The Nurture Nook Issue 2 2014 by ChildCareNSW

The Nurture Nook - 2014/2 1

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Contents T: 1300 556 330 F: 1300 557 228 info@childcarensw.com.au www.childcarensw.com.au PO Box 660 Parramatta NSW 2124 facebook.com/ChildCareNSW @ChildCareNSW

Features p16

Australian Child Care Week

Child Care New South Wales gratefully acknowledges the support of our partners:

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Gold Sponsors

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The Adventures of Sam the Bear

Early Years Exhibition and Conference

Regulars President’s Letter Changes to the National Regulations Industrial Relations Federal Issues Training and Professional Development Australian Childcare Alliance News Staying in Touch ACECQA Snapshot On Behalf of our Members Information for Members Achievements and Accolades

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childcareconcepts.com.au

On the cover...

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Bronze Sponsor

Author Tony Harris regales the children of Cardiff Busy Bees Preschool and the Glendale Awabakal Preschool with some of his Wombat stories during one of Cardiff Busy Bees Preschool’s Australian Child Care Week events. (And yes, it is deliberately ‘sideways’. We liked the photo. Thanks for noticing.)

g Authorised Contacts

qikkids.com.au

Advertisements in The Nurture Nook are accepted by Child Care New South Wales in good faith; liability for advertising content, goods and services supplied is the responsibility of the advertiser.

friendly reminder that Child Care New South Wales staff are only permitted to respond to member inquiries made by members’ authorised contacts. If your staff are making inquiries on your behalf, please ensure that you have advised us IN WRITING (by emailing

info@childcarensw.com.au) that they are an authorised contact in order to avoid delays in having inquiries addressed. This is to protect your information as there have been instances in the past where private information and advice has been requested by staff, against the wishes of the employer.

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President’s Letter / Changes to the National Regulations

President’s Letter from Nesha O’Neil, President of Child Care New South Wales

ith the second half of the year well underway, I’ll stop to remark on how full and busy the first half of the year has been, and how fast it has gone... but only briefly; as there is still plenty happening right now! Since the last issue of The Nurture Nook we’ve enjoyed another successful Early Years Exhibition and Conference (there’s a feature review on page 18). We’ve also been through Senate Inquiries, Productivity Commission Inquiries, a review of the National Quality Framework, changes to the national regulations, new wage rates, the end of the Early Years Quality Fund, the introduction of the Long Day Care Professional Development Programme and the announcement of Federal and State Budgets, both of which impact on our sector. As outlined herein, Child Care New South Wales has been at the forefront at every stage, representing you as we are meeting with politicians and other decision-makers, presenting submissions (frequently containing information you’ve helpfully provided!), lobbying on your behalf and asking the right questions for you, both in terms of current and future issues. We’ve also represented you in the media, ensuring that, irrespective of the issue and the sensationalist way it may be ‘sold’ to the public-at-large, our side of the story is also being communicated. Part of the reason we are able to advocate so effectively is because we keep the lines of communication open. In addition to the Weekly Updates we deliver to your email inbox, the Member Alerts issued to you from time to time on urgent matters, the Facebook posts, the tweets, The Nurture Nook mailed to you, and your phone and email inquiries that we answer, we also occasionally conduct member surveys. Your responses enable us to better understand your views on important issues and guide us

Nesha O’Neil, President, Child Care New South Wales

Changes to the National Regulations

number of important changes to the National Regulations came into effect 1 June 2014. The majority of changes are focused on streamlining processes, reducing paperwork and administration and providing greater flexibility – positive changes we have been working hard to achieve for quite some time, both directly and via our national body, the Australian Childcare Alliance. The most significant of the changes, 4

as to what we could be doing to further represent you effectively. But again, this isn’t all we do. Child Care New South Wales continues to provide legal and industrial advice via our Legal Service and the NSW Business Chamber; we offer training workshops and webinars (outlined on pages 7 and 8); and we also offer network meetings and new owners’ seminars, and much, much more. The reason we do all of this on your behalf is to ensure we are able to do the important and essential work we set out to do in the first place: to care for and educate our children. As you will be aware, Australian Child Care Week took place 16-20 June. Australian Child Care Week, an Australiawide event, is our opportunity to involve our services and engage our communities with examples of this important and privileged work we do all year: the broadening of the horizons and the enrichment of the precious lives with which we have been entrusted. While we have outlined some highlights from 2014 Australian Child Care Week in our report on page 16 (and images throughout this issue), please note that the celebration is not over; we’ve asked services to submit their most impressive events and programs, and their most passionate and dedicated educators and teams for recognition in the Australian Child Care Week Awards. The Awards Dinner is a gala event taking place in Darling Harbour’s impressive floating venue, the Dockside Pavilion. If we don’t see you there – but we really hope we do! – we’ll tell you all about it in our next issue.

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other than the changes to certified supervisor requirements, is the ability for services in NSW to replace Early Childhood Teachers (ECT) with Diplomas in periods of shortterm absence. As members may be aware, this provision has existed for all jurisdictions except NSW until now, and the changes that took effect 1 June 2014 are a direct result of our sustained policy and advocacy efforts. We have provided links to the Australian

Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) fact sheets on the NSW-specific changes via our Weekly Updates and from the front page of our website, including a fact sheet specifically on new supervisor certificate application requirements. Please ensure you have read and understood these fact sheets and how the changes affect your service/s. To access it please visit bit.ly/ CCNSWnn_2NSWregs.

Pay Rates

ollowing the scheduled expiry of the transitional provisions in NSW on 30 June 2014, updated Child Care New South Wales pay summaries (wage rates), prepared by our industrial relations experts, have been made available to members. As we mentioned in our Member Alerts, Weekly Updates and in the members-only section of the Child Care New South Wales website (childcarensw.com.au), two unions filed applications in the Fair Work Commission to extend the transitional provisions in the Educational Service (Teachers) Award 2010 and the Children’s Services Award 2010, which – if successful – would have had an effect on the minimum rates of pay that apply to your service. However, the Fair Work Commission decision made it clear that the transitional provisions would NOT be extended. (To read the Fair Work Commission decision, visit bit. ly/CCNSWnn2_FWCdec.) Members may access

the final pay summaries on the Child Care New South Wales website as follows: • Go to www.childcarensw.com.au; • LOG IN (by first clicking on ‘Member Login’ at the top right of the page, clicking on the ‘username’ box and typing in “CCNSWID” – in capital letters – immediately followed by your member number, with no spaces; and then clicking on the ‘password’ box and typing in your password, which is generally in lower case); • then mouse over ‘Employment Support’ in the main menu on the left hand side of the screen, and click on ‘2014 Pay Summaries’. There are also direct links from the blurb entitled ‘Final 2014 Pay Summaries Now Available’ on the front page of the Child Care New South Wales website; you will need to be logged in to gain access. For existing employees who may be paid at a higher rate than the rates in the 2014 pay

summaries, there is no legal requirement to increase their rates until the Award minimum rate of pay ‘catches up’ with their current rate of pay. All new employees who commence employment after the 2014 pay summaries take effect can be paid according to the lower rates of pay. However, please be advised that you cannot reduce an existing employee’s rate of pay; they will need to remain on higher rates until the modern award rates ‘catch up’. If you do reduce an existing employee’s rate of pay, you risk an underpayment claim, an order for back pay from the Fair Work Commission or the Local Court, and potentially the payment of penalties for breaches of the Fair Work Act. Meanwhile, a pre-recorded webinar has been prepared to provide an overview of the new pay summaries, and will address many of the member inquiries we are continuing to receive. Members will be advised, via a Member Alert, the moment it is available to access.

Industrial Relations

g Equal Remuneration Order Application

s previously advised, applications for General Staff Award 2010. The unions are Equal Remuneration Orders (EROs) arguing that employees do not receive equal have been made by United Voice, the remuneration for work of a comparable value Australian Education Union (Victoria) and the to other occupations and industries, and are Independent Education Union. The applicaseeking substantial pay increases (of 39.5 tions affect all directors, teachers, educators per cent to 79.5 per cent depending on the and support workers in long day services and Award) and changes to work conditions (eg an preschools covered by the Children’s Services additional minimum of two hours/week for Award 2010; Educational Services (Teachers) planning, preparing, evaluating and programAward 2010; Local Government Industry ming activities; and a minimum of one hour/ Award 2010; or Educational Services (Schools) fortnight for attending staff meetings outside Cardiff Busy Bees Preschool children working on their wombats

of the ordinary hours of work). Child Care New South Wales members who are also members of the Australian Child Care Centres Association are being represented in the ERO case by Livingstones Australia; Child Care New South Wales is also working closely with the Australian Business Lawyers and Advisors as the ERO case progresses. We will keep members updated via our website and our Weekly Updates. For further information, please visit bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_remun1314.

Four-Yearly Review of the Modern Award

he Fair Work Commission must review issues. No decisions have yet been made. We all modern awards every four years. will keep members updated via our website and The Commission has commenced the our Weekly Updates as the review commences. first four-yearly review, with submissions cur- You can also visit bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_FWC4YR rently being considered regarding annual leave for further information.

ACCA Election Results

he Australian Childcare Centres Association (ACCA) is a registered industrial organisation of employers whose member base is derived primarily from individual members of state based associations. It provides members with industrial representation at a federal level. A number of Child Care New South Wales members who are also members of ACCA had

the opportunity to vote in the ACCA election in April 2014. The election resulted in a number of changes to the ACCA Committee of Management. The new ACCA Committee of Management comprises John Keast (President), Fadi Dorkham (Vice President), Lyn Connolly (Secretary), Lucian Roncon (Treasurer), Linda Davies, Ann Young and Kerry Mahony.

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Federal Issues

Federal Issues Standing Council Meeting

he Standing Council on School Education and Early Childhood met in Canberra 11 April 2014. As outlined in the official communiqué (that you can read by visiting bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_NQFcomm) Ministers agreed to a number of reforms to the Education and Care Services National Regulations, to improve the operation of the National Quality Framework. The amendments relate to staffing arrangements, the physical environment of

Ministers agreed to continue working on regulatory amendments to reduce regulatory burden (“red tape”). The Standing Council also approved a review of the assessment and rating process, with an ambitious timeframe of 1 July 2014 implementation. Child Care New South Wales staff reviewed details and continued working closely with our national body, the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA), to ensure that positive changes can be delivered for our members.

g Red Tape

he Federal Government introduced legislation and tabled documents on 19 March 2014 to repeal more than 10,000 pieces of legislation and regulations aimed at cutting red tape. The Federal Government estimates that changes introduced could reduce red tape across the economy by more

than $700m a year, every year. You can visit the ‘Cutting Red Tape’ website, the Australian Government’s online deregulation resource, here: bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_cutredtape. Federal Assistant Minister for Education, the Hon Sussan Ley MP, was given a question without notice on the red tape repeal agenda in

the House of Representatives on the same day. To read a brief transcript, please visit: bit.ly/ CCNSWnn2_LeyMPQWN. Both Child Care New South Wales and our national body, the Australian Childcare Alliance, are continuing to work closely with Minister Ley’s office on these issues.

g The NQF Review

he long-awaited review of the National Quality Framework (NQF) – scheduled back in 2008/2009 when the National Partnership Agreement on the National Quality Agenda for Early Childhood Education and Care was made – commenced with face-to-face consultation sessions 27 May 2014. (You can access a consultation paper by visiting bit.ly/ CCNSWnn2_NQFrev.) The review will assess the extent to which the objectives and outcomes of the National Partnership Agreement have been achieved, and in particular, whether

the NQF has improved the efficiency and cost effectiveness of regulation of services, and reduced the regulatory burden for providers and regulatory authorities. The review will also examine the effectiveness of the assessment and rating process, as well as the role of the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority. A number of Child Care New South Wales Executive Committee members and staff attended the National Quality Framework (NQF) Review consultation sessions held

in Parramatta 28 May 2014, and Child Care New South Wales Chief Executive Officer Brianna Casey attended the peak body consultation session on the review of the National Quality Framework held in Sydney 6 June 2014. Submissions on the review of the National Quality Framework closed 4 July 2014. Child Care New South Wales lodged a submission on behalf of members. Thank you to those members who provided submissions, online comments or completed the online survey.

g Commission of Audit

he much-anticipated National Commission of Audit (Towards Responsible Government) Report was released 1 May, with some very significant recommendations for the early childhood education and care sector. It is important to note that these are recommendations to government, which may or may not be adopted. The Federal Treasurer, the Hon Joe Hockey MP, indicated virtually immediately that a number of recommendations would unlikely be implemented, with some of them being addressed in the 13 May 2014 Federal Budget, and others considered as part of existing policy debates. For example, recommendations pertaining to early childhood education and care were considered as part 6

early childhood services and transitional provisions to deal with workforce shortages for early childhood teachers in remote and very remote areas. An updated Guide to Assessment and Rating for Services was released and shared with services via the ACECQA newsletter emailed Friday 11th April 2014. (For the updated guide, please visit bit.ly/CCNSWcc2_nuNQFguide; for the ACECQA newsletter, please visit bit.ly/ CCNSWnn2_ACECQAvol6.)

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of the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Childcare and Early Childhood Learning. The Commissioners recommended that the Child Care Rebate and Child Care Benefit be replaced with a single, means-tested payment reimbursing parents for a proportion of their child care costs (approximately 80 per cent for low income families and approximately 50 per cent for other families), with the new payment to include a ‘work, training, study’ test. It was also recommended that this new payment include ‘in-home care’ and other types of care that are not currently subsidised, meaning that families using nannies would be eligible to receive this payment (if the recommendation is adopted). The Commissioners also recom-

mended the Paid Parental Leave scheme be targeted to those most in need by lowering the cap to average weekly earnings, indexed annually. Savings are to be redirected to child care assistance so that they are budgetneutral, and a 1.5 per cent levy on company tax above $5m was recommended. There are a number of other recommendations that could affect our sector, including proposed rationalisation of National Partnership Agreements, government agencies and advisory bodies; a proposed move to a voucher system for Indigenous children to access early childhood education and care. For a copy of the summary of recommendations, please visit: bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_CoA.

Long Day Care Professional Development Programme (LDCPDP)

n Monday 5 May 2014 the Federal Government announced details of the much-anticipated Long Day Care Professional Development Programme. The $200m Programme utilises the remaining funds from the now defunct Early Years Quality Fund to assist long day care services with the cost of upskilling and training educators to meet the requirements of the National Quality Framework, and provide additional support for early childhood teachers as well as services located in regional, rural and remote communities to help tackle skills shortages. Funding will be provided to Child Care Benefit approved long day care providers over a three-

Clare Hollings and Lauren Reinhardt - workshop presenters.

year period (to 30 June 2017) to allow providers to plan longer-term professional development goals. Providers will receive three payments, and reporting and acquittal will be required during the funding period, along with evidence to demonstrate that funds have been spent on eligible professional development. Providers will be provided with an allocation that recognises: • The number of full time equivalent (FTE) paid contact educators at the time of application (base amount per FTE educator is $3750 over the three years); • In addition to the base amount, the number of FTE ECTs they employ at the time of ap-

plication (the loading for each ECT is $2300 over the three years); and • Geographic isolation (in addition to the base amount, the loading for geographic isolation is $4100 per FTE in outer regional areas and $4400 per FTE in remote and very remote areas – again over the three years. Applications closed 13 June 2014. At the time of writing, there has been no announcement on the number of services who were successful in obtaining funding via the Pogramme. Any inquiries about your application should be directed to the Department by telephone (1800 020 212) or email (ldcpdp@education.gov.au).

g Child Care New South Wales Training Workshops

t has been wonderful to see such strong interest in the workshops on offer via our 2014 Training Calendar. We have had a large number of non-members participating in the workshop program this year, highlighting the relevance and quality of the workshops. Workshop sessions for the remainder of the year – including live webinars, perfect for ‘attending’ online (or even purchasing later) – are as follows: AUGUST • Mon 4 - Meaningful Documentation and Effective Planning for Learning 2 (ASQUITH) • Wed 13 - Meaningful Documentation and Effective Planning for Learning 2 (PENRITH) • Tue 19 - Speech Pathology Workshop: The early bird catches the words – and the sounds and literacy skills - (LIVERPOOL) • Tue 26 - Meaningful Documentation and Effective Planning for Learning 2 (PARRAMATTA)

Katarzyna Wieczorek-Ghisso - workshop presenter.

SEPTEMBER • Tue 2 - Meaningful Documentation and Effective Planning for Learning 2 (GYMEA) • Tue 9 - Speech Pathology Workshop: The early bird catches the words – and the sounds and literacy skills - (PARRAMATTA) • Wed 10 - Meaningful Documentation and Effective Planning for Learning 2 (LIVERPOOL) • Mon 15 - Meaningful Documentation and Effective Planning for Learning 2 (WEBINAR) • Tue 16 - School Transitions: Ready Schools, Ready Families (PENRITH) • Tue 2 - The Rewards and Challenges of an Education Leader (GYMEA)

Training and Professional Development

• Wed 24 - School Transition: Ready Schools, Ready Families (LIVERPOOL) OCTOBER • Wed 1 - The Rewards and Challenges of an Education Leader (PENRITH) • Wed 8 - The Rewards and Challenges of an Education Leader (PARRAMATTA) • Mon 13 - The Rewards and Challenges of an Education Leader (ASQUITH) • Mon 20 - The Rewards and Challenges of an Education Leader (LIVERPOOL) • Mon 27 - School Transition: Ready Schools, Ready Families (WEBINAR) • Wed 29 - The Rewards and Challenges of an Education Leader (WEBINAR) NOVEMBER • Mon 3 - Network Meeting (ASQUITH) • Tue 4 - Network Meeting (GYMEA) • Wed 5 - School Transitions: Ready Schools, Ready Families (GYMEA) • Mon 10 - Network Meeting (LIVERPOOL) • Tue 11 - Network Meeting (PARRAMATTA) • Mon 17 - Network Meeting (PENRITH) • Tue 18 - Network Meeting (NEWCASTLE) • Mon 24 - Network Meeting (WOLLONGONG)

Workshop Testimonials - Meaningful Documentation and Effective Planning for Learning 1 • “Very energetic presentation.” • “I felt I have a better understanding of the whole process now. Some great ideas that we can definitely use.”

• “The speaker was excellent. Really good in engaging the audience.” • “I learnt a lot and will take this back to my centre.”

• “I needed refreshing on what to put in observations and how to put it onto paper. You have motivated me. Thank you.” • “Looking forward to part 2!”

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Training and Professional Development

Webinars

hild Care New South Wales offers webinars as an affordable alternative to face-to-face methods for training and education. They are particularly useful for regional members. Webinars provide the same opportunities as attending a workshop without having to leave your service or home. Child Care New South Wales webinars hold exactly the same content as face-to-face workshops and are available for purchase through the website. You can connect to our webinars via computer, iPad or iPhone. You will view the presenter’s slides and hear the presentation

in real time. You will also have the ability to interact with the trainer through an online chat window. If you cannot ‘attend’ a webinar, that is, connect to it online while it is happening, you may purchase a recording of it any time afterwards. The recorded webinar contains the presenter’s spoken presentation, accompanied by the slide show and any notes that were provided at the time of recording the webinar. Speaking of which: you can still purchase Katarzyna Wieczorek-Ghisso’s Meaningful Documentation and Effective Planning For Learning 1 workshop as a recorded webinar,

along with Katarzyna’s notes, for the discount member price of just $55 ($85 for nonmembers). Please note that this is the first of two workshops being presented on this topic, so if you have registered for Meaningful Documentation and Effective Planning For Learning 2 workshop or webinar and did not attend the first workshop, purchasing the webinar is a great way to prepare. For more information on Child Care New South Wales webinars, and to purchase a copy of the Documentation and Effective Planning For Learning 1 webinar, please visit bit.ly/CCNSW_webinars.

Workshop Testimonials - Relaxation, Massage and Yoga Fun for Young Children 0-6 Years • “It was fantastic. I thoroughly enjoyed it. A big ‘thank you’!” • “Excellent night. Very good trainer who knows what she is talking about and all information given will be able to be used with the children.”

• “Workshop was hands-on and very interactive. Left venue full of ideas.” • “The trainers were easy to understand and made the course interesting, relaxing and fun.” • “I loved the way the yoga was explained and how to turn yoga into a children’s activity.”

• “Wonderful, energetic, professional trainer.” • “To tap into such depth of skill and knowledge was valuable. I will use many of these ideas with the children (and just for myself too!) to develop spatial awareness, coordination etc.”

Workshop Testimonials - Speech Pathology • “Clare was fantastic! Very energetic. Communication was outstanding!” • “Very clear, concise, useful information and resources – thank you.”

• “Great knowledge. Very engaging. Definitely provided food for thought and gave us a great tool to take back to our centre.”

• “Found this workshops extremely useful and one of the best so far this year. A big thank you.” • “As a trainer myself, I was impressed and happy with this workshop.”

Workshop Testimonials - Ready Schools, Ready Children, Ready Families • “Kat makes everything seem a lot less stressful and allows you to feel confidence within yourself while you’re learning through her and then transition to educating yourself. I would repeatedly pay good money to be educated by Kat!” • “One of the best presentations I have been to.

I travelled five hours in total to attend and it was well worth it.” • “Fantastic! I really got a lot out of the workshop. Thank you so much, Kat!” • “Wonderful to listen to. Came away with great ideas that I will be attempting to implement. Thanks Child Care New South Wales!”

• “Thank you, Kat, for your excellent knowledge and informative session. Great presentation.” • “Thank you for confirming to me that my approach to my school preparedness program is on track and giving me further ways to prove this.”

g Online training

s members would be aware, Child Care New South Wales works closely with TAFE NSW Open Training and Education Network (OTEN) in offering discounted training units of study, of importance to early childhood education and care services. In addition to the discounted online child protection training we have been offering since 2012, we now have three new online courses available, with discounts for Child Care New South Wales members.

As outlined in the Online Training page of our website you can now complete online training in Sustainability ($195 for members), Cultural Competence ($195 for members) and Working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People ($295 for members). These are cheaper rates than offered by registering with TAFE directly. For further information, including registration details, please visit the Online Training page by following this link: bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_OTEN.

Medilife

hild Care New South Wales has an ongoing partnership with Medilife, a leading provider of first aid and safety training, to provide quality first aid training customised for the needs of early childhood education and care services. Medilife provides courses to ensure first aid, fire and safety training needs are met, and offers a 10% discount to

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Child Care New South Wales members. For more information on Medilife, all of the courses they offer, and to take advantage of the 10% discount, please visit the Medilife page on the Child Care New South Wales website via this link: bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_medilife. There are details on booking procedure and your members’ special discount code.

The Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) is Child Care New South Wales’ national body and is comprised of member bodies from Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The Alliance champions the needs of private long day care services and is at the front line in dealing with proposed changes to the sector by the Federal Government, working closely with key Ministers, Senators and Members of Parliament, as well as relevant government departments and agencies. The Alliance provides support, information and advice to keep members abreast of current research, funding and the National Quality Framework and lobbies for practical, sensible and effective outcomes for early childhood education and care services across Australia.

Canberra Delegation

hild Care New South Wales can see photos from the trip on our Facebook President Nesha O’Neil was part of page: www.facebook.com/ChildCareNSW. the Australian Childcare Alliance delegation in Canberra 24 - 26 March 2014, representing the early childhood education and care sector at Parliament House in Canberra. Nesha and the ACA team visited more than 35 Ministers, Senators, Members of Parliament, Chiefs of Staff and Advisors over the three days, including the Prime Minister, the Hon Tony Abbott MP, ensuring politicians understand the issues around affordability for L-R: Australian Childcare Alliance Vice President Judy families – particularly vulnerable and disadAtkinson, President Gwynn Bridge, Child Care New South Wales President Nesha O’Neil and Childcare vantaged families and those in regional and Association of WA President Lisa Godwin. remote areas – as well as workforce issues and member-specific issues. Nesha has reported that they had a good n the week following the mid-June reception at all meetings but that the message release of the AMP NATSEM report, the was clear regarding budgetary constraints. You Australian Childcare Alliance President

Gwynn Bridge and Vice President Judy Atkinson were in Canberra for a number of meetings with Federal Members of Parliament and Senators. Gwynn and Judy met with the Federal Assistant Minister for Education, the Hon Sussan Ley MP; Federal Shadow Minister for Education and Early Childhood, the Hon Kate Ellis MP; and Senator Sarah Hanson-Young on 26 June 2014. Key items of discussion included changes to the Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate resulting from the Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Measures) Bill 2014 debated the previous week; the draft Productivity Commission Report; and the AMP NATSEM report. With so much happening in our sector, it is fantastic to have our national body supporting us all in Canberra.

Australian Childcare Alliance News

n the last issue of The Nurture Nook we reported on the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Child Care and Early Childhood Learning. The Australian Government has asked the Productivity Commission to undertake a public inquiry into future options for childcare and early childhood learning, with a focus on developing a system that supports workforce participation and addresses children’s learning and development needs. To assist interested parties in preparing a submission in response to the Inquiry, the Productivity Commission released an issues paper (bit.ly/CCNSW_ECLPC) that provided an overview of the inquiry; identified matters that the Commission sought comment and further information upon; and explained how to get involved in the inquiry. The Commission also released a brief paper (bit.ly/CCNSW_PC_CC) calling for parents’ views on accessibility; af-

Productivity Commission fordability; quality; support; occasional care; children with additional needs; and challenges facing rural and remote communities. Child Care New South Wales Chief Executive Officer Brianna Casey attended an important meeting with the Australian Childcare Alliance in preparation of its submission. Child Care New South Wales had strong input to the draft submission, with data gathered from services and their families via a survey. In addition, Child Care New South Wales lodged its own submission, intended to complement the Alliance submission, highlighting NSW-specific issues and recommendations. We made fifteen recommendations ranging from changes to state level funding (in particular the continuing failure of the NSW Government to provide private long day care services with Universal Access funding) to Early Childhood Teacher requirements to a substantial overhaul of local government

planning restrictions stifling the operations of early childhood education and care services. (To view submissions, please visit bit.ly/ CCNSW_PCsubs). While the final report and recommendations are not expected to be handed down until October 2014, the Productivity Commission has compiled comments it received about the Inquiry via its online feedback tool. You can review comments from people who use education and care services; people who work in education and care services; people who both use and work in education and care services; and people who neither use nor work in education and care services. To view the comments, please visit bit.ly/ CCNSWnn2_PCcomms. At the time of writing, the release of the draft Productivity Commission report was imminent, with considerable media speculation about the expected content.

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Australian Childcare Alliance News

Senate Inquiries

s we went to press with the last Nurture Nook, the submission date was looming for two Senate Inquiries, announced in December 2013. The first inquired as to the immediate future of the childcare sector in Australia (for the terms of reference, please visit bit.ly/ CCNSWnn2_SENfut). It focussed on cost and availability for parents over the short term; administrative burden; the effects of the current regulatory environment; and how the childcare sector can be strengthened in the short term to boost Australia’s productivity

and workplace participation for parents. The second inquired as to the delivery of quality and affordable early childhood education and care services (for terms of reference, please visit bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_SENdel). This inquiry focussed on the delivery of quality and affordable early childhood education and care services, including outcomes for children in early childhood education and care services; a progress report into the implementation of the National Quality Framework (NQF), including targets met and those working toward; parents’ experiences

of the outcomes of the NQF; and impacts of the announced government amendments to the NQF. Child Care New South Wales lodged submissions in response to both inquiries, drawing heavily on our submission in response to the previous Productivity Commission Inquiry into Childcare and Early Childhood Learning (you can see a copy of our submission at bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_ PCCCNSWsub) and utilising member feedback and case studies. Both inquiries are due for report by 15 July 2014.

Child Care Rebate and Child Care Benefit

t was reported – as a front page story in the 2 July edition of The Australian – that the draft Productivity Commission report expected to be released later in July may include major changes to the Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate, by introducing one simplified, means-tested payment, which may also apply to nannies. (To read the article online please visit bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_OZJul2p1.) Child Care New South Wales Chief Executive Officer Brianna Casey appeared on Channel 9 news (you can watch the story by visiting bit.ly/ CCNSWnn2_9newsBC) and SBS World News that night responding to this article. Members should be aware that the draft report has not yet been released, and the suggested changes are little more than media speculation at this point. The Federal Assistant Education Minister, the Hon Sussan Ley MP, has issued a statement (which you can access in full by visiting bit. ly/CCNSWnn2_LeyPMRJul2), confirming that the Federal Government has not yet seen or received the draft Productivity Commission report. The statement also addresses claims made about the Child Care Benefit in a letter you may have received from the Federal Opposition Leader, the Hon Bill Shorten

g Federal Budget

he 2014 Federal Budget was handed down Tuesday 13 May 2014. Child Care New South Wales worked closely with the Australian Childcare Alliance to review the relevant Budget papers that night, identifying key line items and changes affecting members. As expected, any major announcements and changes have been deferred until the government responds to the Productivity Commission recommendations, which are due to be released 31 October 2014. Similarly, the future of the National Partnership Agreement on Universal Access will not be 10

MP and Federal Shadow Minister for Early report by 28 August 2014; the committee Childhood, the Hon Kate Ellis MP this week. has agreed that submissions should be reTo be clear: ceived by 25 July. The Australian Childcare • The freeze on indexation of the Child Care Alliance is currently responding to this Rebate has already been passed into legisla- Senate Inquiry. We will keep you posted tion. This means that the current annual through The Weekly Update and Member limit of $7500 (per child) will be mainAlerts as the inquiry progresses. tained for three years from 1 July 2014. • The new hourly maximum rates for the • The proposed freeze on Child Care Benefit Child Care Benefit (effective as of Monday income thresholds (which would maintain 7th July 2014) are now available from the the Child Care Benefit income threshFederal Department of Education. (To acolds at the amounts applicable as at 30 cess the one-page summary please visit bit. June 2014 for a further three years) is the ly/CCNSWnn2_CCB14Jul.) subject of the Family Assistance Legislation We hope this helps explain where things Amendment (Child Care Measures) Bill (No. are up to, as confusing as it may be! 2) 2014, which has Child Care New South Wales Chief Executive been referred to a Officer Brianna Casey, appearing on the Channel 9 Network News. Senate Committee for inquiry and report (view details by visiting bit.ly/ CCNSWnn2_EaEFB2). As such, the proposed freeze on Child Care Benefit income thresholds is NOT YET LAW. The Senate referred the Bill for inquiry and

www.childcarensw.com.au

resolved until the review is conducted later this year. However, the Budget papers refer to a contingency fund should the agreement be extended. There were of course a number of announcements that may affect families’ economic circumstances, from the GP copayment to family assistance payments to university deregulation. To visit the Australian Childcare Alliance media release on the Federal Budget, please visit bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_ACA2014Budget; to view the media release issued by the Federal

Assistant Minister for Education, the Hon Sussan Ley MP, please visit bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_ Ley2014Budget; and to view the Early Childhood and Care Federal Budget papers, please visit bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_EECFBP. It was confirmed in the Federal Budget papers that one of the measures aimed at reducing the national deficit will be to defer any further increases to the Superannuation Guarantee percentage for four years. This means that the Superannuation Guarantee percentage will remain at 9.5 per cent from 1 July 2014 until 30 June 2018.

he President and Vice President of the Australian Childcare Alliance met with Federal Assistant Minister for Education, the Hon Sussan Ley, in Canberra Monday 3 March 2014. It was an extremely

Delegates attending Federal Assistant Minister for Education, the Hon Sussan Ley MP’s delivery of her rousing keynote address.

productive meeting, discussing member issues as well as proposed solutions. The Alliance and its members (including Child Care New South Wales) enjoy an extremely productive working relationship with Minister Ley and her team.

g Paid Parental Leave

he Australian Childcare Alliance, issued a media release Wednesday 30 April 2014, calling for funds from the $5.5 billion Paid Parental Leave scheme to be redirected to early childhood education and care.

To view a copy of the media release, please visit bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_PPL. Child Care New South Wales President, Nesha O’Neil was interviewed on this issue by a number of media outlets.

Staying in Touch Child Care New South Wales summarises and links to the latest relevant material from other early childhood education and care information sources in The Weekly Update and The Nurture Nook, as well as Member Alerts when necessary. These sources include the Department of Education and Communities (DEC), their publication The Early Childhood Extra and the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority’s Newsletter. We outline these sources below, and also encourage you to sign up to receive updates and latest important industry information directly.

Department of Education and Communities (DEC)

he Department of Education and Communities (DEC) is relying more and more on email as a form of communication. This includes not only information (for example, via their publication Early Childhood Extra) but also invoicing for service approvals etc. It is important that members keep DEC informed of the best email address to ensure you are receiving all

g The Early Childhood Extra Newsletter

he Early Childhood Extra is a regular newsletter from the Early Childhood Education and Care Directorate. The Early Childhood Extra looks at a range of issues relevant to the early childhood sector in New South Wales, including qualifications; your

of the appropriate information. As of July 1, DEC will only accept applications and notifications submitted electronically via the National Quality Agenda IT System (NQA ITS) secure portal. To update your details, please visit bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_ACECQAits. You should also keep an eye on your junk/ trash email folders to ensure that DEC emails aren’t being missed.

child protection responsibilities; audit of funded services; Assessment and Rating and regulatory streamlining measures; and more. For a run-down of The Early Childhood Extra newsletters thus far, and to subscribe, please visit bit.ly/ CCNSWnn2_ECXsub.

Australian Childcare Alliance News / Staying in Touch

Meeting with Federal Assistant Minister for Education

TOP: EC Extra; RIGHT: ACECQA Newsletter

g Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) Newsletter

he Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) issues their Newsletter on, roughly, a fortnightly basis, covering issues that include supporting the various Quality Areas of the National Quality Framework; changes to regula-

tions and legislation; issues pertaining to Assessment & Rating; online resources for your services and more. You may peruse past issues by visiting bit.ly/ CCNSWnn2_ACECQApast and subscribe to the ACECQA Newsletter by visiting bit.ly/ CCNSWnn2_ACECQAsub.

The Nurture Nook - 2014/2 11

ACECQA Snapshot / AMP NATSEM Report on Childcare Affordability

ACECQA Snapshot State of the Industry

he latest quarterly report from the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) – covering the first quarter of 2014 – was released in the first week of May. The National Quality Framework Snapshot Q1 2014 highlights that the number of approved providers operating services across Australia continues to grow steadily: • In the last twelve months, the number of approved services has increased by 11 per cent, up from 12,886 to 14,358. • The family day care sector has had the strongest growth in services, with the national number increasing by 61 per cent, up from 472 to 761. • The number of centre-based services has increased by 10 per cent, up from 12,414 to 13,597. The highest proportion of approved services in Australia is in NSW (34 per cent). The report states that 35 per cent of services in Australia

have now been rated (up from 32 per cent as reported in the previous Snapshot report). Of the 5085 services that have received a quality rating nationally, 61 per cent are Meeting (35 per cent) or Exceeding (26 per cent) the National Quality Standard (up from 59 per cent in the last quarter report). Only eight services nationally have received a rating of Significant Improvement Required. Looking at NSW specifically, 2035 (42 per cent) of the 4864 services across the state have received a quality rating (up from 37 per cent last quarter), with 18 per cent receiving a rating of ‘exceeding’; 33 per cent receiving a rating of ‘meeting’ and 49 per cent receiving a rating of ‘working towards’. The report also highlights that 290 approved services in NSW are operating with a waiver (up from 272 last quarter), the majority of which are for staff. You can access the full report by visiting bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_NQF14Q1. The NSW-specific information may be found on page 30.

The number of NSW approved services with a finalised quality rating by quality area on 31 March 2014, from ACECQA’s NQF Snapshot Q1 2014 (download full report: bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_NQF14Q1)

AMP NATSEM Report on Childcare Affordability

MP and the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM) in Canberra produce reports that open windows on Australian society and the way we live and work. The AMP NATSEM Report on Childcare Affordability in Australia was released Sunday 22 June 2014. The report received significant media attention given the key finding that the primary carer, typically the mother, loses about 60 per cent of her gross income when returning to work full-time after having children – when factoring in the cost of child care, loss of Government benefits and increase in tax The report found that middle income mothers who work part-time fare a little better, losing

www.childcarensw.com.au

about 45 per cent of their pay; but mums already working part-time who decide to increase their hours to full-time will lose a massive 75 per cent of their pay for these extra hours of work. The report also found that child care use has jumped by almost 80 per cent since 1996, with almost a quarter of all children in some sort of formal child care, compared to only 13 per cent in 1996, despite the average cost of child care increasing by 150 per cent in the last decade, jumping from $30 to $75 per day for long day care. To view the media release and summary of key findings, please visit bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_ AMPNATSEM35rel; to view the full report, please visit bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_AMPNATSEM35.

Meeting with the Finance Minister hild Care New South Wales Treasurer Joe Russo and Chief Executive Officer Brianna Casey were at Parliament House 5 March 2014 to meet with NSW Finance Minister, the Hon Andrew Constance MP (who is now NSW Treasurer and Minster for Industrial Relations). Key items of discussion included Universal Access funding; the Equal Remuneration Order application lodged by United Voice and the Australian Education Union (Victorian Branch); and the Productivity Commission and Senate Inquiries affecting our sector. Whilst at Parliament House, Joe and Brianna also caught up with NSW Roads Minister, the Hon Duncan Gay MLC; NSW Small Business Minister, the Hon Katrina Hodgkinson MP; Jeremy Buckingham MLC; and a number of advisors.

Meeting with the Premier he Child Care New South Wales President, Nesha O’Neil; Treasurer, Joe Russo; and Chief Executive Officer Brianna Casey attended a function with the then-NSW Premier, the Hon Barry O’Farrell MP, 7 March 2014 at the invitation of Kevin Conolly MP, Member for Riverstone. Nesha, Joe and Brianna were able to discuss with the Premier and Mr Conolly the challenges and opportunities facing early childhood education and care in NSW, including our concerns with aspects of the regulatory environment, Productivity Commission and Senate Inquiries; and the vexed issue of Universal Access Funding.

Executive of the Office of Education (NSW Department of Education and Communities) in Sydney on 21 March 2014. The meeting provided an opportunity to update the issues raised via our regular meetings with Ruth Callaghan and her team at the Early Childhood Education and Care Directorate and discuss how the early childhood education and care policy agenda fits into the state and national policy framework. For a copy of the NSW Department of Education and Communities’ organisation chart, which explains the various portfolios and key contacts across the Department, please visit bit.ly/ CCNSWnn2_DoENSW.

Meeting with the Deputy Premier hild Care New South Wales President Nesha O’Neil, Treasurer Joe Russo and Executive Committee members John Cook, Phillip Malek and Michael Shirley met with the NSW Deputy Premier, the Hon Andrew Stoner MP, at Parliament House, Sydney 14 May 2014. The Deputy Premier, who also now holds the Small Business portfolio (amongst many others!), demonstrated a detailed understanding of the issues affecting members, from 2016 ratio requirements to workforce shortages to factors affecting families’ ability to access early childhood education and care. Child Care New South Wales will continue to work closely with the NSW Government on these issues.

Meeting with the Office of Education hild Care New South Wales President Nesha O’Neil and Chief Executive Officer Brianna Casey met with Leslie Loble, Chief

to note how many Members of Parliament and Members of the Legislative Council are keen to better understand our sector. Canada Bay Policy Forum hild Care New South Wales Executive Committee member Vicki Skoulogenis represented Child Care New South Wales at a Canada Bay Policy Panel meeting in Drummoyne 7 May 2014. A Citizens’ Policy Panel has been appointed to provide recommendations to the City of Canada Bay Council on policy setting for lease conditions for properties leased on a full-time basis for community organisations, including long day care, occasional care and preschools. Vicki provided the panel with a basic overview of the early childhood education and care regulatory frameworks, and the current lack of planning and coordination leading to an oversupply of services in some councils, and an undersupply in others. Leanne Gibbs from Community Child Care CoOperative also spoke at the meeting, providing a community perspective.

Department of Education and Communities Meeting hild Care New South Wales Chief Executive Officer Brianna Casey attended the NSW Department of Education and Communities Early Childhood Education and Care Reference Group meeting in Parramatta on 16 May 2014. Key items of discussion included the national policy agenda (Productivity Commission Inquiry; Review of the National Quality Framework; National Partnership Agreement on Universal Access; National Partnership Funding); preschool funding; and regulatory issues (streamlining assessment and rating; working with children checks).

L-R: Child Care New South wales Treasurer, Joe Russo; President, Nesha O’Neil; Executive Committee members Phillip Malek and John Cook (Michael Shirley not depicted).

Meeting with the NSW Treasurer hild Care New South Wales Executive Committee member Mark Wharton attended a function with the NSW Treasurer, the Hon Andrew Constance MP, in Sydney 30 April 2014. Mark raised a number of issues with the Treasurer, from ratios to workforce shortages to universal access funding. This was our second opportunity to discuss these issues with Minister Constance, as Child Care New South Wales Treasurer Joe Russo and Chief Executive Officer Brianna Casey also recently met with him in his previous role as Finance Minister. We will continue to liaise with his office.

Child Care New South Wales on Behalf of our Members

Small Business Stakeholder Forum hild Care New South Wales President Nesha O’Neil attended the Small Business Forum hosted by the new Small Business Commissioner Robyn Hobbs and new Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business, John Barilaro MP in May. Both the Commissioner and the Parliamentary Secretary are keen to work with Child Care New South Meeting with Catherine Cusack MLC Wales to identify and remove small business hild Care New South Wales President barriers affecting members. This was the Nesha O’Neil and Chief Executive Officer second stakeholder forum since the group was Brianna Casey met with the Hon Catherine established last year by the Office of the Small Cusack MLC on 7 June to discuss the key chal- Business Commissioner last year (website: lenges currently facing members. It is pleasing www.smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au).

The Nurture Nook - 2014/2 13

Child Care New South Wales on Behalf of our Members

cils etc. You can visit the Small Business Commissioner’s Dispute Resolution website here: bit.ly/ CCNSWnn2_smallbizres. The Small Biz Connect team also provides local business advisors who can assist with starting, running and growing your small business. To access their advisory program online, go to bit. ly/CCNSWnn2_smallbizadv. Please visit the Office of the Small Business Commissioner website, www. smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au for further information on how it maybe of assistance to your service/s.

New South Wales over the coming months to assist us on these issues. You can find out more about the NSW Small Business Commissioner and the services available to small business in NSW by visiting bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_smallbiz.

Senate Hearing hild Care New South Wales President Nesha O’Neil and Executive Committee member Vicki Skoulogenis gave evidence at the public hearing on the Senate Inquiry into the immediate future of the childcare sector in Australia and Senate Inquiry into the delivery of quality and affordable early childhood Child Care New South Wales Committee Member Vicki Skoulogenis education and care services on 23 May 2014. and President Nesha O’Neil providing evidence at Senate inquiries. Nesha was a witness on behalf of Child Care The forum provides a unique opportuMeeting with the Small New South Wales, and Vicki was a witness as nity for representatives from a range of Business Commissioner a private operator. small businesses to highlight common hild Care New South Wales President Senator the Hon Sue Lines (Labor); Senator challenges and opportunities facing small Nesha O’Neil and Chief Executive Officer the Hon Bridget McKenzie (Nationals); business in NSW, from employment costs Brianna Casey met with the NSW Small and Senator the Hon Mehmet Tillem to administrative burden to interactions Business Commissioner, Robyn Hobbs OAM, 1 (Labor) asked a range of questions from with all levels of government. As previously July 2014 to discuss a range of issues affectdemographics, to Early Childhood Teacher advised, the Office of the Small Business ing members, including costs of compliance; requirements, to the impacts of the National Commissioner’s Dispute Resolution Unit working more effectively with local councils; Quality Framework on Services. The Senate can assist small businesses – including and streamlining reporting and record-keeping Committee on Education and Employment privately owned early childhood educarequirements. The Commissioner is a wonder- References Committee is expected to hand tion and care services – with commercial ful advocate for small business in NSW and has down its findings on both inquiries by 15 disputes, interactions with local councommitted to working closely with Child Care July 2014.

Australian Child Care Week press clippings from around the country.

www.childcarensw.com.au

Anit-bullying Policy Template Update

he Education and Care Services National Regulations stipulate that every early childhood education and care service in Australia must have policies and procedures. It is important that the quality practices of early childhood education and care services are supported by policies that are relevant, accurate and reflect the latest industry information and service philosophy. A comprehensive set of policies, tailored to your service’s unique circumstances, will help you meet the requirements of the National Quality Standards and help your service run smoothly. Child Care New South Wales has developed a series of Policy Templates that are available for members to purchase. These Policy Templates help guide you through the policy development process. The Child Care New South Wales Policy Templates are designed to provide guidance on the range of issues that should be considered when developing policies for your service, and to give you a foundation from which to adapt the policies to tailor them

to your individual service/s. The Policy Templates should be used as a guide only. Services should review each policy and add to them as required to ensure your individual circumstances are reflected in the final policy. Specific advice may need to be sought from relevant government authorities and/or legal/ financial advisors to suit each service’s individual needs. Our policy templates contain more than 110 policy samples and 30 information sheets to assist members. These policy templates are updated regularly, with members advised via our Weekly Update emails of any changes. With the passing of new anti-bullying legislation, a new Anti-Bullying policy has been added to the Child Care New South Wales policy templates. You can access all of Child Care New South Wales’ updated templates via the Policy Templates page on the Child Care New South Wales website: bit. ly/CCNSWnn2_poltem. However, please note that you must be logged in to our website to gain access to the templates, and be a subscriber.

Preparing for a Fair Work Ombudsman Audit

number of businesses, including early learning services, are regularly audited by the Fair Work Ombudsman. The audit checks that employers are compliant with the provisions in the Modern Award(s) under which they employ their staff. Generally speaking, the main focus is on employees’ remuneration and employment conditions of which superannuation is an important part. Child Care Super has prepared a brief article on their free service that can help check whether your business is super compliant. You can access the article by following this link: bit.ly/ CCNSWnn2_CCSom.

Information for Members

Changes to the way you pay super

rom 1 July 2014, the government’s new data and e-commerce standards commence, which will no longer allow Super Guarantee (SG) contributions to be made by cheque and paper for employers with 20 or more employees (see table below). Thankfully some superannuation funds provide online services that meet the new standards and also help reduce the amount of time taken to process SG contributions. For example, Child Care Super offers a Super PaySmart Solutions Service including both an online contribution and a clearing house facility. These provide a number of benefits that already free-up a considerable amount of time for many child care centre owners and payroll managers. Who Employers with 20 or more employees

1 July 2014

Employers with less than 20 employees

1 July 2015

Disclaimer:

These photos from Tony Harris’s Australian Child Care Week visit to Cardiff Busy Bees Preschool.

Electronic payments commence

This article contains information of a general nature only. It is not intended to constitute the provision of advice. Before acting on any information you should consider its appropriateness having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. Prior to making a decision in relation to any financial product you should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) in deciding whether to acquire or continue to hold the product. The PDS is available from childcaresuper.com.au

Meet the new e-data requirements with Super Paysmart Solutions egardless of whether you’re a large or small employer, we can help take the headache out of making super payments for your employees. Child Care Super offers two electronic options that will help you easily meet the new data and e-commerce standards. Employers can watch a free Super PaySmart Solutions demonstration video at childcaresuper.com.au/super-paysmart.

Never forget a Super Guarantee payment again n online solution may also help to avoid penalties for late SG payments. Child Care Super provides a free SMS payment reminder service for your quarterly SG contributions. Employers can register now at childcaresuper. com.au/employers.

Child Care Super is here to help. For further information, please call 1800 060 215 or visit childcaresuper.com.au. Child Care Super’s Clearing House solution is provided by MercerSpectrum. MercerSpectrum and the online service are products issued by Mercer Outsourcing (Australia) Pty Ltd. ABN 83 068 908 912. AFSL 411980. Guild Trustee Services Pty Limited ABN 84 068 826 728, AFS Licence No. 233815, RSE Licence No. L0000611 as Trustee for Child Care Super (part of the Guild Retirement Fund) Fund Registration No. R1000030, ABN 22 599 554 834.

The Nurture Nook - 2014/2 15

Australian Child Care Week & Awards

That was the Week that Was A brief overview of Australian Child Care Week

This article also appears in Belonging in a slightly different format.

t’s fair to say that most people outside of Reg Gulley MP, State Member for Murrumba the early childhood education and care (Qld), helped Little Champs Early Learning sector have scant knowledge of what work, Centre celebrate its tenth anniversary. let alone what great work is being done every Speakers from various walks of life were day; they don’t know how it’s done, let alone invited by many services to share knowledge how well it’s done. Australian Child Care Week and experience with the children: police ofprovides that opportunity: for children, along ficers spoke of ‘stranger danger’; firefighters with the people who educate and care for them led fire drills; the RTA delivered workshops on professionally, to be seen and heard; for the road safety; journalists interviewed children work and dedication undertaken year-round about what Australian Child Care Week meant to be recognised by and celebrated within the to them – some filing their stories for publicagreater community and beyond. tion the very next day. Hairdressers created While early childhood education and care services engaged countless families and community members across the country in activities and events made all the more special by the shared experience, this was the first year that they were able to contribute stories and photographs on an Australian Child Care Week Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ AustralianChildCareWeek). The page’s feed was all the more entertaining thanks to Sam the Bear, the adorable teddy made available to a number of services by presenting Children and parents of the Roundhouse Childcare Centre, Fairlight, partner Child Care Super. admire rain gauges constructed by the children. We were able to follow many learning and play activities via Sam’s participa- ‘crazy’ hair-dos, scientists led experiments, vets tion: his relaxing cuppa upon arrival; kicking brought pets. Many visitors brought their spethe ball, defending goals and partaking in cial vehicles, which also proved a treat: police oranges at half time in soccer games; threading cars, ambulances, fire engines, garbage trucks, fruit kebabs and creating ‘healthy food faces’; cattle trucks and tractors… And although the gardening… Sam even earned his first aid helicopter pilot parent wasn’t able to attend certificate, after carefully listening to paramedic in his chopper, his youthful audience was still Clair at Ready Set Grow, Cannington! enchanted by his tales of what his work entails, It was most pleasing to see the support of and how he does it. local members and councilors among certain Many services held cultural and commucommunities: John Barilaro MP, State Member nity events: among the authors, librarians and for Monaro (NSW), opened Australian Child parents invited to read to children, author Tony Care Week at Bungendore Kids Zone; Frank Harris read from his Wombat series of books, Beveridge, Mayor of Charters Towers (Qld), selling copies afterwards to raise funds for an breakfasted at Charters Towers Childcare; and orphanage in India. Parents from overseas and

guests from indigenous communities spoke of their respective cultures, sharing song, dance, food, costume, art and knowledge. For some services, hosting Indigenous guests and creating rainbow serpents was the prelude to NAIDOC Week events they had planned. As Refugee Week coincided with Australian Child Care Week, some services took the opportunity to explore what a ‘refugee’ was, drawing pictures and write letters to send to children in detention. Other services put together care packs to give to children in local hospitals and hosted or visited members of care homes. Some services were visited by professional sportsmen and sportswomen who helped teach about healthy lifestyles. Gross motor obstacle courses and ‘lap-a-thons’ also highlighted the importance of play-based learning and physical development. Given the ubiquity of the World Cup, soccer players were prominent among the sporting professionals who visited some services. Of the many art shows and artworks created, the group projects produced by Laugh and Learn Early Learning Centre were particular impressive. They engaged children and parents in the production of a ‘fingerprint leaf tree’ and a ‘wish weaver’ (the wish weaver is a weaving frame threaded with ribbon containing the wishes each family has for their child’s future). Also impressive is the embrace of technology demonstrated by many services, as they established relations, engaging and interacting with other services across the country. Children were able to make new friends and say hello via Skype and iPads. Equally as important, particularly when imbuing the young with knowledge for the future, was the range of sustainability projects on display: children understanding the importance of water in our lives, and especially in the gardens they helped tend – many of

Tony Harris visits Cardiff Busy Bees for Australian Child Care Week

was really excited to travel out to see Cardiff Busy Bees Preschool today. What a lovely early childhood service, what a great day! Tony brought to life the wonderful stories of Wombat and his friends; the children had a great time singing their songs, listening to stories and giving a lively commentary along the way. We met Alana, her sisters, mum, Karen the teacher, and heard about the families who come each week. We heard how Miriam (through sales of Tony’s books) is supporting an orphanage for children

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in India. Tony has travelled the world promoting literacy in early childhood – and his books such as There’s a Wombat in my Bed are a wonderfully engaging way of doing just that. I saw some lovely inspiring photos of kids playing in the autumn leaves, and saw their fantastic tiled artworks. Thank you so much for inviting me to come along. Nesha O’Neil, President, Child Care New South Wales

L-R: Miriam Haynes (Director, Haynes Children’s Home, India), author Tony Harris, Alana Reid (Director, Cardiff Busy Bees Preschool) and Nesha O’Neil (President, Child Care New South Wales)

lunches accompanying many of the other events throughout the week. Often, professional chefs from the local community were in attendance, preparing local produce – sometimes from services’ own edible gardens. In addition to excursions to postal centres (to see how postage works and to mail a surprise letter home to families), and to local schools in preparation for the next stage of their own journey, there were excursions to sushi shops and restaurants. Fittingly, Australian Child Care Week cul-

presents

minates with a celebratory awards dinner. It takes place 13 September at Darling Harbour’s impressive Dockside Pavilion, and will recognise our sector’s passionate and dedicated educators, teams and services. As you read this, entry submissions are being completed for entry by services, or are being appraised by a panel of judges. Finalists will be announced 18 August. However, you can book your tickets now. For information regarding Australian Child Care Week, award categories and the dinner, please visit www.australianchildcareweek.info.

The Adventures of Sam the Bear

An Australian Child Care Week photo-essay by Bec Carey (Treelands Care and Education, Wyong) and Allison Whitmore (Northlakes Care and Education, San Remo)

Australian Child Care Week & Awards

them, ‘edible gardens’ that contributed to the healthy foods they shared. Some services introduced worm farms, with presentations on how they work, how worms behave, and how best to take care of them. Author Norman Lindsay has been attributed with the observation that the way to appeal to children is via their stomachs – hence his book The Magic Pudding. It was certainly the way for many services to engage with their communities, with picnics, morning and afternoon teas, barbecues and

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2014 Early Years Exhibition and Conference

he 2014 Early Years Exhibition and Conference was held at Rosehill Gardens, Sydney Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 March 2014. Federal Assistant Minister for Education, the Hon Sussan Ley MP delivered a rousing keynote address to delegates on the second day of the event, paying tribute to the early childhood education and care services who work so hard to give their community a quality early childhood service, and outlining her vision for a sustainable future for the sector. There is a buzz in this room which no doubt reflects the energy and enthusiasm of everyone here for the important work you all do. You all share a passion for helping children to be the best they can be. I have no intention of ever taking for granted your passion and enthusiasm for the difficult work you do. With almost every child in Australia attending some

It was wonderful to see the Minister taking the time to talk to delegates and exhibitors alike, hearing first-hand about the challenges and opportunities facing the sector, particularly from the perspective of rural and regional areas. Twenty-four workshops were held over the two-day conference, covering topics ranging from cultural competency to social media to school readiness. With 21 energetic and inspiring speakers sharing their expertise, ideas and observations, delegates were provided with new ideas and resources to take back to their services to continue delivering on their commitment to excellence in early childhood education and care – a great outcome by all accounts. Delegate feedback after the event highlighted the continuing strong interest in professional development related to the Early Years Learning Framework, with early Excerpt from Minister Ley’s keynote address, childhood consultant Katarzyna Wieczorekdelivered 16 March 2014. Ghisso’s three workshops – on the rewards

form of child care or early learning service before they enter school, it’s important that we get policies right. I am working to get the best outcomes for children to assist their learning and development, and for their families to promote greater workforce participation. We need to move on from knee jerk responses and policy made on the run, and put the whole sector on a sustainable footing for the future. We need to take a considered and informed approach to reduce regulation which I know is stifling innovation and growth. I really think we have a once-in-ageneration opportunity to do these things. As hardworking and dedicated educators you are literally starting off Australia’s next generations. No pressure, but what an exciting role you have in building the nation’s future.

This article also appears in Belonging in a slightly different format.

Photos on these pages are snapshots of presenters, stands and delegates from the two days of the Early Years Exhibition and Conference.

www.childcarensw.com.au

2014 Early Years Exhibition and Conference

and challenges of an educational leader; school transition; and meaningful documentation and effective planning for learning – extremely well attended. Similarly, the practical and relevant advice provided by Clare Hollings and Lauren Reinhardt from North Shore Speech Therapy – about children’s communication development – was incredibly well received, with an overwhelming number of requests for follow-up resources and professional development opportunities. The leadership workshop delivered by Queensland Education Leadership Institute CEO Dr Stephen Brown also received glowing reviews, with his enthusiastic delivery and challenging content driving delegates to change their approach to leadership within their service. Laurie Lawrence was at his colourful and

dynamic best, sharing his Kids Alive, Do the Five message to delegates, complemented by the important risk management workshop delivered by Guild Insurance’s Christie Boucher. Delegates also spoke glowingly of the ‘What about the dads’ workshop delivered by social worker and counsellor Simon Santosha. Simon’s practical ideas about how services can become more father-inclusive were incredibly valuable at a time when many fathers are more involved in the lives of their children than ever before, including single or separated dads. With almost 100 exhibitors on-site throughout the event, delegates were able to sample, purchase and learn about some of the latest and greatest products and services available to the early childhood education and care sector. It was wonderful to see so many visitors and delegates interacting with exhibitors, starting

conversations that have already led to longerterm partnerships. The benefits of quality early childhood products and services to children was highlighted by Minister Ley during her keynote address: Parents now understand the importance of the early years, and the children naturally respond to opportunities for learning, because much thought has gone into providing an appropriately stimulating environment. And we know the benefits from early childhood learning are even more significant for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The 2014 Early Years Exhibition & Conference was organised by Exhibitions Group Pty Ltd, and supported by Child Care New South Wales; Care for Kids; Kidsafe; and Belonging.

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Achievements and Accolades

Australian Family Early Education & Care Awards

massive congratulations to Ellyn Taylor from Avalon Beach House Preschool for receiving the Rising Star award in the Australian Family 2014 Early Education and Care Awards. What an incredible achievement. To read more about Ellyn and her passion for early childhood education and care, please visit bit.ly/CCNSWnn2_FArisstar14. A massive congratulations also goes out to Jade Ryan from Tilly’s Play and Development Centre who has been awarded the NSW/ACT Early Childhood Director of the Year in the same awards program, and is now in contention for the national award! What wonderful member achievements! You can read more about the other impressive finalists and winners by visiting bit.ly/ CCNSWnn2_FAwin14.

Ellyn Taylor (above), of Avalon Beach House Preschool, the Australian Family 2014 Early Education and Care Awards Rising Star; Klaus Wachsmuth (Nestlé NAN Toddler) and Gwynn Bridge (President, Australian Childcare Alliance, right) present Jade Ryan of Tilly’s Play and Development Centre with her Certificate for NSW/ACT Early Childhood Director of the Year.

g NSW Government Early Childhood Teaching Scholarships

hild Care New South Wales congratulates those members whose educators have been awarded NSW Government Early Childhood Teaching Scholarships. These scholarships provide Diploma-qualified early childhood educators with up to $10,000 to support their study costs in becoming qualified early childhood teachers. Fifty of the seventy scholarships awarded were allocated to educators in rural and regional NSW. We congratulate the following educators from Child Care New South Wales members’ services who have been awarded scholarships:

• Holly Murphy, Ohana Early Learning Centre; • Alison Bloomquist, Bellingen Burrows Long Day Care Centre; • Sharon Walker, Little Nippers Early Learning and Childcare; • Samantha Ford, Little Wattle Pre-School and Child Care Centre; • Angela Emosi, Bright Horizons Childcare – Tumut; • Alaina Wiltshire, Bright Horizons Child Care Centre – Orange; • Aruna Honovar, Willy Wagtail’s Garden Child Care Centre; • Raymond Slade, Nelson Bay Preschool; and • Sandra Seppelt, Birrahlee Kindergarten.

g We Congratulate: • Child Care New South Wales member Rainbow Cottage Kindy, which won Outstanding Childcare Service in the Blacktown City Local Business Awards in May. • Child Care New South Wales member Sharon Graham and the team at Bunny Cottage Preschool and Long Day Care Centre on the celebration of their twentieth birthday. An impressive milestone and wonderful achievement! • Child Care New South Wales member Gracelands Early Education Centre, which won Outstanding Childcare Service as well as the Gold medal for Business of the Year in the Sydney Hills Local Business Awards in May. Gracelands Director Liz Russo was also a finalist for Business Person of the Year and one of their employees, finalist for the Youth of the Year Award. What a fantastic achievement. • Child Care New South Wales member Louisa Beaver and her team from Kindy Korner Balgownie, who achieved a rating of ‘exceeding’ at their Assessment and Rating visit. • Child Care Super, which has recently announced that it is now managing over $1billion for its members (many of whom are also our members!) and is one of the fastest growing specialist super funds in Australia. Child Care Super has doubled in size over the last four years, and is now the preferred fund for more than 70,000 members.