We have witnessed our Members stretched and tested in many ways over the past 12 months. You have faced unprecedented challenges, and at CCSA we have been supporting our Member services through such changes.
We are excited to be launching our 2021/22 Governance and Management Snapshot Guide to further support the management of your service and build management capability by outlining the information you need to operate effectively to get the best outcomes for children.
I encourage you to share this publication with your management committee members, owners, approved providers, directors and other key management team members. It contains current information to meet service needs based on our years of experience supporting early childhood services. You can access the online version of the Snapshot here.
NSW Department of Education COVID safety in early childhood education and care services: Guidance
The NSW Department of Education has released a COVID safety guide for early childhood education and care services. This document provides in-depth information on issues impacting early childhood settings as NSW follows the roadmap toward COVID-safe re-opening.
CCSA has developed a free printable guide for our members, to provide services with some guidance on how to manage staff COVID-19 vaccinations and help employers and managers to be ready to engage staff in conversations about vaccination.
Please visit our COVID Updates page for the latest information and advice during this lockdown period. 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.
A new 10-year National Children’s Education and Care Workforce Strategy has been released. It aims to foster a sustainable and high-quality workforce of early childhood teachers and educators for the future.
As one of the key peak organisations CCSA is proud that we have been part of the ACECQA National Workforce Strategy Co-design Stakeholder Reference Group. We have been a strong advocate for both stand alone, community based early childhood services and also offered a unique rural and remote perspective on workforce issues and volunteer management committee challenges.
A toolbox of information to build strong management foundations for early childhood services
This snapshot supports the management of your service and builds management capability by outlining the information you need to operate effectively to get the best outcomes for children.
Today we are launching the online version. Look out for your printed copy in the mail. Additional copies will be available to purchase from our website soon.
Following our first successful series, we understand there are so many important issues currently impacting our sector that warrant further discussion. We invite you to join us in taking some time out, enjoying a cuppa, connecting and having some important conversations about these issues.
Session 4:
COVID vaccinations in early childhood
Wednesday 20 October
In this session we will engaging in conversation on mandatory COVID vaccinations in early childhood settings. We will be discussing the Public Health Order, and what this means moving forward. We will consider how we might have the potentially difficult conversations with staff and explore, through conversation, what the health order means for Approved Providers.
This is a CCSA members only series, with a focus on supporting each other. Limited spaces available.
CCSA's Annual General meeting will be held ONLINE at 10am on Thursday 28 October 2021. Go to our AGM webpage to see the Board nominee details, download an agenda and proxy voting form, and RSVP to attend.
Registrations for the NSW Department of Education 2021 virtual roadshow are now open. This roadshow will be held online throughout October, November and December. Each session will cover different topics including transition to school, funding updates, OSHC specific sessions and more.
Start Strong Free Preschool program guidelines available
The Start Strong Free Preschool program guidelines are now available on the Department of Education website. This is designed to support families with cost of living pressures through the delivery of free preschool for 600 hours in the two years before school.
Community and mobile preschools will have the opportunity to opt in to the program and receive additional funding, paid on top of current annual Start Strong funding allocation. Start Strong Free Preschool replaces the COVID-19 Free Preschool Funding program from January next year, for the whole of 2022.
Eligible not for profit organisations, including but not limited to community preschool services, mobile preschool services and local councils, can apply for funding to:
- undertake major capital works, including building, renovating or extending a centre-based community preschool;
- undertake minor works, including the small-scale renovation or extension of a centre-based community preschool;
- respond to a crisis situation with capital works where there is an immediate or urgent need; purchase replacement vehicles for existing mobile preschools.
Pro rata payment of salary inclusive of annual leave
In a recent decision, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) confirmed that ad hoc changes to teachers’ employed hours during the year constitute a variation for the purposes of applying the formula for ‘pro rata payment of salary inclusive of annual leave’ contained in the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 and many enterprise agreements based on that award.
The way you onboard employees and set up their funds will change with "super stapling", a government initiative that’s part of the broader Your Future Your Super (YFYS) reforms.
Higher CCS for multiple children and removal of annual cap brought forward
Changes are being made to the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) to help families who currently pay the most and experience the biggest barriers to participation in work. From 10 December 2021, the annual cap for all families who get CCS will be removed.
From 7 March 2022, families with more than one child in care will get a higher subsidy.
Do the families of children need to be fully COVID-19 vaccinated to enter the service?
Currently in New South Wales the Public Health (COVID-19 Vaccination of Education and Care Workers) Order 2021 directs that all workers at an early education and care facility cannot undertake relevant work unless they have:
(a) had 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, or
(b) been issued with a medical contraindication certificate.
The order relates specifically to all workers and does not include the families of enrolled children.