Early Learning Association Australia

🌟 New visuals coming soon at ELAA! 🌟 We’ve just wrapped up an inspiring photoshoot/video project with the fantastic team at WVFRM. Capturing the heart of early childhood learning and plays at two uniquely different member sites. Nathan Follett and Ryan were a pleasure to collaborate with—highly professional and exceptionally skilled, making the process smooth and enjoyable for everyone involved. Our new visuals showcase authentic moments of children learning, exploring, and connecting with their educators. From risk play to embedding diversity and Aboriginal and Indigenous elements, each frame beautifully reflects the vibrant Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector. We also took the opportunity to capture a fresh look at the ELAA office in action! Plus, we’re working behind the scenes on a brand-new website. Stay tuned, members and friends, a fresh look is on its way! 📸✨ #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Playbasedlearning #Branding #riskplay #ELAA #earlychildhood

This webinar is crafted for educators to develop a strong sense of professional identity. We will reflect on early childhood framework documents that can underpin an individual teaching philosophy e.g. Early Childhood Australia’s Code of Ethics, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and examine how this can be used in everyday decision making. 📢Presented by @Gowrie Victoria: Leanne Grogan is an experienced early childhood consultant with Gowrie Victoria. She is a skilled lecturer who has taught to educators undertaking their Cert III to Bachelor’s in Early Childhood education qualifications. Leanne is passionate about sustainable education within bush kindergarten settings and credits the Reggio Emilia Project as a major influence on her teaching pedagogy. 👉 Register to this free workshop: https://lnkd.in/gKKAx75M

In this week’s edition of ELAAvate, discover the cut-off dates for submitting your end-of-year leave calculations. Plus, explore our member-exclusive FAQs on the VECTEA transitional period. More in this week's ELAAvate: 🔵In case you missed it: our recap of the worker retention payment webinar. 🔵Understanding VECTEA "organisational days": key dates and activities for 2024-2025. 🔵Curriculum Resource Review: Narragunnawali’s 'A Matter of Perspective: Early Learning' . 🔵SAEW project eLearning module highlight: Diversity and Inclusion. 🔵Member resource spotlight: Employment and Onboarding Guide. 🔵Register for our last OHS training session for the year. 🔵The Department of Education (Vic) invites all End-to-End Career Supports Program. participants to attend the Alumni Conference on November 8. 📰 Read this week’s ELAAvate: https://bit.ly/3A5HjpT

Safety is Not Child’s Play – Join us for one of the most dynamic and relevant one-day OHS sessions tailored for the ECEC sector. This is your last opportunity this year to secure a spot for your team on Tuesday, November 12th, at Docklands, Melbourne. To register and learn more about the session and speakers, please visit the following link: https://bit.ly/3BUlHNC

We are excited to be sponsoring and participating in the Early Childhood Sustainability Conference, hosted by Environmental Education in Early Childhood (EEEC) and in collaboration with sustainability networks from across Australia. Today, as part of day one’s field trip program, we are visiting the Diamond Creek Memorial Kindergarten, located in Melbourne’s beautiful Green Wedge. This inspiring program brings together educators from around the country to explore the latest in sustainable practices for early childhood education. Diamond Creek Memorial Kindergarten demonstrates how education for sustainability can be thoughtfully woven into everyday pedagogy, fostering purposeful ways of thinking and being. We’re proud to support this vital conversation on creating a sustainable future for the next generation! #ELAA #SustainabilityInECE #EcoEducation #Wominjeka #CommunityKindergarten #EducationForSustainability #GreenWedge #EarlyChildhoodEducation #SustainableLiving #KindergartenCommunity #EarlyYears #NatureBasedLearning #EnvironmentalEducation

Today, our Interim CEO, Tim Watts, is a participant in the 2024 Community Sector Education Forum, hosted by the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) in partnership with the Department of Education. This year, the forum explores the theme: “Recommitting to the Education State: Driving another decade of excellence and equity in education in Victoria.” It’s fantastic to hear Minister Blandthorn emphasise the Victorian Government’s continuing commitment to co-locating kindergarten, Maternal & Child Health services, toy libraries, and playgroups on Early Learning Victoria sites. At ELAA, we believe this initiative is crucial for improving access to these essential services, particularly for families experiencing disadvantage. We’re grateful to VCOSS for staging the Forum and look forward to engaging with sector leaders on shaping a more equitable future for Victorian early education. #EducationState #CommunityEducation #EarlylearningVictoria #KindergartenVictoria#EarlyChildhoodEducation#VCOSS #EquityinEducation

📢 ELAA Annual General Meeting 2024 – Join us for this important event. We’re excited to invite our members to the ELAA AGM on Thursday, 21 November at 6:30pm, hosted via Zoom. 👉RSVP https://ow.ly/VOyN50TNi8E by Wednesday 20 November to secure your spot and be in the running for a special 'virtual' door prize! 🎁 During the AGM, we’ll also announce the winners of our Early Childhood Awards 2024, sponsored by anzuk Education. Let’s come together to celebrate the incredible achievements in our community! #AGM2024 #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ECEC #Leadership #Innovation #Volunteers

Children’s Week 2024 takes place from Saturday, 19 October to Sunday, 27 October. The theme for this year is "Children have the right to a clean and safe environment", inspired by Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child - "Children have the right to good quality health care, clean water, nutritious food and a clean environment so that they will stay healthy. Richer countries should help poorer countries achieve this". Through teaching and learning opportunities, policies, creating a safe and healthy physical and social environment, and developing community links and partnerships, children can be supported to eat healthily, maintain good oral health, and be physically active. Working in partnership with Cancer Council Victoria and Dental Health Services Victoria, we have aligned our Nutrition, Orla Health and Active Play policy to the key policies and guidelines of the Healthy Early Childhood Services Achievement Program and Smiles 4 Miles program. Now is a great time for services to review your Nutrition, Orla Health and Active Play policy. For more information - https://lnkd.in/gFXbDgPJ

6% of registered teachers work in early childhood services * – have your say! The 2024 Australian Teacher Workforce Survey opens today, Monday 14 October in Victoria. The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) values your experience and wants to hear from you. Keep an eye on your inbox for an email from VIT with your unique survey link, arriving between now and mid-November! To learn more, head to Australian Institute for Teaching & School Leadership (AITSL)’s website here: https://lnkd.in/gcsXRsEk (*AITSL previous survey findings)

📰 Read this week's ELAAvate: https://bit.ly/4gYLNyW ◻️ Our important submission to the Fair Work Commission’s Gender Undervaluation – Priority Awards Review. ◻️ Members, tell us what you think on a centralised procurement option to save on insurance costs. ◻️ Committee of Management: stay ahead and navigating 2025 contract adjustments with confidence. ◻️ Members: register your interest to participate in VECTEA 2024 employer surveys. ◻️ Free drop-in session: understanding key roles in Early Childhood Management. ◻️ Teachers: look out for the 2024 Australian Teacher Workforce Survey next week. ◻️ Ensuring fair access to free kinder: is your enrolment policy up-to-date? ◻️ Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives. ◻️ ELAA members named finalists in the 2024 Victorian Early Year Awards.