Early Childhood Australia


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The latest early childhood news!

In this issue: Novak Jokovic’s new campaign #sportin1word encourages children to get involved in sport; Careforkids.com.au outlines concerns for new parents returning to work and how transitioning to childcare may affect their baby’s sleep; Read about the National Safe Schools Framework and the nine elements that make a safe school; and interesting new research from Curtin University raises concerns that immaturity is being misdiagnosed as ADHD. In other news, SNAICC makes two big announcements; the theme for the 2017 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day—‘Value our rights. Respect our culture. Bring us home’; and a ground breaking new TV series ‘Little J & Big Cus’—the first animated children show to feature Indigenous Australians and their culture. We are also pleased to announce that the Reggio Children’s ‘The Hundred Languages of Children' exhibition will be on display in Melbourne until July 2017. On 28 April, Minister for Early Education, Kate Ellis met with key early childhood education stakeholders to discuss the next stages of childcare reform in Australia; and the Andrews Labor government is refurbishing and improving IT capabilities for the kindergartens of the future by investing $60 million to build and upgrade hundreds of children's centres and kindergartens across Victoria. In further news, the Turnbull Government has released their new Immunisation Awareness campaign; and the passing of The Children and Young People (Safety) Bill 2017 has caused further disappointment for SNAICC since their first concerns were announced and they are now calling for the Legislative Council to block the bill. ECA invite you to participate in our survey on young children and technology use; FRSA National Conference, 'Connecting the dots: Creating wellbeing for all', to be held in November this year; The World Forum on Early Care and Education will be held from 9–12 May, 2017—registrations are open now. And finally, we fill you in on the latest state and territory news.

Jump down to find out what the various ECA teams and projects have been up to and the new resources available for the early childhood sector.

#sportin1word

Novak Jokovic’s new campaign #sportin1word encourages children to join him on his new campaign to promote International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. All you need to do is sum up what sport means to you in only one word and share your video message with everyone over Social Media. Visit the website today to get involved.

Transition to childcare

Careforkids.com.au has posted a new article outlining concerns for new parents returning to work and how transitioning to childcare may affect their baby’s sleep. Making sure that children in their care have enough sleep is central to the role of early childhood education and care providers. Find out how to ensure your child will be entering the right environment.

Reggio Children's exhibition

Reggio Children's ‘The Hundred Languages of Children’ exhibition will be on display in Melbourne until July 2017. The exhibition, which has been travelling the world for the past 35 years, documents the incredible capabilities of children as seen through the pedagogical journey of the infant toddler centres and preschools of Reggio Emilia, Italy.

World Forum on Early Care and Education 2017

The World Forum on Early Care and Education will be held from 9–12 May, 2017. Register now to experience a world of ideas on caring for the children of the world. ECA members will receive a 17% discount when they register here.

National Safe Schools Framework

The National Safe Schools Framework outlines the important role of educators, parents, carers and the wider community in working with schools to create and maintain safe and supportive learning and teaching communities that build respectful relationships. The Framework has nine elements; find out if your school matches up.

Misdiagnosed ADHD?

Interesting new research from Curtin University has established that the youngest children in West Australian classrooms are more likely than their older classmates to receive medication for ADHD. The results raise concerns that age related immaturity is being misdiagnosed as ADHD and begs the question; ‘Should children have an additional year in an early childhood setting’?

SNAICC announce theme

SNAICC announces the theme for the 2017 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day! ‘Value our rights. Respect our culture. Bring us home’. The theme recognises the 20th anniversary of the Bringing them Home Report and the many benefits our children experience when they are raised with strong connections to family and culture. Event date: 4 August, 2017.

Next step: Childcare reforms

Labor met with key early education stakeholders to discuss the next stages of childcare reform in Australia. Despite the government’s child care changes passing parliament, there is still significant work that remains. ‘Labor wants to reduce the cost and complexity of child care for parents and expand access to early education,’ Shadow Minister for Early Education Kate Ellis said.

Groundbreaking Indigenous TV for kids

SNAICC announces ground-breaking new television series ‘Little J & Big Cuz’, the first animated children's show to focus on Indigenous Australians and their culture. Featuring Miranda Tapsell, Deborah Mailman and Aaron Fa’aso the program will air on NITV at 7.30 pm AEST on Fridays from 28 April and 4.00 pm AEST weekdays from 1 May.

Technology and young children survey

We invite you to join our survey on young children and digital technology use. Your answers will help us in developing a Statement that will support the early childhood education and care sector, to understand the best ways young children, their educator and other adults’ can use digital technologies. To begin the survey, click here.


	Turnbull's Immunisation Awareness Campaign

	The Turnbull Government is rolling out a new $5.5 million immunisation awareness campaign to encourage Australian parents and carers to get their kids vaccinated. While Australia’s immunisation rates are already high, the Government wants all Australian children fully vaccinated before they start school. The three-year campaign will specifically target areas of low vaccination rates by addressing myths and misconceptions, while explaining the benefits of childhood vaccinations for both the individual and the community.


	2017 FRSA National Conference underway!

	Preparations are underway for the FRSA National Conference this year—it will be held 22–24 November at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The FRSA National Conference theme ‘Connecting the dots: Creating wellbeing for all’—will explore how together we can enhance the wellbeing of children, families and communities through the delivery of services across the family life course. Submit an abstract here.


	$60 million to build and upgrade hundreds of kindergartens across Victoria

	The Andrews Labor Government is refurbishing and improving IT capabilities for kindergartens of the future by investing $60 million to build and upgrade hundreds of children's centres and kindergartens across Victoria. There are minor infrastructure expansion grants of $25 000, minor infrastructure refurbishment grants of $10 000, and information and technology grants for $1 500.


	SNAICC further disappointed regarding Children and Young People (Safety) 2017 bill

	SNAICC is further disappointed that the South Australian Government has passed the Children and Young People (Safety) bill 2017 in the House of Assembly and urges the Legislative Council to block the passing of this bill. The South Australian Government has repeatedly refused to engage with and listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations during this child protection legislation reform process.


	In state and territory news ...

	Community organisations across Queensland will share in more than $200,000 worth of grants in the run-up to Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month this May; Barnardos were pleased to announce the recipient of their Mother of the Year award in Tasmania; also in Tasmania, the Hodgman Liberal Government is taking steps to improve education results by providing voluntary access to prepatory and kindergarten. In the Northern Territory, more than $33 million will be invested in frontline services, infrastructure and strategies to support the prevention of domestic and family violence. Finally, a $30 million boost for long day care in NSW will see more than 2400 long day care services across the state receive extra funding as a part of the NSW Government’s Start Strong reforms.

New module!

The latest module, Walking with Children on their Journey to Literacy: Practitioner Perspectives, looks at the key elements of literacy and the practical ways it can be woven into everyday moments, rich environments and fostered with children from the earliest years. Learn more here.

Amplify childrens' development

How do you explain the benefits of early childhood education? Former ECA National President Judy Radich models a range of ways educators can describe how quality early learning amplifies children’s development.Learn more here.

Our KidsMatter days

Join a panel of educators and learn why early childhood services become involved in KidsMatter, how they have shaped their approach to KidsMatter and how their practices lead to changes benefitting the wellbeing of children, families and educators. Click here to register for the upcoming webinar.

New blog: Neighbourhoods

Neighbours―everyone needs good ones―or so we’re told. Learn more about one service’s experiences when relationships weren’t ideal and how they made them better. Many community situations can influence how well an early childhood service fits in with its neighbours.

New webinar

Join Early Years Connect from 6 pm AEST on Thursday 27 April 2017 for the webinar ‘I’m concerned about a child’s development … now what?’, presented by Early Childhood Intervention Australia’s Emma Pierce. This webinar is free for all staff, approved providers and governance bodies of Queensland-based ECEC services. Register here.

ECA National Conference

Save the date! The ECA National Conference will be hosted 19–22 September 2018 at the Sydney ICC. Join over 1700 early childhood education and care professionals to hear from the leaders within our sector.
Keep an eye out, registrations will open soon!

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Early Childhood Australia disclaimer
The opinions expressed in the articles and external links are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Early Childhood Australia.

ECA WebWatch—Issue 258, April 2017.