At every reference group meeting or forum I attend representing CCSA and our members, I lead with “how is government listening to the sector, what ideas can the sector bring, and what does it look like for the services?” I constantly urge government to continue to consult and co-design policy and programs with us as a peak body, and in partnership with services on the ground. With both State and Commonwealth governments announcing stronger commitments to the early childhood sector, I have spoken with many, many members and everyone is really excited, curious and looking forward to more detail. I continue to carry your voice and your stories to every meeting, and advocate with evidence and data that supports good outcomes for children, staff, services and communities.
Tomorrow Thursday 22nd September has been gazetted as a public holiday - National Day of Mourning – for the death of Queen Elizabeth II. This public holiday will work in the same way as all other public holidays. This means services will not operate and employees will be paid their ordinary hours (the hours they would have worked had the service been open) for the day. Your service should follow its fee policy around whether families are charged for public holidays if they are enrolled on that day.
Services should be aware if employees work on the public holiday and the service is closed, they will need to be paid at public holiday rates. For the Children’s Services Award 2010 the minimum start on a public holiday is 4 hours with all hours paid at the rate of double time and a half. This is regardless of the employee’s usual rostered hours. For example, if a cleaner employed under the Children’s Services Award 2010 comes in to work on the public holiday and they work their rostered 2 hours, they will still need to be paid for 4 hours at double time and a half.
Child Care Subsidy and Public Holidays
The Australian Government Department of Education has provided information on claiming the Child Care Subsidy for the National Day of Mourning for Her Majesty The Queen, Thursday 22 September.
Normal public holiday provisions apply:
services can submit absences and claim Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
providers that charge a family for an allowable absence on this day must collect gap fees from the family.
On the 1st of September the new Associations Incorporation Regulation 2002 commenced in NSW. There are some minor changes that may affect incorporated associations. If your service’s current constitution does not cover the items addressed by the Act, then the relevant parts of the module constitution will apply. If your constitution is an older one, you may wish to review it in light of the recent changes. CCSA can help with a constitution review, please click here for information and to contact us.
Transition to School Digital Statement Now Available
The easy-to-use digital version of the Transition to School Statement allows information to be shared directly with a child’s school and supports children to have a positive transition. To complete and send statements, the Centre Director at a Department of Education preschool, community preschool or long day care service registers and then provides access to educators and teachers.
NSW Office of the Children's Guardian are running a series of workshops designed to cover everything you need to know about child safe risk management within an early childhood education and care service. The workshops are suitable for directors, managers and educators (if part of a team) and will help build understanding across your team to help you effectively review and improve child safe practices in your service.
Dapto: Two day workshop 6-7 Oct - Child Safe Standards two day risk workshop. Register here
Wagga Wagga: Child Safe Standards series (attendance at all 3 is recommended)
19 Oct - Reporting and conflicts of interest. Register here
9 Nov - Child safe policy and code of conduct. Register here
7 Dec - Recruitment and staff training. Register here
Early Childhood Australia Survey
Early Childhood Australia (ECA) are looking for survey participants to assist them to understand why early childhood educators and teachers are leaving the sector, how these staff have experienced their transition out of the sector, and what might encourage them to return. The findings will be used by ECA to inform and advise the sector and governments on areas for sector improvement, investment, and future workforce initiatives. Complete the short survey by 29 September.
Macquarie University is inviting early childhood educators to participate in a pilot project investigating the feasibility of using hair samples to measure the stress hormone cortisol. Part 1 is a survey about your views on whether educators would be willing to provide a small hair sample for the measurement of cortisol.
When entering supplier’s bills, it is essential you check the amount of GST included. The invoice may be GST, GST Free or both. A quick way to work out the GST amount you can claim is to divide your invoice total by 11. If this does not equal the amount on your tax invoice, you have some GST free items.
New Board members will be elected at CCSA's Annual General meeting to be held at 10am on Thursday 27 October 2022 at Fairmont Resort and Spa, Club Room, 1 Sublime Point Rd, Leura, NSW, 2780. Online attendance will also be available.
CCSA is excited to announce the launch of a major new resource in the CCSA Members Only section of our website.
It contains over 20 new documents FREE TO MEMBERS. This section contains information and resources to guide your service at any stage of the work performance process.
Introducing CCSA Work Performance Management Resources Webinar
In addition to being able to access these documents and call Member Support, CCSA will also be holding a members only webinar with a Q&A session on Thursday 20 October at 10.30am.
Join Helena Hyssett, Member Support Manager, for an overview of these pages and how they can be used in your service, including some scenario based examples of the practical implementation of a work performance framework. CCSA members $65
CCSA is excited to announce our Committee Induction Self-paced Learning Package will be available to purchase from our website in October!
Specifically designed for committee members managing Early Childhood services across Australia, this self-paced learning package provides an introduction to the key areas of governance and management in the early childhood sector. Complete the modules in your own time, at your own pace and from anywhere that suits you!
Bigger than last year and packed full of even more valuable information, this snapshot outlines the key elements of managing an early childhood service. Helping support the growth of solid management foundations for early childhood services and outlining the information you need to operate effectively to get the best outcomes for children, the Snapshot is essential reading for Directors and Committee members alike.
Order additional printed copies for incoming board and committee members or staff new to management roles.
What Information does a new Management Committee Member need to Start in their Role?
There are 10 vital things you should provide your new Committee member to set them up for success in their new role, including your service’s constitution and the last audited financial statement.
Go to page 12 of the 2022/23 Governance and Management Snapshot to see the rest of the top ten actions.
What to do when employee underperformance occurs – the 5 step best practice approach
It is important to address underperformance as soon as practical after it is first identified. Do not wait, as the longer it goes on, the harder it can be to address. Best practice underperformance management will follow the service’s policies and procedures, which refer to the underperformance management steps that should be followed in an employee is not performing their role satisfactorily.
Self-test Rapid Antigen Kits are continually reviewed by the Therapeutic Good Administration. It is a good idea to review the list on a regular basis to ensure the RAT’s your service is using are still approved by the TGA, to give the most accurate outcome.
COVID-19 and Vaccinations Guide - a Risk Based Approach
CCSA has developed a printable guide to assist our members to make informed decisions about the management of COVID-19 within their services, including what to consider such as staff, policies and risk assessments.
For the latest COVID information go to our COVID Updates Page. 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.
Flood Information
CCSA is thinking of all of our members and communities who continue to experience the impacts of the devastating floods across the east coast. For information visit our Flood Support webpage and please call or email us for further assistance.