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Language and literacy Last Wednesday (8 September), a national coalition of Australia’s peak early language and literacy bodies (including Early Childhood Australia) called on the federal government to adopt a national early language and literacy strategy for children aged 0–5yrs. Read the media release here.
ECA Conference address Education Minister Alan Tudge and Shadow Minster for Early Childhood Education Amanda Rishworth addressed participants of the ECA National Conference (6–9 September). Minister Tudge used the opportunity to address COVID supports for the sector and budget measures, whilst Amanda Rishworth used her virtual address to speak about quality in early education.
Preschools advisory group Last Thursday (9 September), Education Minister Alan Tudge met with the Preschool Outcomes Measure Expert Advisory Group. The group has been established to ‘develop options to measure the impact of preschool for Australian children’. Learn more here.
Child Protection Week For National Child Protection Week (5–11 September) SNAICC called on governments and organisations ‘to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled services and communities as key to reduce the number of children in out-of-home care’. Read the media release here.
COVID-19 and children What is the impact of COVID-19 on the development of young children? Read UNICEF’s report on the early childhood education and care response to the pandemic in East Asia and the Pacific here.
In NSW, a new child protection taskforce in the state will work to prevent vulnerable children from slipping through the cracks. Meanwhile, the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance shares insights about COVID-19 in schools and early childhood education and care services.
In Tasmania, hundreds of Aboriginal children and their families will benefit from a new partnership between the federal and state government to establish two new Connected Beginnings sites to help children thrive and get ready for school.
In Victoria, teachers, principals, school administrators and policy makers have been recognised for their long-serving dedication to the education sector.
New Everyday Learning This new title from the Everyday Learning Series, Being and becoming safe on our roads by Catharine Hydon, discusses the importance of road-safety education for young children.
New on The Spoke Amy Rothe writes a follow-up article on music in early childhood, which explores how to include music in an educational program and its benefits for children and educators.
ECA Shop: First Year at School The new edition of our popular publication First Year at School is available for pre-order! Packed with inclusive case studies and new content, this is a must-have to support families in the transition to school.
Outdoor learning Explore outdoor learning environments, bush kinder and risky play, and how educators can plan and use outdoor spaces with children, with this ECA Learning Hub module.
