Early Childhood Australia


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The latest early childhood news!

In this issue, a future Federal Labor Government will establish the Evidence Institute for Schools, with an aim to ensure teachers and parents have high-quality research available to them; a new resource is available from Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care State Secretariat; and the opportunity is still open to take part in an important research study regarding professional reading. In other news, the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence is coming up on 16 March; registrations are now open for the 2018 Queensland Early Education and Care Conference; new training opportunities are available to carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people; and the third Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth report card has been released. Around the country, it's International Women's Day on 8 March; ECA's ACT Branch will hold their AGM as part of the ECA Ethics in Action event on 16 March; C&K Oakleigh in Brisbane is hosting a professional development morning on Saturday 24 March; and the 'Tots & Tech' seminar will tour Canberra on 18 May and Brisbane on 13 July. 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.

Research at our fingertips

A future Federal Labor Government will establish a $280 million research institute: the Evidence Institute for Schools. The investment over the first four years will be $73.4 million. The aim of the Institute is to help improve schools and early childhood education centres by ensuring teachers and parents have high-quality research at their fingertips.

Tots & Tech seminar

The 'Tots & Tech: Challenges for early childhood in a digital age' seminar will tour Canberra on 18 May and Brisbane on 13 July. Hosted by the Australian Council on Children and the Media, this one-day seminar will explore a range of themes including technology and physical health, and learning through play in early childhood. Find out more here.

Bullying. No Way!

National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence is coming up on 16 March. It is a key anti-bullying event where schools, students and the community can stand together to say, 'Bullying. No Way!' It promotes a positive day of action to help find workable solutions that address bullying and violence. Registrations are now open—click here to find out how you can get involved.

Play-based learning

C&K Oakleigh is hosting a professional development morning on Saturday 24 March. This workshop offers experience-based support, empowering caregivers to make play the centrepiece of their early learning environment. This is a unique opportunity to hear from play-based learning expert, Jeff Johnson. Click here to register today! Or for more information email: oakleigh@candk.asn.au.

New resource

A new resource is available from Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care State Secretariat (AbSec), which presents a review of case studies from across New South Wales of effective and innovative Aboriginal-led practice in the provision of parenting supports. Click here to access a copy of Aboriginal parenting programs: Review of case studies.

Ethics in Action event

ECA's ACT Branch will hold their AGM as part of the ECA Ethics in Action event on 16 March. During the evening, delegates will have an opportunity to purchase a copy of Ethics in Action: A practical guide to implementing the ECA Code of Ethics. There is no cost to attend the event, however, places are limited—register today! For more information email: ecaact@earlychildhood.org.au.

International Women's Day

It's International Women's Day on 8 March, and this year's theme is all about getting people to #PressforProgress. This important day is not country, group or organisation specific—the day belongs to all groups collectively, everywhere! Click here for more information and to find out how you can show your support.

Training opportunities

SNAICC—National Voice for our Children has developed two new training packages, specifically for foster and kinship carers, to help support and inform you and your service on your cultural journey. Find out more here.

Registrations are now open

Registrations are now open for the 2018 Queensland Early Education and Care Conference. This event is a unique platform for discussion and critical reflection, and will attract delegates from around the country to look at the roles that imagination, languages and diversity play in the early childhood education and care sector.


	Third ARACY report card

	The third Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) report card has been released. Australia continues to rank highly in areas such as the amount of time parents spend with their children daily, and child-to-staff ratios in pre-primary education services. Read the full report here.


	Invitation to participate in an important research study

	The aim of this research study is to explore the perceptions and experiences of professionals in the early childhood sector regarding ways that professional reading supports them to engage with evidence-based practice to improve learning and development outcomes for young children. Click here to view the Invitation, Plain language statement and Consent form for further information. Please email your signed consent form to the Principal Researcher, Jackie Brien, at jbrien@student.unimelb.edu.au. Upon receipt of your signed consent form, the link to the questionnaire will be emailed to you.


	In state and territory news ...

	A new early intervention service, BUSHkids, is helping children with disability in Rockhampton, Queensland, to access the vital support they need; in the Australian Capital Territory, expectant mothers will soon have access to more comfortable, spacious birthing facilities with a major refurbishment and expansion announced for the maternity unit at Calvary Public Hospital; the Western Australian Government is working closely with Aboriginal Elders and community members to finalise the West Pilbara Plan, which will help address intergenerational disadvantage and child sexual abuse in and around the town of Roebourne; now in its 14th year, the Premiers' Reading Challenge 2018 has begun, with thousands of Victorian children taking part; 10 Queensland state primary schools are piloting a respectful relationships program dealing with issues such as family violence, respect for women and girls, compassion and gender equality; in the Northern Territory, families can now access a range of early intervention learning support services at the Mimik-Ga Centre, Darwin; in New South Wales, the sale of a disused depot in Ultimo will help deliver a new childcare centre and multi-use indoor recreational centre for the local community; and in Queensland, a new pilot program has been launched to help refugee and asylum seeker children engage in early childhood education.

New webinar

In this highly practical webinar, Anti-bias approaches in early childhood, Dr Red Ruby Scarlet addresses key critical questions about embedding anti-bias approaches in everyday practice: what it is, what it means, and how the anti-bias approach is interrelated with other pedagogical approaches. Click here to learn more.

Join today!

Share this fantastic blog about the importance of early learning for children's development, and how these flow on to the rest of the community—an extract from the Lifting our Game report. Together we can help more people understand and value the importance of quality early learning. Join the campaign today!

Book your spot!

More professional learning for growing healthy minds is now available! Have you seen the latest dates and times for KidsMatter Early Childhood professional learning events? Whether your service is starting KidsMatter, or keeping professional learning on track, there is an event for you. Book your spot today!

The 2018 ECA Reconciliation Symposium will be held from 11–12 May 2018 in Fremantle, WA. Registration is now open, with prices from $554 per person. The 2018 event will be led by Catharine Hydon and Jo Goodwin. Explore reconciliation and make a difference within your early years setting. Register today!

Position vacant

ECA is looking for a Content and Projects Manager to lead the development of online early childhood professional learning within the ECA Learning Hub team. Click here for more information, or to apply—ensure your application includes a current resume and addresses the selection criteria. Applications close 19 March.

Early bird registration

Join us for the ECA National Conference at the International Convention Centre Sydney, from 19–22 September. Be the difference for children and families at the 2018 conference! Early bird registration is now available—register today to secure a spot at the early bird rate!

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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 278, February 2018.