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It’s your last chance to nominate an Educator, Coordinator and Service in this year’s Excellence in Family Day Care Awards. Nominations close tomorrow, Thursday 4 July 2024.
The Awards showcase the many and unique benefits of the nurturing, natural approach to early education and care that family day care provides and celebrate the work of Educators, Coordinators and Services and the family day care sector. To place a nomination visit the FDCA website.
Close to 5000 nominations have been received this year, a big congratulations to all those who have been nominated. The first, second and third round nominations have been released and are available on the FDCA website.
FDCA members that were nominated from 19 to 25 June should have received a nomination confirmation email and have been included on the nomination lists, which now includes all members nominated in the Awards. Those nominated after this time will be included in the final round of nominations.
For more information and to place a nomination visit the Awards page on the FDCA website.
You can help to promote the Awards, and family day care, by sharing content on social media. Check the FDCA Facebook page and your inbox for more resources.
NAIDOC Week will be held this Sunday 7 July until Sunday 14 July 2024, with celebrations being held across Australia to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Valuing Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures is an underpinning principle of the National Quality Framework. This year’s theme chosen by the National NAIDOC Committee is, Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud.
The theme honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This year’s NAIDOC Week theme allows early childhood and early primary educators to imagine a freedom of spirit and Country where possibilities to create space - through the imagination of children - can foster the strength of children.
Access the NAIDOC website for a range of educational resources to support learning, along with information about the history of NAIDOC Week and local events.
We at Family Day Care Australia acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live and work, the Darkinjung People, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' continuous connection to Country, and celebrate their traditions and living cultures.
The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), in partnership with all governments, have developed and released the National Model Code and Guidelines on taking images in early childhood education and care. The National Model Code and Guidelines have been developed after the Review of Child Safety Arrangements under the National Quality Framework identified that the NQF could be further enhanced in a number of child safety areas, including to reduce risks around taking / recording images of children, and the sharing and storing of those images.
The voluntary National Model Code has been developed to promote a child safe culture and complement relevant child safety activities and strategies already in place across the early childhood education and care sector.
Please note that the National Model Code and Guidelines only apply to centre-based services, not family day care services.
Whilst aimed specifically at centre-based services, any type of children’s education and care service may choose to be informed by the National Model Code and Guidelines within their own service context, as deemed appropriate. However, FDCA is in the process of consulting with approved services and developing guidance material specific to a family day care context, to ensure a proportionate and appropriately tailored approach is adopted consistently across our sector. Please keep an eye on your inbox over the coming weeks for the family day care specific guidance material.
The final report on Early Childhood Education and Care has been completed and sent to the Australian Government for its consideration.
The release of the final report by the Government is the next step in the process. Under the Productivity Commission Act 1998, the Government is required to table the report in each House of the Parliament within 25 sitting days of receipt.
When the Government releases the report, the report will be available for free download from the Commission’s website and printed copies will also be available for purchase from the Commission’s publications agent.
FDCA placed a submission in response to the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Early Childhood Education and Care “A path to universal early childhood education and care: Draft report”.
In this submission FDCA calls on the Inquiry to make final recommendations that account for the essential role of family day care within the current landscape, the unique structural elements of the model that underpin its key strengths, the significant potential capabilities beyond existing utilisation rates, and which ultimately support the sector’s growth and viability. FDCA’s full submission is available on the FDCA website.
The latest edition of JiGSAW is now available in the Member Zone!
This edition includes feature articles on Educators across Australia bringing sustainability and the environment into their practices, such as Renata’s Day Care’s Clean Up Australia Day event at the park and Project Cassowary by Marlin Coast Family Day Care. You can also grab a cuppa with Educator Sue Higgs and Coastwide Child and Family Services.
There are some great prizes on offer for our Find the Red Star House, Word Puzzle and Sudoku competitions, including an Aboriginal Inspired Turtle Floor Puzzle and a Wooden Dough & Modelling Accessories Pack. See JiGSAW to win! Competitions close 31 July 2024.
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