| Best Practice Business |
Child Care Workers Talk to Minister
About Ratios and Pay
|
 Child care professionals have urged the Australian Government to adopt best practice staff to child ratios at a meeting with the Hon Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Early Childhood Education and Care and Minister for Childcare and Youth.
The workers advised the Minister that COAG's vision for Australian children and families is unlikely to succeed unless the reform agenda is fully extended to cover the sector's workforce.
Anje Errey and Sue McSullea (NSW), Bronwen Jefferson (Vic), Monique Wickham (Tas) and Katie McCarthy (ACT) spoke to the Minister on behalf of Australia's 100,000 plus child care workers.
» Read the full article…
|
|
|
Seven in Ten Children Attending Preschool
Do these findings surprise you…
|
 In June 2008, 72 per cent of children aged 3-6 who were not in school were usually attending a preschool or a preschool program in long day care, according to new findings from the Childhood Education and Care Survey (CEaCS) just released by the ABS.
The CEaCS also found that 82 per cent of school children aged 4-8 years had attended a preschool program in the year before commencing school.
The CEaCS is the first national survey to measure attendance in preschool programs in both preschools and long day care centres.
Of all children aged 3-6 years who usually attended a preschool, 23 per cent attended for the 'benchmark' 15 hours or more per week, although it was more common for children to attend for 10 to 14 hours per week.
The CEaCS also found that 43 per cent (1.5 million) of all children aged 0-12 years attended child care - with 22 per cent of these children attending formal care, and 29 per cent using informal care.
» Read the full article…
|
|
|
New Requirements for Four-Weekly CCMS Statements
Have the new reporting requirements increased your administrative burden?
|
 As of 1 September 2009 approved child care services operating under the Child Care Management System are required to provide four weekly information statements to parents and guardians.
Services which fail to comply with this requirement may be issued civil penalties and/or infringement notices by the Government.
The statements should provide parents with information about the sessions of care, costs of child care and the amount of Child Care Benefit paid for children during the four-week period.
According to the new regulations, the statements must be issued within four weeks of the end of each statement period. If your service has not yet provided statements, it should now issue them to parents for all sessions of care since the beginning of 2009.
From July 2009 services operating on the CCMS will need to meet the four-weekly statement requirements to avoid being penalised.
President of the Child Care National Association Chris Buck said in the Herald Sun that the fines were unnecessary because the Government has the power to deal with rogue operators by stopping funds.
» Read the full article…
|
|
|
Update on Government's Early Learning and Care Centres
Recent announcement and update…
|
 The Australian Government has committed to delivering Early Learning and Care Centres in 38 locations across Australia by the end of 2010, including six autism specific centres.
Funding of $114.5 million over four years has been allocated for the establishment of the centres which the Government says will give parents access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education and child care services that meet the needs of the local community.
The Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth, Kate Ellis, and the Queensland Minister for Education and Training, Geoff Wilson, recently announced funding of $9 million for five Early Learning and Care Centres in Queensland to be established in Amberley, Cairns, Gladstone, Townsville and Weipa.
» Read the full article…
|
| Child Care People |
Interview
Linda Mrocki
Camberwell Junction Early Learning Centre VIC
|
 Child care professionals share a commitment to improving society by creating dynamic and nurturing care environments for Australia's youngest learners.
Read this month's Child Care Person in the spotlight Linda Mrocki from Camberwell Junction Early Learning Centre in Victoria.
» Read the interview…
|
 If you or someone you know deserves to be featured in this section drop us a line at editor@careforkids.com.au.
Each child care person we profile will receive a copy of Play School Collection (3 DVD set) for their service.
Courtesy of ABC Kids and Roadshow Entertainment. |
| Children & Child Care
|
Safe Sleeping Practices for Child Care Services
Sleeping Children safely is a significant responsibility for child care professionals
|
 A recent study by the American Academy of Pediatrics has shown that 20 per cent of SIDS deaths in America occur in child care settings.
The same study says that based on the time infants spend in care only 9 per cent of deaths should occur in child care services.
SIDS remains one of the leading causes of death for infants from one month to one year of age and sleeping infants and young children safely is a significant responsibility for those who care for other people's children.
It is vitally important for child care workers to ensure that children in their care are safe at all times and that service policies and procedures reflect evidence based research.
In addition, child care services are required to stay up-to-date with their safe sleeping policies in order to maintain accreditation with the NCAC.
According to SIDS and Kids the most important points for child care services to remember for safe sleeping are:
» Read the full article…
|
|
|
Training Options for Child Care Workers
Weighing up the Options by Narelle Cossettini from ACCCO
|
With so many options available to study child care it is no wonder people get confused when choosing their training college.
The choice you make may alter your life or more importantly the lives of the children you end up caring for.
With child care colleges opening up on every corner, now more than ever, it is time to look closely at what is being offered by colleges delivering training in children's services.
So what do you need to look for?
- Does the college have national accreditation and are its courses approved in all states and territories?
- Does the college meet the needs of its learners? For example does it offer face-to face delivery of classes and can you study externally?
- Does the college offer RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning)?
- Can you study at a pace convenient to you?
- What is the maximum number of students in a class?
- Is the college respected in the industry and does it have direct links to the workforce?
- Do the trainers have appropriate qualifications and experience?
- Does the college have local trainers with local knowledge and convenient training venues?
- Are the trainers friendly and supportive and will they provide onsite support at your service to help you gain the most from your course?
- Is the college a member of ACPET, or its equivalent, to ensure your fees are protected in case the college closes?
- Are payment plans available to suit your financial requirements?
- Are all courses Austudy Approved?
» Read the full article…
|
|
|
Featured posts
CareforKids Social
|
Is a new Super Centre coming to your area?
Seven in Ten Children Attending Preschool
New Requirements for Four-Weekly CCMS Statements
Latest Events
|
| |
Got Some Time Out…
Catch up on back issues of Child Care News
|
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
March/April 2009
February 2009
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
|
Add our new gadget to your iGoogle page and check out how your service looks!
