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High quality professional learning content available anywhere at anytime!
As the national peak body for family day care, we understand the difficulty many of our members face in being able to access high quality professional learning content.
To address this, we've established, the FDCA Online Engagement Series, which will allow FDCA members to easily access online panel sessions that will provide educators and service staff with high quality professional learning content that will discuss a wide range of subject matter relevant to the family day care sector.
The Online Engagement Series is FREE to view live on several platforms such as the FDCA website, Facebook and YouTube. Content will also be driven by FDCA members who will be able to submit questions prior to each session as well as ask questions in real time during the live panels.
Best of all, every session will be recorded and made accessible to 24/7 to all members via the FDCA Member Zone, meaning that no matter where you are located, or how busy your schedule is, the sessions will always be accessible for you to digest at a time that is convenient to you!
Feature as a guest
Would you like to feature as a guest on an episode of the FDCA Online Engagement Series?
We’re calling for expressions of interest from FDCA members and external stakeholders that would be interested in participating as panellists and sharing their knowledge on specific subject matter.
If you have a passion or expertise in particular areas, we’re inviting you to express your interest in participating. To express your interest, all you need to do is click here and complete the simple online form.
Once you have completed the form, FDCA will keep your details on file and if an opportunity arises, we will contact you about the possibility of participating in an episode of the FDCA Engagement Series.
Details for upcoming episodes of the FDCA Online Engagement Series will be announced soon.
Episode #1: Supporting Children's Behaviours
Date: Thursday, 9 February 2023
Guests: Maggie Dent and Sylvia Arotin
View Recording: FDCA Member Zone
Maggie Dent and Sylvia Arotin unpack and discuss strategies and mechanisms that can be used to support children’s behaviour in in the family day care setting. Topics discussed include separation anxiety, impulse control, life changes and how different approaches can be required to suit the individual needs of a child.
This session is ideal for educators and service staff.
Episode #2: Exploring Quality Area 1
Date: Thursday, 16 March 2023
Guests: Perry Campbell and Lyndall Cotterill
View Recording: FDCA Member Zone
Our host, FDCA Advocacy and Engagement Manager, Michael Farrell, ACECQA, Senior Manager, Priority Support, National Projects, Perry Campbell and FDCA Sector Liaison Coordinator and 2021 National Coordinator of the Year, Lyndall Cotterill in exploring Quality Area 1.
Michael, Perry and Lyndall will discuss the Approved Learning Frameworks, the Assessment and Planning Cycle, Critical Reflection, the role of the Educational Leader and dive into strategies and ideas for conquering Quality Area 1.
Episode #3: Wellbeing in Family Day Care
Date: Thursday, 27 April 2023
Guests: Maria Heenan, Mariam Shahid, Sue Higgs
View Recording: FDCA Member Zone
This episode will cover topics such as improving work/life balance, children’s wellbeing, separating home and work life and when and where to seek help for your wellbeing.
Episode #4: Tips, Hints and Hacks for Educators
Date: Thursday, 25 May 2023
Guests: Lyndall Cotterill, Hannah Smith and Martha Smith
View Recording: FDCA Member Zone
Join our guests, FDCA Sector Liaison Coordinator and 2021 National Coordinator of the Year, Lyndall Cotterill, 2022 National Educator of the Year, Hannah Smith and 2018 Educator of the Year National Finalist and multiple regional award winner Martha Smith who discuss a range of tips, hints and hacks for family day care educators.
Episode #5: Governance and Leadership
Date: Thursday, 29 June 2023
Guests: Annette Steley and Jo Georgiou
View Recording: FDCA Member Zone
In this special FDCA Online Engagement Series episode for family day care services, FDCA Advocacy and Engagement Manager, Michael Farrell will be joined by Annette Steley, Service Manager from Choices Family Day Care (QLD) and Jo Georgiou, Regional Manager from Nature Alliance Family Day Care (WA).
Michael, Annette and Jo will discuss a range of topics including:
This is a must-watch episode for FDCA Service Members!
Episode #6: Neurodiversity and Inclusion
Date: Thursday, 31 August 2023
Guests: Hannah Smith, Samantha Folan and Gee van der Watt
View Recording: FDCA Member Zone
In episode #6 of the FDCA Online Engagement Series 2022 National Educator of the Year, Hannah Smith, Family Day Care Coordinator and 2015 Educator of the Year National Finalist, Samantha Folan and Owner and Director of Autism Inclusion, Gee van der Watt, to explore the topics of neurodiversity and inclusion from a family day care and early learning context.
The panel provides advice on support services and resources that are accessible to family day care educators and services, as well as strategies for supporting neurodivergent children and their families.
Episode #7: Recruitment for Family Day Care
Date: Thursday, 7 December 2023
Guests: Janet Callus, Damon Somerfield and Peta Fitzpatrick
View Recording: FDCA Member Zone
In this episode of the FDCA Online Engagement Series our panel of guests examine the topic of recruitment in family day care. The panel covers topics such as the applicant experience, talent pooling, the recruitment process and proactive recruitment techniques.
FDCA Advocacy and Engagement Manager Michael Farrell is joined by Senior Policy Officer, Janet Callus from the Department for Education in South Australia, National Recruitment Manager, Damon Somerfield from FDCA and Recruitment Officer, Peta Fitzpatrick, from Enhance Family Day Care in Queensland.
Episode #8: Incidents, Emergencies and Supervision
Date: Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Guests: Julie Metselaar, Phillipa Hargrave and Rebecca Davey
Recording: FDCA Member Zone
This episode of the FDCA Online Engagement Series focuses on two elements from Quality Area 2 in Incident and Emergency Management and Supervision.
Join our guests, Field Officer, Julie Metselaar from Baw Baw Shire Family Day Care in Victoria, Manager Quality Support Program, Leadership, Quality and Regulatory Support Group, Phillipa Hargrave from ACECQA and Family Day Care Educator, Rebecca Davey, from Southern Vales Family Day Care Scheme in South Australia, for an important discussion for all stakeholders in the family day care sector.
Episode #9: Fostering Relationships
Date: Wednesday, 27 March 2024
Guests: Stephanie Hoy, Rachael Sheppard, Donna Litscher
Recording: FDCA Member Zone
Join our special guests, Stephanie Hoy (2023 National Educator of the Year winner), Rachael Sheppard (Team Leader from Kentish Lifelong Learning and Care) and Donna Klitscher (2023 Coordinator of the Year National Finalist), who will explore various relationships through the lens of family day care.
Episode #10: Play-based Learning
Date/Time: Thursday, 23 May 2024
Guests: Beryl Mort, Ali Fleming
Recording: FDCA Member Zone
Episode ten of the FDCA Online Engagement Series explores the topic of play-based learning and discussed a wide range of tips and strategies that can be implemented to assist in children's development. Join our special guests Beryl Mort and Ali Fleming for what promises to be an engaging session.
Special Episode: Family Day Care Tax Tips
Date/Time: Thursday, 20 June 2024
Guests: Ben Mueller, Director and Principal Accountant, FDC Tax
Recording: FDCA Member Zone
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FDCA members are invited to attend this special end of financial year Family Day Care Tax Tips Webinar. The webinar will feature Ben Mueller, Director and Principal Account with FDC Tax, with Ben covering a number of topics, along with general tax tips related to family day care. These topics include:
Episode #11: The Role of the Educational Leader
Date/Time: Thursday, 25 July 2024
Guests: Chamalee Prathiraja and Nicole Walters
Streaming Links: FDCA Member Zone
Episode eleven focusses on the Role of the Educational Leader, with our special guest panel examining topics such as:
This episode includes FDCA co-hosts, FDCA Advocacy and Engagement Manager Michael Farrell and FDCA Sector Liaison Coordinator Lyndall Cotterill who are joined by Chamalee Prathiraja, Educational Leader with Communities@Work Family Day Care (ACT) and Nicole Walters, Program Manager & Nominated Supervisor from Coastal Family Day Care (TAS).
Episode #12: Critical Reflection for Family Day Care
Date + Time: Wednesday, 30 October 2024
Guests: Rhonda Livingstone and Kerry Smith
Streaming Links: FDCA Member Zone
With Critical Reflection being an area that family day care performs less well in, this is a must watch episode for all family day care educators and service staff looking for ways to gain insights and knowledge in this area.
Our special guest panel focus on the following topics:
In exploring these topics, the panel addresses the differences between reflection and critical reflection and also examine why critical reflection is particularly important in the context of family day care. The panel unpack ways that educators to critically reflect on their practice whilst embedding it into their daily routines and how services can services create a supportive environment that encourages a culture of critical reflection that is sustained over time.
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