It is a privilege to be able to bring Fiona Nash, Australia’s first Regional Education Commissioner to our Conversations Evening. 
Ms Nash has a deep love for regional Australia and an enduring interest in regional education, with strong links to the education sector. She is a champion for regional, rural and remote education, working with stakeholders and governments across sectors so all Australians can access a high-quality education, regardless of where they live.

Her broad remit to improve regional education from early childhood education to tertiary education means she can provide a national focus and direction for regional education.

She needs to hear from you. Your thoughts on Early Childhood Education and Higher Education. 
Please make time to listen and contribute to this very important conversation. 

Register below  Thursday 31st August, 7-8pm. 
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtde-tqTsoGdabu4-_bbRw4I74DQobvdMJ 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

This is the week to celebrate the Early Years

Are you running an event. Please register it here: https://www.earlylearningmatters.org.au/register/

Early Learning Matters Week 202324–28 July 2023

Learning through connection 

Each year, Early Childhood Australia invites early childhood educators, parents, carers and community leaders around Australia to join us in celebrating Early Learning Matters Week. A weeklong celebration aimed at building awareness and understanding of the importance of early learning and the difference it makes to children’s learning, development and wellbeing. 

This year’s theme, learning through connection, invites services to consider and share the ways that ‘connection’ supports children’s learning.

The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) includes the outcome that ‘children are connected with and contribute to their world’. The EYLF explores the concept of connection in relation to family, communities, culture and place – and reinforces the importance of connection for participation: Children’s connection and contribution to their world is built on the idea they can exert agency in ways that make a difference and build a foundation for civic and democratic participation. 

The refreshed version of the EYLF includes a new principle that prioritises strengthening engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges and perspectives in early learning settings. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have been learning through their connection to Country and community for tens and thousands of years.

During Early Learning Matters Week this year we are acknowledging these longstanding and continuing connections, as well as the new and ongoing connections that are fostered in early learning settings nationally. No matter where you are in Australia or how long you have been here – we are all living and learning on Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Lands. The EYLF also specifically recognises the importance of the connection to Country and community for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the continued significance of such connections in children’s learning. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are connected to the longest surviving cultures in the world and represent the custodians of Lands across the Australian continent. Relationships and continual connections to Country and community are at the heart of [First Nations identities]… the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people—past and present [and future]—should be [actively] acknowledged and valued in children’s learning. 

Learning about connections to Country, place, community and cultural practices requires respectful acknowledgement of the diverse experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This includes acknowledging the complex histories of our nation and the experience of disconnection felt by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people resulting from colonisation. By learning about the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and experiences including the value of caring for Country and community, children gain a deeper appreciation for the importance of social justice, active citizenship and sustainability. This can foster a sense of belonging and social engagement and promotes active and respectful participation in shared efforts to build a sustainable and inclusive future.

This is important not only for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children but also their non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peers. The Mparntwe (Alice Springs) Education Declaration recognises the importance of continued learning, continued and new connections, and learning through connections, when outlining its second goal that ‘All young Australians become confident and creative individuals, successful lifelong learners, and active and informed members of the community’.

Connection is especially important for young Australians to become active and informed members of their community who understand, acknowledge and celebrate the diversity and richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures – and “who possess the knowledge, skills and understanding to contribute to, and benefit from, reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians”. 

Connection matters because it helps children develop a sense of place and community, and fosters understandings of the interconnectedness of all people and the environment. 

Sam PageCEO

The Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth will talk to educators, and others involved in Early Childhood Education, at the next Conversations Evening.

The Honorable Dr Anne Aly will be talking at ECA NSW’s conversations evening on Thursday 8th June, via zoom at 7 pm.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAlfu-hrTguG93d4uOelvG24MlXV_el_u2q

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Dr Aly will talk, then be part of a Q&A session. The session will be recorded however you must register to receive the recording.

Are you looking to explore new horizons?

Great news, applications for the 2024 NSW Premier’s Teacher Scholarships are now open. The NSW Premier’s Teacher Scholarships provide an excellent opportunity for school-based educators to collaborate with other professionals in your chosen subject area and inspire positive outcomes for students in NSW schools. The scholarships are open to current temporary or permanent teachers in NSW government and non-government schools, TAFE NSW campuses and early childhood centres. Successful applicants will be eligible for a grant of $10,000 to $15,000 for a five-week study tour to be completed in Australia or internationally.In 2024, there are eleven NSW Premier’s Teacher Scholarships available across a range of key learning areas, with one specifically available for early childhood teachers:

• Premier’s Early Childhood Education Scholarship

The other categories may be of interest as well:

• Premier’s Anika Foundation Youth Depression Awareness Scholarship
• Premier’s Creativity across the Curriculum Scholarship
• Premier’s Hicksons Lawyers STEM Scholarship
• Premier’s History Teachers’ Association History Scholarship
• Premier’s NESA Quality Teaching Scholarship
• Premier’s Reserve Bank of Australia Economics Scholarship
• Premier’s Teachers Mutual Bank Aboriginal Education Scholarship
• Premier’s University of NSW Rural and Remote Education Scholarship
• Premier’s University of Sydney Mathematics Scholarship
• Premier’s Vocational Education in Schools Scholarship

Applications close 11:59pm (AEST), Friday, 28 July 2023. For further information, please visit the NSW Premier’s Teacher Scholarships webpage or contact the program team via premierscholarships@det.nsw.edu.au or (02) 7814 3820. 

Be BRAVE… yes apply !

The ECA Reconciliation symposium will be held in Hobart 9-10 June (The start of the long weekend)

ECA NSW has generous scholarships to pay for registration, airfares and accommodation.

Facilitators Catherine Hydon and Jo Goodwin.

Why should I attend?

1. Advance Reconciliation in our sector

ECA events are known for bringing together the best thinkers and experts in the early childhood sector and the ECA Reconciliation Symposium is no exception. It is a unique opportunity to learn, share and be inspired to work together towards reconciliation, no matter what part of that journey you’re on personally or professionally.

2. Gain practical ideas

The ECA Reconciliation Symposium offers insightful and practical ideas that will help you embed reconciliation in your practice with children and their families, irrespective of where you are in Australia or how diverse your community is.

3. Improve communication

The symposium focuses on creating understanding and raising awareness of the nuances of communication, including the importance of words, actions and gestures in cultivating positive relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians.

4. Invest in your team

Our people are our greatest investment. Commit to continuous improvement by investing in yourself and your team. 

5. Be part of a brighter future

A highly interactive event, the ECA Reconciliation Symposium delivers an atmosphere of dialogue and engagement, and generates ideas and action to address reconciliation.

Closes tomorrow 12th May.

Use this link to apply http://The previous link I sent this morning can no longer be used. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFNCeb7Y-zvnRYpQ8k924mcSok0QMcQzkJtll7VWlkYE59tw/viewform?usp=sf_link

The ECA National Reconciliation Symposium, Advancing reconciliation in early childhood education and care, will be held in Hobart, Tasmania on 9 -10 June 2023. 

To support our NSW members, the ECA NSW Committee is offering six scholarships to join the the symposium in-person. The scholarships will help pay for registration, airfares and accommodation. The scholarships are open to educators currently teaching in a long day care services, preschools, or other early childhood settings. The applicant must be working with children or involved in the early childhood education.

The scholarship will cover full registration, part of the accommodation and travel costs, up to a limit specified by the ECA NSW Committee.

If you would like to apply, please submit your application on or before 09.00am on Friday 12 May 2023.

No late applications will be considered. Successful applications will be notified as soon as possible.

There are 6 scholarships available. We are looking for diverse scholarship applicants.

• Educators from a regional or remote location
• Educators with CERT III (Early Childhood)
• Educators with Diploma qualification (Early Childhood)
• Teachers with Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)
• Educators from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background

Apply here: http://Reconciliation Scholarship Application form

ECA NSW members and friends are warmly welcomed to join the NSW Election Forum on the Early Years and Early Education, hosted by ECA NSW Committee at the Sydney Masonic Centre.

The confirmed panel includes:
Minister for Education and Early Learning, the Hon. Sarah Mitchell MLC (NSW Nationals), and Shadow Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, Ms Prue Car MP (NSW Labor).

Hear the candidates outline their policies and election commitments relevant to young children, families and early childhood educators. Limited seats available, register now: https://lnkd.in/guQcqS9VActivate to view larger image,

Don’t miss out: Join our upcoming online event!

In this webinar, Catharine Hydon will discuss:

ECA Code of Ethics and the Early Years Learning Framework

The role of ethics in professional practice

Practical examples of what ethical practice might look like in early childhood settings

Sign up here: https://bit.ly/3I4bsFR

We are very pleased to announce the winners of the 2022 SPRouts award. SDN Owl’s House wins $1000 to put towards their continued environmental sustainability program. There were ten excellent applicants.  

Below is part of the SDN Owl’s house application: 

All changes start from small actions. We embed the principles of Education for Sustainability through the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle initiative, the examples include but not limited to:

• Owl’s Market, as a part of our waste management, encourages children and families to collect and sell used clothes/toys/books at a reasonable price so they can be reused instead.

• Children developed Owl’s Library and designed a library tag system as maintenance. It helps reduce families’ expenditure in book purchasing and builds a bridge between home and the service through an early literacy experience.

• We cut down wastage through loose part play while promoting open-ended play. The Recycle Art Corner is designed to collect recycled materials (boxes, catalogues, fabrics, bottle lids, natural materials) for creative art making. Plastic bottles and containers are collected by all stakeholders to be reused in dramatic play to build on the children’s emerging knowledge of sustainable practices.

• We reviewed the existing outdoor/indoor environments and identified the need to add more natural elements. Our children developed vegetable gardens to share responsibilities. They collect fruit and vegetable scraps for our worm farm. We also teach children the importance of saving water and using the water from our rainwater tank for watering plants and outdoor water play.

Reflective practice, as a part of our service’s philosophy, plays a significant role in our sustainability program.

• OneNote is used as a reflection tool for the team to share knowledge about sustainability. We believe holistic thinking is vital in identifying the current challenges in sustainability and encouraging people to explore the solutions creatively.

• Children are encouraged to think about how to reuse items to reduce landfills. We demonstrated how to reuse cardboard to make costumes/signs and reuse dried-out markers as watercolour substitutes by soaking the tips in jars of water. Children become aware that items can be

repaired and reused. We also purchase less by reusing the existing plastic resources until the end of their life.

• We listen to and value children’s voices through daily conversations. For example, children discussed how human waste impacts ocean life. A parent invited our children to the UNSW Environmental Lab to explore further. During Children’s Week 2022, children raised awareness through collective artwork that all children today and in the future should all deserve their right to quality of life.

We have also developed partnerships with external communities to promote Education for Sustainability.

• We registered as a Community Collection Hub in partnership with TerraCycle in 2021, to invite more local people to help collect writing instruments, cleaning products containers, and dental care products. This project was also shared on UNSW campus during “Early Learning Matters Week 2022”.

• Ongoing relationships with the local Bunning’s Warehouse and a flower shop support our natural environments through donations and incursions. Children are encouraged to think about how to reduce landfills.

• We had a sustainability campaign on the UNSW campus to celebrate Earth Day 2022. Children and families prepared and shared hand-made paper, sealed glitter jars and recycled poster during the excursion.Congratulations to all nominees. The applications were all outstanding.