when there was very limited Commonwealth government funding, no UN Convention on the Rights of the Child or ECA Code of Ethics, no thought of accreditation for services and no National Children's Services Forum also seem far away – and even the time when there were no mobile phones, computers, internet and email is long gone! But ECA was there throughout these times, educating and pushing for change and improved quality in services for young children. Our values, principles and overall approach were established and passed on by the many far-sighted early childhood pioneers of the distant and recent past, and we are in their debt.
Early Childhood Australia has always been an advocate for the wellbeing of young children. Some of the strategies for this never change (submissions, discussions with key stakeholders and publicity), but nowadays our ways of working are much broader. We constantly use resources such as newsletters, publications, websites, emails, promotions, meetings and conferences as tools for advocacy, information and education. We are always striving to do better by taking advantage of new technologies and possibilities. We also know the importance of pressing the debate on ‘hard' issues to advance quality in services for children.
As a 'federated' association, ECA has its members in the state and territory branches. We have progressed from being an association with only organisations and services as members to an organisation with a broad membership base of individuals (including students), services and organisations, and a wide readership of the ECA materials.
These days people are drawn to ECA for the opportunity to focus freely on children, away from the demands of everyday workplaces:
- Many people from different parts of the early childhood community – including Every Child readers! – use ECA as a trusted source of current information and opinion about developments in the sector, community and government, as well as a provider of high-quality professional development resources.
- Many enjoy making a contribution to ECA – by being a member, by making an individual contribution of knowledge or experience, or by working with others to share experience and knowledge. They do this in a range of ways, including by participating in the work of the branches, by writing for ECA's thriving publications program or by contributing to ECA's work on current issues and policy.
- Others are partners, using ECA's knowledge, experience and products to add value to their own work, while also supporting our work.
All these people and groups – working with the skilled and dedicated staff in ECA offices – give life, relevance and authenticity to our organisation.
Importantly, the Commonwealth government has supported ECA from the beginning. The focus of that support has changed over time and today ECA acts both as an ‘umbrella' organisation and a critical friend to government. In this role, ECA auspices the National Children's Services Forum to promote understanding, discussion and cooperation in the sector. We greatly value both the support of the Commonwealth and the goodwill and friendship of the national peak associations through the NCSF.
The recent ECA National Conference, Children: A nation's capital – Investing in our children, was an excellent demonstration of ECA's energy, vision and potential for today and tomorrow. The conference promoted consideration of fundamental values and provided information on important current and emerging issues. There were affirmations and challenges for practitioners, academics, managers and policy-makers in our sector and in the broader community. The conference also produced thoughtful and challenging views for us to contribute to state, territory and federal governments at this crucial time. It showed that ECA is truly a place where we can be part of ‘something bigger'.
And so we look forward with enthusiasm and energy. There are so many important issues for young children, their families, their communities, and the people who work with and for the whole Australian society. ECA will continue to do its job as fully and energetically as we can – raising and considering hard questions and providing information, resources and support to make things better for young children. We look forward to our future.
Margaret Young
National President
Early Childhood Australia
Every Child magazine – vol. 14 no. 4, 2008, p. 7
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