Amplify! Blog

This article explores how educators can create meaningful, culturally rich environments that foster belonging, respect and learning. Drawing on practical ideas and examples, Deborah Hoger highlights how outdoor spaces can become powerful places for children to engage with Aboriginal perspectives, sustainability and shared ways of knowing.

We loved connecting with members and meeting new friends at the ECA Regional and Remote Conference in Coffs Harbour in March. In particular, Thursday's sessions featuring the stories of CELA members were a powerful reminder of what’s possible when services are deeply connected to their local context.

Here we share a reflection on the everyday work of services who are going beyond expectations to ensure every child is seen, supported and able to thrive in their community.

This powerful reflection from Lisa Walker invites readers to pause, listen and consider the lived realities of First Nations peoples in Australia today.

It explores the ongoing impacts of systemic inequality, while calling on individuals and services to show up with empathy, cultural responsiveness and genuine connection. With practical guidance for educators, the article encourages us to walk side by side to support meaningful change for all children.

This article provides an update on the wage funding shortfall affecting NSW community preschools and the recent Fair Work Commission developments. It also outlines the significant advocacy efforts CELA has led on behalf of members to advocate for a government funded solution.

When children help to shape and lead an Acknowledgement of Country, it becomes more than a routine. It becomes a lived expression of belonging, respect and connection to place.

This article considers how early childhood services can help children to meaningfully engage in the process, with insights from Gilgandra Preschool and Evans Head-Woodburn Preschool.

This important article has been developed in response to member enquiries. The Children and Young People Sexual Safety (CYPSS) Unit from Sydney Children’s Hospital Network explains what typical sexual development looks like in young children and how educators can respond calmly and confidently in everyday situations.

They also outline which behaviours may signal a need for additional support, and what educators can do.

What if every sound could be a learning opportunity? From birdsong to body percussion, music is all around us and can transform everyday moments into auditory explorations.

We invite educators to rediscover the joy of music, not as a formal lesson, but as a thread woven through every aspect of the learning environment.

This article highlights CELA’s advocacy at both state and federal levels relating to child safety changes, and details the practical support available to help members implement these urgent changes with confidence.

Committees are vital to ensuring an early learning service stays accountable and reflects the needs of its community. And yet, their role can often be misunderstood. This article provides a strategic look at how to leverage a strong committee for good governance and to ensure it is a genuine reflection of the families and children it serves. 

The Fair Work Commission has backed CELA’s evidence that an urgent NSW Government funding increase is required to solve the significant gap in community preschool wages. The recommendation follows evidence presented by CELA during supported bargaining proceedings for a new multi-employer agreement.

This article outlines what the Commission found, why it matters for community services, and what happens next.