Floods have topped the headlines over the last few weeks, and continue to be the focus for us here at CCSA. We continue to support our members and the broader early childhood sector with phone calls, emails, and online support. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with the big and small matters. We are here to help, and take your stories to the Minister's office and the Department of Education.
CCSA is thinking of all of our members and communities experiencing the impacts of the devastating floods across the east coast. We are here to support you - please don't hesitate to call or email us so we can help guide you through the process as you start to pick up the pieces.
To help you keep track of all the latest information and available support we have created this Flood Information and Support webpage. Please bookmark this page and refer to it regularly as will collate all the information from government departments and other sources here for easier reference.
What can you do to help?
We know that everyone is supporting our colleagues who are experiencing this natural disaster and that as a sector we are always keen to pitch in and help. While this is greatly appreciated, this what effected services are telling now:
Directors and Educators are focused on their own circumstances, their community's circumstances and assessing the here and now. Trying to take on donations right now is another logistical issue. They ask you to plan and in the next few weeks they will reach out and respond to your helping hands.
They will be ready to receive your support when they have managed the immediate issues and have a plan to incorporate your heartfelt support and donations.
CCSA will keep our members up to date on ways to help.
COVID Updates
The COVID pandemic and government responses continues to evolve. We have all the latest information on our COVID Updates Page. COVID related Top Tips and other information can also be found on our News page, and we post latest information to our Facebook page here.
CCSA members can call the CCSA Infoline on (02) 4782 1470 or 1800 991 602 (option 2) for further support and for help with any COVID related questions.
Thrive by Five
It’s time early childhood educators were recognised and given the respect they deserve.
That’s why we’re partnering with Thrive by Five to fight for an early childhood education system that is high quality, universally accessible, affordable and staffed by an appropriately paid and recognised workforce.
But we can’t do it without early childhood educators, families and community members.
Go to the video to find out about the Friends of Thrive by Five program, and join us by signing up to be part of it.
Start Strong Capital Grants: Qualified Construction Consultancy Service
To assist Invitation to Apply (ITA) Applicants to develop their proposal for their ITA application, the Department of Education has engaged Community Connections Solutions Australia (CCSA) to provide a Qualified Construction Consultancy Service to ITA Applicants.
For further information please visit our website or contact us on 1800 991 602 or email capitalgrant@ccsa.org.au and we will get back to you.
Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HALT) Advisory Panel
A HALT Panel is being established to contribute to the consistency of HALT accreditation decisions. NESA is seeking expressions of interest from teachers and representatives of the early childhood education sector to be selected and trained to sit on the Panel to provide high quality feedback to NESA and the Teacher Accreditation Authority.
The NSW Department of Education are investigating a new program, the ECE Digital Hub, to replace the Early Childhood Contract Management System (ECCMS). To ensure the new program is designed with your needs in mind, the department will be holding feedback sessions in the coming weeks to understand:
How ECCMS activities are currently carried out?
What challenges are encountered in the process?
Have you created any local hacks to address these challenges?
Please register your interest to participate in a one-to-one feedback session. The session will be a 45-60 minute virtual meeting (via Zoom or Teams). You can reach out to the team on DigitalHub@det.nsw.edu.au if you have any questions or require further information.
Start Strong Free Preschool Webinar Recording
If you missed our Start Strong Free Preschool webinar, there is a recording available on our website to view here. This is available for CCSA members and non-members.
This webinar is funded by the Department of Education and brought to you by CCSA as part of the sector support program.
Free Child Safe Training
March sessions are open for The Office of the Children’s Guardian free child safe training sessions. These are for educators to gain an understanding of the protective behaviours program.
The Forum is only just around the corner now. Visit our website to see the Program of events and check out who will be exhibiting.
We look forward to hearing from these amazing speakers; Nathan Wallis, Professor Robert Booy, Caryn Walsh, Dr Kaylene Henderson, Dr Jane Warren, Jane Delaney and more!
The management of employees during times of emergency can be a difficult and emotional task
Whether employees are entitled to a paid or unpaid leave of absence during an emergency depends on if the service is affected and employees and children cannot attend, or if an employee is directly affected and is unable to attend.