Who doesn’t love a festival? They’re fun and colourful, and give us the chance to celebrate diversity and cultural heritage. A new Australian book called The Big Book of Festivals inspires people to learn more about the different ways people celebrate around the world, and all of their diverse traditions, customs and beliefs – a […]
“Harmony Week celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.” Harmony.gov.au We know that educators want to do much more than paper chains and hand prints when it comes to celebrating Harmony Week. So, how can educators go beyond throwaway craft to do something really meaningful with children […]
How do you feel about group time? Do you see it as a negative concept that takes away from a child’s autonomy and right to play, or a positive time for collaboration, connections and transition? Perhaps, like many aspects of early childhood education, it’s all about how we approach it. Pedagogical Leader Karla Wintle shares […]
By Megan O’Connell, CELA Research and Policy Manager Amongst the many Government reports and inquiries conducted in 2020, one released in late 2020 received little attention. The Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training released a report on Education in remote and complex environments. This report builds on two previous reports, the Independent Review into […]
As we head towards another 26 January, the request to ‘change the date’ is still being hotly debated. Many early education services now choose not to celebrate a day that is a source of pain to many in our Indigenous population. However, others wonder if there’s still a way to acknowledge or approach the day […]
Working in early education and care is an incredibly rewarding job, but the role can come with numerous challenges. This is especially true for educators in charge of children presenting with trauma, self-regulation and behavioural issues, or from challenging home environments. At times it can feel like you’ve tried everything you know of to try to […]
STEM Storytime is a new activity for early learners and carers, presented by Australia’s Women in STEM Ambassador Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith and supported by Questacon. We share how the project is helping to challenge gender stereotypes and how you can get involved. By Lauren Sullivan, Project Officer, Women in STEM Ambassador About STEM Storytime STEM […]
Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs) are completed so that services can self-assess their performance in order to provide children with quality education and care, and to plan for future improvement. Therefore, it makes sense to ask the children themselves about the changes they would like to see at their centre. The United Nations Convention on the […]
2020 marks the twentieth anniversary of the reconciliation walks of 2000, when people came together to walk on bridges and roads across the nation and show their support for a more reconciled Australia. Embedding reconciliation in early childhood education, by promoting a greater understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing and being, is […]
Inclusive play environments are essential for children with physical disabilities and sensory processing issues, but they are important for all children. Every child is unique and has the right to play, learn and feel a sense of belonging. We speak with Lisa Fruhstuck, speech pathologist and founder of inclusive play centre The Shine Shed, to […]
