Western Australia - Early Childhood Australia

About

The Early Childhood Australia Western Australia Branch offers support, information and forums to early childhood organisations, services, professionals, parents and policy makers about relevant and current issues regarding children, their families and their place in the community.

The branch has a broad membership from children’s services, early childhood organisations and education and interested people, all of whom share a common desire to provide leadership and advocacy on behalf of children and those that work with children.
WA Play Strategy—Scroll down or click the Quick links bar at the side to find out more about the WA Play Strategy

Our Business

Early Childhood Australia WA has three organisational imperatives which give direction to and focuses its work to achieve its mission.

1. Advocacy

To promote the interests and well being of young children and the people who work with them as broadly and effectively as possible.

2. Leadership

To promote high standards of professionalism that supports and encourages people in leadership roles at all levels.

3. A progressive organisation

To ensure that the organisation has strong directional leadership to enhance the ability to work to achieve the vision and mission and continue to be a leader in the early childhood field and the broader community. As a branch we will take a leadership role in addressing current issues.

Branch Executive

Name	Place of Work/ Membership type	Email
Pauline Roberts President	ECU
Sandra Murphy Vice President	Wanslea
Wendy Gorman National Director	AISWA
Tanya Steers Treasurer	Hensman Street Elementary
Christy-Lee Antonas Secretary	Hensman Street Elementary
Admin Officer		ecawa@earlychildhood.org.au

Committee Members 2021 (Position description)

Name	Place of Work/ Membership type	Email
Pauline Roberts President	ECU
Sandra Murphy Vice President	Wanslea
Wendy Gorman National Director	AISWA
Tanya Steers Treasurer	Hensman Street Elementary
Christy-Lee Antonas Secretary	Hensman Street Elementary
Admin Officer		ecawa@earlychildhood.org.au
Amie Fabry General Committee	Department of Education
Sally Whitaker General Committee	Leederville Early Childhood Centre
Denise Clarke General Committee	North Metropolitan TAFE – Joondalup
Sandra Hesterman General Committee	Murdoch University
Suzanne Lawrence General Committee	Individual
Jayne Kaiko General Committee	PI Montessori College
Samantha Parente General Committee
Sheridan Lister General Committee	Department of Education
Mikayla King General Committee
Robyn O’Neill General Committee	TAFE

Contact

e: ecawa@earlychildhood.org.au

ECA WA Branch
PO Box 5426
Canning Vale South
WA 6155

Facebook

ECA WA Branch is now on Facebook. Click here to follow us.

Calendar of events

WA Play Strategy

The research is comprehensive and conclusive—play is essential for children’s healthy development across all domains and is also their fundamental right.

Play-based learning enables children to engage in real-life and imaginary play experiences that challenge thinking, promote communication, inspire creativity and nurture socio-emotional well-being.

However, there is a growing concern that opportunities for children to learn through play is diminishing, particularly in the early years of schooling.

Early Childhood Australia (WA), the key advocacy organisation for children from birth to eight years of age in Western Australia, is leading a campaign to raise public awareness on the importance of play and is advocating for a State government-led WA Play Strategy to reinstate young children’s right to learn through play at school and in the community.

WA Play Statement Launch

After a long campaign and over 10, 000 endorsements from the public, ECA WA is proud to launch the Statement on Play for WA. We held a launch party alongside our AGM and it was an opportunity to thank those involved and recognise the work that had been done. Please access the statements and use them in your daily practice here: Play Statement booklet and brochure. The statement was launched by the Honorable Colin Pettit (Commissioner for Children and Young People WA) and the full thanks were given by Marcelle Saratsis who was filling in for Sandra Hesterman (Play Committee Chair) who was unfortunately unwell on the evening. Jayne Kaiko presented the document on behalf of the Branch to the children that had been instrumental in the artwork that accompanies the wording and we recognise the work of her class and the Perth Montesorri school community who assisted with many elements of the statements development, printing and launch.