Amplify! Blog

The ABC's Four Corners recently exposed alarming practices in some Australian early education and care services, revealing critical gaps in safety, oversight, and accountability. 

Marg Rogers, a senior lecturer at UNE and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Manna Institute, analyses the root causes behind these failings. She highlights how conflicting corporate interests and hidden government funding undermine quality care, calling urgently for reform.

Research has shown that active father engagement in children's early years significantly enhances child development, strengthens family bonds, and benefits the broader community.

This article provides insights from The Fathering Project and offers practical tips and resources to help early education settings effectively engage fathers in supporting children's learning.

For professionals in early childhood education and care, understanding and fulfilling child protection responsibilities is not just best practice—it's a legal and ethical obligation. Creating a genuine culture of child safety involves embedding protection principles into every aspect of daily practice.

We highlight how CELA member St Luke’s Dapto integrates the NSW Child Safe Standards into their daily operations, and also share why it's important to invest in high quality child protection training. 

Excursions are more than just field trips—they are enriching experiences that offer many benefits for children, educators and the community. 

Coonamble Children’s Services Room Leader Jennifer Hertel discusses the joy and learning of taking children into the ‘real world’, and we share tips and resources for planning excursions. 

Curious about how to nurture economic sustainability in children? We share some ways to introduce concepts such as saving, sharing, and fair trade, empowering young minds to make a positive impact on the planet. 

Inspired by New Zealand's Treaty of Waitangi and its emphasis on agreement and shared responsibility, the children at HazelGrove Early Education Centre develop their own ‘class treaty’ each year. This collaborative process has empowered children to become active participants in their learning environment, as HazelGrove’s Operations Manager, Anmol Lohia, writes.

International Mother Language Day highlights the importance of linguistic diversity. This day provides a special opportunity to focus on preserving and celebrating First Nations languages, especially in early learning settings.

Early education Indigenous resource specialist and proud Dunghutti woman Deborah Hoger explores the topic. 

Could the beach be the ultimate classroom?

This article explores the emerging trend of ‘beach kindy,’ highlighting new research on its benefits and practical insights from Clovelly Childcare Centre.

Children bring a wealth of knowledge and experiences from home into early childhood settings. When educators recognise and build on these strengths, they create deeper connections that foster belonging, confidence, and continuity in learning. 

This article explores how educators can strengthen these connections through a funds of knowledge approach, which is described in the EYLF as a virtual 'back pack' of a child's life experiences and knowledge that they bring to a service. 

January is a great time to lay down the groundwork for a successful year ahead.

Experienced approved provider and CELA early education specialist Guita Badaoui shares her expert insights on leadership practices to help your team begin the year with strong foundations.