5th July 2024
This week at ARACY:
Welcome, Prue Warrilow - CEO of ARACY!
ARACY is excited to welcome Prue Warrilow as their new CEO. In her first week, Prue met with various stakeholders, including ARACY partners, government representatives, and key figures in the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) and Youth sectors, such as the Youth Minister, Shadow Minister, and Greens Party Youth Spokesperson.
A significant highlight was Prue's meeting with Dr. Anne Aly , Minister for Early Childhood Education and Youth. This discussion built on ARACY's recent collaboration with the Minister's department through the Early Years Strategy 2024-2024 Webinar hosted by ARACY.
The conversation with Dr Aly focused on ARACY's advocacy for the establishment of a dedicated Minister for Children and Young People. This position aims to ensure stronger representation for all Australian children, particularly those aged 5-12, who currently lack a direct voice in Cabinet.
ARACY looks forward to Prue continuing these vital discussions and working collaboratively to develop the best policies and practices for all Australian children and young people.
Australian Government Health Report released
Australia's Health Crisis: Young People Left Behind The Australian Government Health 2024 report paints a deeply concerning picture of our young people’s health. At ARACY, we believe wellbeing is foundational to young people's success. It's not just about mental health; it's about physical health, social connections, and a sense of purpose. Making wellbeing a key metric in every school ensures that it's prioritised and measured alongside academic achievement. The report highlights the urgent need for a holistic approach to young people’s health. This means investing in mental health support, promoting social and emotional learning, and creating safe and inclusive environments. We call upon the Government to commit to universal mental healthcare and to support schools in making wellbeing a priority. Our young people deserve better.
Upcoming webinars
DATE: Tue, 23 Jul
TIME: 12:00 - 13:00 AEST
LOCATION: Online
The importance of the first 1000 days of a child's life to securing the foundations for a healthy start is now well accepted. There is, however, limited understanding of how conditions in parents' life histories, well before conception, influence the first 1000 days.
The Intergenerational Cohort Consortium brings together longitudinal studies that span generations and provide new insights into the importance of life experiences of parents before they give birth and the impacts that these may have on their children.
Discover effective strategies for policymakers, practitioners, and communities to support the health and wellbeing of parents before pregnancy, thereby enhancing child outcomes.
DATE: Thu, 01 Aug
TIME: 11:00 - 12:00 AEST
Recommended by LinkedIn
LOCATION: Online
In Australia, there are over 235,000 young carers, although this figure is likely higher. Young carers, aged up to 25, provide unpaid care and support to family members dealing with disabilities, chronic illnesses, mental health issues, substance abuse, or old age. They balance schoolwork with caregiving, manage household tasks while offering emotional support, and navigate complex healthcare systems. Many young carers experience isolation and stress and make significant sacrifices in their daily lives.
Shanelle Beazley, Tara Stevens, and Jessica Dallish from The Benevolent Society's Carer Gateway program will be joining us for this webinar to discuss how to identify young carers, share insights from case studies and personal experiences about the challenges young carers face, and provide information about the support services available through Carer Gateway.
Missed our webinar on the Early Years Strategy? The recording is now available.
Presented by ARACY and the Australian Government, this webinar features experts Jacqueline Hrast (Branch Manager, Child and Parenting Wellbeing Branch, Department of Social Services (DSS) ) and Helen McInerney (Acting Branch Manager, Early Learning and First Nations Priorities Branch, Department of Education ). They present an outline of the Early Years Strategy 2024-2034, provide updates on the next steps, and answer your questions.
The Strategy aims to create a more integrated, coordinated approach to Commonwealth policy and investment in early childhood across Australian Government portfolios to better deliver outcomes for young children aged 0 – 5 and their families.
The Australian Government has developed a whole-of-Commonwealth Early Years Strategy 2024-2034 to set out the Government’s vision to best support Australia’s children and their families in the early years.
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Content to Thrive By
Here we share what we're reading, listening to or watching at ARACY.
This week's content is recommended by Diana Harris ARACY's Lead, Operations.
ARACY is excited to share a valuable resource for educators: "Strength Basing, Empowering and Regenerating Indigenous Knowledge Education" by John Davis, a respected author and partner of ARACY. This book aligns with our collaborative efforts with John Davis, as exemplified by our previous blog post "Dekolonisation: Means Knowing Our History".
Strength Basing, Empowering and Regenerating Indigenous Knowledge Education advocates for a transformative approach to Indigenous education, placing Indigenous knowledge systems at the core of the curriculum. By moving beyond deficit models and embracing cultural responsiveness, educators can create learning environments that build on the strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and empower them to thrive. This resource is essential for pre-service and in-service educators seeking to develop culturally competent practices that benefit all students.