WEEK 6-Sharing Web Resources

 For this week, the links that took me outside-early children Australia’s Website and are of Interest are.

1.  National quality standard professional learning program

2. My child.gov.au

3. Kids Matter Early Childhood

The National Quality Standard Professional Learning Program is a Commonwealth of Australia initiative developed and implemented by Early Childhood Australia in 2011–2012. It is an expansion of the Commonwealth of Australia-funded Early Years Learning Framework Professional Learning Program (EYLF PLP) to incorporate the National Quality Standard (NQS). The aim is to support early childhood educators to further embed the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) in their daily practice as a key element in achieving the National quality standard.(ECA,2012). The program is an important and key element or component of the Australian early years education and an important employment requirement for early childhood educators. Every professional in the field must have knowledge of what it entails. For more information, visit… http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/nqsplp/

My child.gov.au

This is an Australian's online child care portal, where you will find information on different types of child care and how to get assistance with the cost of child care. You can also search a database to find child care centers in your local area. In many cases, you will also be able to find the services' vacancy and fee information. This site also has information and links to other useful websites about children's health and wellbeing, parenting and family support services.

Additionally, it contains details of the Australian Government's early childhood agenda. This information covers a wide range of policies the Government is implementing to improve early childhood education and care. For more information, visit-   http://www.mychild.gov.au/

Kids Matter Early Childhood

KidsMatter s an Australian early childhood mental health initiative, It is a flexible, whole-service framework designed specifically for early education and care services. Experiences in the early childhood years affect long-term mental health, relationships and learning. Children with good mental health have stronger relationships, are better learners and have a greater chance of long-term success. The KidsMatter Early Childhood framework therefore

·         informs and supports early childhood education and care practice and quality requirements

·         provides resources, tools and reflective opportunities

·         Connects educators, children, families, management, community and health professionals.

For more information- http://www.kidsmatter.edu.au/early-childhood

While going through early childhood Australia website, one area caught my attention to read more about because I see it as a resource that benefits everyone The Every Child magazine  which focus on the early years of childhood. It is published quarterly; it contains informative articles on such issues as health, education and social trends, and also book reviews, profiles and guest statements from well-known identities. Articles focus on aspects of early childhood from a grassroots, local level, but also look into political and national developments. Aimed at anyone involved in the care and education of young children, Every Child is topical, diverse, but always entertaining. The segment is divided into subs which helps to navigate all information about every child magazine. It is ideal for:

·         students

·         childcare workers

·         parents

·         grandparents

·         anyone who wants to keep up to date on events and developments around Australia that impact on children from birth to eight years or on the early childhood field in general.

Every Child focuses on the here-and-now, and its articles, written by early childhood professionals, explore what's really going on in early childhood – from current practices in suburban childcare centers to Federal Government policy. Aiming to encourage innovation, promote good practice, and stimulate debate, Every Child magazine is an established favorite among the early childhood community. The magazine recently celebrated 10 years of providing entertaining and informative articles to those in the early childhood field.

One of the new information found on from the web watch newsletter mail to me this week is

International Day of the Girl Child

It is estimated that 60 million girls around the world do not have access to a primary school education. Today is the first annual UN International Day of the Girl Child, to be held each year on 11 October, and ECA is affirming girls’ rights and recognizing the unique challenges faced by girls around the world.

Launching the Day of the Girl in Canberra last night, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said, 'Nothing is more important than education. ... Education is the key. Education is aid that works.'We're asking you to consider supporting Do It In a Dress, an initiative that changes the lives of girls in Sierra Leone by helping them to go to school. What else can you do to advocate for girls' education?

Also the new information received from the Web watch newsletter and which relates to an issue being discussed is National Quality Framework

First National Quality Framework Conference: 2013

ACECQA will host its first national conference on the National Quality Framework at the Australian Technology Park in Sydney, 12-13 September 2013. The conference theme is -Quality, Consistency, and Excellence.

In December 2009, all Australian Governments agreed to a new National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care. This means that all Australian children, regardless of their location, will get the best possible start in life through high quality early childhood education and care and school age care services. The Framework will help providers improve their services in the areas that impact on a child’s development and empower families to make informed choices about which service is best for their child. ACECQA, the new national body is responsible for providing oversight of the new system and ensuring consistency of approach. (ACECQA,2012)

The new insight I gained this week is an effort by early childhood Australia to bring about equity in benefits to quality education through recognition and reconciliation

For Early Childhood Australia, Reconciliation between aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples and the broader Australian community is about transformation—transformation that moves us from ignorance and racism to respect, from inequity and prejudice to justice, and from inaction and fear to hope. It is in this transformation, both personal and organizational, that the promise of a strong future for every Australian child is realized. I believe it is a good step for a country with diversity

                                                      References 

Australian Children Education’s and Care Quality Authority.

http://acecqa.gov.au/national-quality-framework/

Early Childhood Australia: The Australian Early Childhood Advocacy Organization
http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/

http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/wpcontent/uploads/ECA_Reconciliation_Action_Plan_web.pdf