Guardian commits to supporting Vic educators as it pivots to PD for duration of lockdown

Guardian Childcare and Education have confirmed that it will continue to pay its full-time and part-time educators for the duration of the Victorian Stage 4 lockdown and will be using the period as a unique professional development opportunity for educators whilst working from home. 

The announcement comes in the wake of new Victorian Government restrictions, that came into force on 6 August 2020, designed to combat the spread of COVID-19. The restrictions limit attendance in early childhood education and care (ECEC) services to children of permitted workers and vulnerable children only. 

Guardian has also confirmed that they will be waiving gap fees for all Victorian families impacted for the duration of the lockdown in a move that is consistent with messaging from both the Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Education Dan Tehan.   

Commenting Guardian Childcare and Education CEO Warren Bright said, “It is the right thing to do for our educators, and our families. It will ensure the educators our families trust with the care of their children will be there when they return post lockdown and it will reduce the financial burden on families through this really stressful time.”

“Our teams have been wonderful throughout this crisis in really stressful and trying conditions. They have continued to show up every day and give their all to the thousands of children and families who attend our centres.“

Unique skill-building program to be offered to educators to undertake whilst at home

As well as committing to giving support to educators in relation to pay and conditions, Guardian has also launched a new professional development program that will provide Victorian educators with a range of learning opportunities to improve their skills whilst at home. 

“The vast majority of our teams will have a few weeks of ‘pupil free days’, so we have prepared a skill-build program that our educators will undertake while working from home,” Mr Bright said. 

Guardian will do this by leveraging a host of internal professional development programs, webinars and Guardian’s Early Childhood Australia Learning Hub with a variety of streams of learning created that will enable our teams to further develop their skills in key areas of practice.

Families to be supported by online learning programs and daily activities

Whilst at home educators will also be tasked with creating and delivering online learning programs to support families and their children who are on lockdown in order to ensure that children’s learning journeys are continued. 

“The aim of the program is to give parents time to breathe within their day as well as provide key learning and emotional support for the children. The use of Zoom classes allows children to maintain contact with their educators and classmates, which is important in their ongoing development and overall wellbeing,” Mr Bright added.

The program will change each day and will be released using multiple free channels including Facebook, Storypark, and the Guardian website via the Learning Exchange portal. Guardian will take on feedback from families throughout the period to ensure the program is engaging for children.

For more information on Guardian Childcare and Education please click here.