No images? Click here Making news this fortnight...Closing the Gap annual report and implementation plan; Urgent funding call to address food quality in ECEC settings; Applications for CCCF grant to be submitted by 8 March; ACER to lead Preschool Outcomes Measure project; UWU survey highlights need for immediate action on wages; New insights into children’s development through drawing; The importance of routine childhood immunisations; Learning through storytelling for a connected childhood; and upcoming calendar days. Scroll down to read more, find the latest in state and territory news, and discover what ECA teams have been up to. Speed Queen is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial laundry equipment. Our experts have decades of experience delivering ideal laundry solutions to early childhood centres across Australia. Space-saving stack washer-dryers help maximise your unencumbered floor space, while efficient laundry equipment reduces your wash/dry times and lowers your long-term costs. At Speed Queen, we pride ourselves on our service. In the unlikely event you have an issue with our durable machines, we provide the longest commercial warranties in the industry. Find out more. Closing the Gap annual report and implementation planThe Australian Government has released the Commonwealth Closing the Gap 2023 Annual Report and 2024 Implementation Plan. The report assesses progress against Closing the Gap targets over 2023 and outlines strategic priorities to improve Closing the Gap targets over 2024. The report also recognises Connected Beginnings as a case study of progress against Priority Reform 4. Read more. Urgent funding call to address food quality in ECEC settingsThe Chair of the National Nutrition Network—ECEC, Dr Ros Sambell from Edith Cowan University, has called for funding to audit food quality in early childhood education and care (ECEC) services. While there are no prescribed guidelines ensuring consistent food quality across services, the limited data collected indicates that the majority are failing to meet 50% of the Australian Dietary Guidelines. Read more. Applications for CCCF grant to be submitted by 8 MarchThere is still time to apply for the Community Child Care Fund (CCCF) disadvantaged and vulnerable communities grant, with applications to be submitted by Friday 8 March. The grant provides funding to help ECEC services in disadvantaged and vulnerable communities. Check your eligibility and apply on GrantConnect. Learn more about the CCCF grant. ACER to lead Preschool Outcomes Measure projectThe Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), in partnership with Goodstart Early Learning and Ninti One, will lead the development of a Preschool Outcomes Measure to understand children’s learning and development, and to support early childhood educators’ professional learning and practice. The project is a key reform of the Preschool Reform Agreement. Learn more. UWU survey highlights need for immediate action on wagesA survey from the United Workers Union (UWU) has shown that nearly 50% of early childhood educators would be willing to leave the sector if there is no meaningful movement on wages in the next three months. UWU conducted the snap poll of 500 educators to highlight the impact of staffing shortages and high workloads. Read more. New insights into children’s development through drawingChildren’s ability to draw recognisable objects and to recognise each other’s drawings improves concurrently throughout childhood, according to a new study from Stanford University. Machine learning helped researchers understand how children communicate their perceptions of the world through drawing. Read more. The importance of routine childhood immunisationsThe National Immunisation Program protects children from contagious diseases such as whooping cough, measles and chickenpox. For the best protection, parents and carers are being encouraged to vaccinate their children in line with the schedule and chat with a health professional to book any catch-up vaccinations. Learn more and access free resources. Learning through storytelling for a connected childhoodStories are a powerful way for children to learn through the shared experience of characters. To open the conversation between adults and children about online safety, the Australian Federal Police have developed a picture book for children aged five to eight, which gives age-appropriate advice on how to recognise online grooming and how to ask for help. Learn more and download the book. Upcoming calendar daysUpcoming calendar days to consider acknowledging in your service: International Women’s Day (8 March); Close the Gap Day (21 March); Global Recycling Day (18 March); Cultural Diversity Week (Vic) (18–24 March); Harmony Week (18–24 March); International Read to Me Day (19 March); International Day of Happiness (20 March); Very Hungry Caterpillar Day (20 March). State and territory news NSW Bega Valley Shire Councillors recently unanimously voted for the Council to continue to provide children’s services following an independent review which found a large unmet need for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in the Bega Valley. Read more. The NSW Government has announced that 49 new public preschools will be built in regional locations over the next three years. This is part of the broader $769 million investment to build 100 new public preschools co-located at public primary schools by 2027, including building preschools at new public primary schools. Learn more. Are you an early childhood educator or teacher in New South Wales? You are invited to participate in a short survey (10–15 minutes) for a research study looking at trauma-informed approaches in early childhood spaces. Access the survey and read further information on the study. VIC The Department of Education has declared a Child Care Subsidy (CCS) period of emergency in parts of Victoria where some services have been directed to close due to fire risk. Support is available during and after the emergency. Read more. Victoria’s Kinder Kits, which are filled with books, educational toys and learning experiences, have begun to arrive in preschool services across the state. All children starting funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten in 2024 in Victoria are eligible to receive a Kit, including children commencing Early Start Kindergarten and Access to Early Learning programs. Learn more. WA The world-first Inklings program, which supports babies aged between six and 18 months who are showing early differences in their social interaction and communication development, has launched in Western Australia, thanks to support from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). Learn more. Beyond the Rainbow: Making a Difference for All FamiliesExplore the diversity of families, LGBTQ+ parented families specifically, and how diversity is a positive part of Australian society in this valuable course. Discover how to create learning opportunities for birth to eight-year-olds that enable children to explore family diversity in an education and care setting. Enrol now. The language of musicDiscover the elements of music and learn how to teach music intentionally with the ECA Essentials title, Music in Early Childhood. Learn the language, theories and outcomes that underpin music. With easy-to-implement practice ideas, case studies and songs, this resource is fundamental to teaching and nurturing young children. Buy now. Engaging effectively with First Nations communitiesJoin the In Focus webinar, Reflect, Respect and Respond when Engaging with First Nations Communities, on Thursday 21 March at 3.30 pm AEDT. Hear about using Be You’s culturally responsive resources to support your practice. New on The SpokeThe Digital Child Ethics Toolkit, released by the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, offers crucial guidance for researchers exploring the impact of digital technologies on young children. Covering ethical considerations, data protocols and child-centred methodologies, it aligns with ECA's focus on early childhood and promises to inform practice in this evolving field. Read more. Registration open for the ECA Reconciliation SymposiumRegistration for the 2024 ECA Reconciliation Symposium is open! Held in Canberra, Ngunnawal Country, on 3–4 May 2024, the Symposium brings reconciliation in early childhood into the spotlight and works towards a better future for all Australians. Lock in your registration today; purchase three tickets in one transaction and save up to $180. Register now. ECA Planners GiveawayJoin our exclusive Daily or Weekly Planners giveaway. Just ‘like’ our ‘Get 5+ Give 5’ post on Facebook or Instagram and tag a colleague in the comments. Winners will be announced on 8 March and each winner and their tagged friend will receive five planners each! Don't miss out—entries close at 11.59 pm AEDT on Thursday 7 March. © Early Childhood Australia 2024 www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au If you have questions about our products or services please contact us at marketing@earlychildhood.org.au |