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Early Childhood Education

As a Network, early childhood education is one of our biggest priorities, not only for ensuring children and young people have access to education but education about child protection and keeping kids safe. The early years of a child's life are the most crucial in their learning and development. 

The Australian Childhood Foundation have resources and training available about how to support children who have been affected by trauma. 

The National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) are dedicated to creating safer communities for children. They provide resources to help reduce the risk to children and young people. 

The Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) is an independent organisation that assists the governments in administering the National Quality Framework (NQF) for children's education and care. It discusses the laws and regulations for early childhood education and care. 

The Department of Communities and Justice enables services to better work together to support everyone's right to access justice and other help for families, and strengthen/bolster the promotion of early intervention and inclusion, with benefits for the whole community. 

They have launched a new look reporter community (link below). It will be useful for all Mandatory reporters to have a look at this new page as well as the video on how to run the MRG - Mandatory Reporters Guide) and how to create a report. 

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https://reporter.childstory.nsw.gov.au/s/ 

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The Office of the Children's Guardian is an independent authority in New South Wales Government that promotes and regulates the quality of child-safe organisations, services and people. They have information on what is a child-safe organisation and the 10 child safe standards.

The Department of Education website provides key information on early childhood education, student wellbeing and the school curriculums. They provide tips and resources to help the family get ready for early childhood education and transitioning to school. 

The eSafety Commissioner is an online resource developed by the Australian Government to help provide a safer and more positive online experience. They have information for adults and children on how to be safe online, how to deal with Cyber Bullying and what to do if strangers are trying to contact them.

Raisingchildren.net.au provides up to date information and resources to help families grow and thrive together. They have various categories to help you find exactly what you are looking for including pregnancy, toddlers, pre-teens, autism and disability. 

Starting Blocks provides parents with resources and tips about early childhood education and care. They help you understand what to expect, learn about developmental milestones and give you tips on how you can encourage your child's learning and development.

If you are looking for Child Care, head to childcarefinder.com to find local child care's and day car's in your area. 

Beacon House are a team of professional and experienced psychologist, psychotherapists and occupational therapists who provide resources for children, young people, families and adults who are experiencing mental health difficulties. 

The Child Trauma Academy Youtube Channel provide content relating to child development, the brain and child trauma to better understand and help children and their families

Healthy Cities Illawarra focuses on the health and wellbeing of the community. They offer sustainable programs that help bring people together and encourage a healthy lifestyle including PlayPod and Active In-Betweens.

Emerging Minds provides information and resources on mental health, services and interventions as well as training and programs for children and young people. They have information on children's rights, relationships matters and cultural and spiritual identity. 

The Early Words project was created to help parents in Western Sydney prepare their children before school for the world of reading and writing. Resources included tipsheets, posters, fridge magnets and DVDs.

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Early Words Aboriginal Resources were developed in partnership with the Western Sydney Aboriginal community. It covers all stages from pregnancy to 5 years. Families can look at easy activities that will help get ready to read write and yarn well from birth to 5 years.

Every time we read, talk, sing and rhyme with children brain connections grow, and build the foundations for learning. Paint the Town Read help encourage people to read with children from birth, so they start school ready to learn.

Starting school is an exciting but somewhat overwhelming time in a child and families life which is why the Illawarra Transition to School program was developed. A child’s transition to school starts well before and extends long after the child’s first day.

National Families Week is an initiative of Families Australia to celebrate the vital role that families play in Australian society. Let’s take the time to reflect on the critical role that families play in teaching, supporting and nurturing children especially as they grow.

Active for Life was developed to help parents give their children the right start in life through the development of physical literacy. They have many resources for parents and carers including fun and engaging activities for children, fundamental movement skills videos and a recipe for an active year.

Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) supports families, industry and decision-makers in building and maintaining an enjoyable media environment that fosters the health, safety and wellbeing of Australian children. They look at children's screen content and give reviews and information on the latest movies and apps. 

ABC Radio's Fierce Girls podcats series looks at the inspiring tales of some of Australia's most extraordinary women including Dame Quentin Bryce, Yael Stone and Stephanie Gilmore 

National Office for Child Safety (NOCS) provides information and links to important child safety resources and support services including the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and Complaint Handling Guide: Upholding the Rights of Children and Young People

Snack Sized Research Showcase is presented by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) and provides information about a wide range of issues relating to families' safety and wellbeing. 

Thrive by Five is an initiative of Minderoo Foundation that is about making our early learning childcare system high quality and universally accessible. They are  guided by the principle that if you want to help society or a community, you must invest in the wellbeing and development of children.

How every child can thrive by five - a TEDTalk by Molly Wright

 

"What if I was to tell you that a game of peek-a-boo could change the world?" asks seven-year-old Molly Wright, one of the youngest-ever TED speakers. Breaking down the research-backed ways parents and caregivers can support children's healthy brain development, Wright highlights the benefits of play on lifelong learning, behavior and well-being, sharing effective strategies to help all kids thrive by the age of five. She's joined onstage by one-year-old Ari and his dad, Amarjot, who help illustrate her big ideas about brain science. (This TED Talk was produced in collaboration with Minderoo Foundation as an educational tool for parents and caregivers around the world and is supported by UNICEF.)

Hello Auslan was created by Susan McConnell who has worked as a Teacher of the Deaf for almost 10 years. She has developed resources for families and schools to help make learning Auslan enjoyable. Auslan also has just released four Auslan Kids smart books, it’s specially designed to help awareness among schools and families about Deaf children - you can find them here.

NSW Health is proud to deliver a new and FREE online training module, targeting foster carers, those working in the OOHC sector, and those with an interest in trauma informed sexual health conversations. Play Safe Pro provides information on the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people in the out of home care (OOHC) sector have been overlooked and not addressed due to the complexities that can sometimes arise when discussing sexual health with youth who may have experiences of trauma. “Because you care: fostering conversations about sexual and reproductive health” has been developed after extensive consultation with key agencies in both the trauma and out of home care sectors. To access the training, please visit our website. For local sexual and reproductive health information for the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, visit the Caddyshack Project’s webpage https://www.caddyshackproject.com/

Helpful Resources and Documents

The below resources are information that you might find useful

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The Napean Blue Mountains Local Health District Got It! Team have developed
some new tips sheets to help families with Home Learning during lockdown. 

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