Policy
Short-term assistance available for state-funded kindergartens in Victoria
Early childhood teachers (ECTs) working within state-funded Victorian kindergarten programs may be able to access additional short-term support to assist children with a diagnosed disability or developmental delay through a program offered by Uniting, in partnership with the Victorian Government Department of Education and Training.
3 hours ago
by Freya Lucas
Quality
Research
When do children show evidence of self-esteem? Earlier than you might think
A YouTube clip called “Jessica’s Daily Affirmation” recently went viral. The clip shows a four-year-old Jessica standing in front of the bathroom mirror saying what makes her happy about herself.
4 hours ago
by Dario Cvencek, University of Washington; Andrew N. Meltzoff, University of Washington, and Anthony Greenwald, University of Washington
Innovation
The soft, comfy, social robots are coming, with children as young as four ready to learn
Researchers from Cornell University noted that when it comes to ‘social robotics’ – robots who are autonomous and communicate with humans following social behaviours and rules (such as the Miko robot, a tool to “educate children, understand their emotions, play games and narrate stories”) – all look the same – hard, plastic and cold.
3 hours ago
by Freya Lucas
LATEST STORIES
International
Providers
Montessori inspired garden wins gold medal at UK’s Chelsea Flower Show
A garden designed to celebrate 100 years since the introduction of Montessori education to the United Kingdom, and to highlight the multi-sensory nature of a Montessori classroom, has secured a gold medal at the British Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show.
by Freya Lucas
Quality
Providers
Winter winners: inspirational cooking for children with Goodstart recipe release
Goodstart Early Learning has released a second seasonal recipe collection, Good Taste Winter Warmers, a collection of recipes created by chefs and cooks in Goodstart centres around the country.
by Freya Lucas
Quality
Food Allergy Awareness Week starts 26 May – are you ready?
One in ten Australian children experience allergic reactions to food, with signs and symptoms varying from mild to severe. Early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings are frequently caught in a struggle to maintain oversight over children and allergies, sadly, sometimes with dire consequences, making promotion of Food Allergy Awareness Week of particular importance to the sector.
by Freya Lucas
Leadership
Workforce
Wish granted! An extra week of annual leave, to reward loyal employees
As Disney buffs around Australia eagerly await the release of the Aladdin remake this week, it seems one Australian employer is granting wishes for their loyal employees, providing an additional five days per year of annual leave for staff who have had more than three years of consecutive service.
by Freya Lucas
Policy
ELACCA congratulates Coalition, welcoming further discussion and opportunities
The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) has issued a statement congratulating Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Coalition party on their return to government following the weekend’s Federal Election.
by Freya Lucas
Popular
Media Hub
Innovation
Workforce
In conversation with: Laura Stone, ABC Early Childhood Producer
We connected recently with one of our newer e-news subscribers, Ms Laura Stone, who is an Early Childhood Producer with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), to learn more about her role, what drew her to producing early childhood content, and how a typical day unfolds.
by Freya Lucas
Economics
Innovation
Leadership
Where words fail, music speaks – the Hey Dee Ho journey
Jenny Wilkinson is an established presence in the world of early childhood education and care (ECEC), having purchased the Hey Dee Ho organisation in 1996 when the business came up for sale. From there, Jenny and her team of franchisees have worked with a core support team from head office to bring the world of music, drama, yoga and fitness to ECEC services around the country.
by Freya Lucas
Providers
Workforce
Seeking the best for the OSHC sector – the Firefly story
From an adverse childhood, Firefly HR co-founder Barbi Clendining came to learn the transformative power of having one caring adult in a child’s life. After studying teaching, she began working in the outside school hours care (OSHC) sector, as it gave her the flexibility to work and manage carers duties. Now, she can’t imagine being anywhere else. Passionate about advocating for the OSHC sector as a “stand-alone” career path, she started a recruitment business, designed to source top-quality talent for the OSHC sector. Here, she shares her story with The Sector Assistant Editor Freya Lucas.
by Freya Lucas
Policy
Innovation
Spectrum Journeys helping to ease the autism experience
“I would come home from appointments to find a bag full of chocolates, flowers and a card that cheered us on and affirmed our child. This always blew me away because at my core, I felt like no one understood what was happening and we were alone.”
by Freya Lucas
Opinions
Policy
Quality
Why early childhood education is everyone’s business
The first five years of life are the most critical for building the foundations for life-long learning, well-being, and health, and it is critical we have policy reform and investment in quality early childhood education
6 days ago
by Associate Professor Tricia Eadie, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne; Director REEaCh Hub (Research in Effective Education in Early Childhood)
Leadership
Workforce
Want To Be An Effective Listener? Follow These Steps
If you want to succeed in life and business, you need to learn the skill of effective listening. Here’s how.
8 days ago
by Anna Kucirkova
Policy
Leadership
The early childhood hand-print debate: One hundred languages or one thousand thousand hands?
From time to time early childhood social media groups explode with the great ‘child-as-stamping-implement hand print activity debate’. Educators either question or promote the production-line proliferation of children’s hand prints being embellished by adults and turned into ‘cute’ Santa sleighs, fish, flamingos and flowers.
10 days ago
by Dr Gai Lindsay
