The article below is a message from our friend Mark Evans, Owner/Director of Child Care Centre Desktop.
Here we are! Twenty months of uncertainty and now entering an equally uncertain period of a so called 'new normal'.
As it stands, we really do not know how this transition is going to work out. We don't know if we'll be locked down again due to a local outbreak, and we don't know for how long. But we do know it's part of the 'new normal'.
We're still a little in the dark in respect of managing those who are vaccinated as opposed to those who are not. And, from a legal standpoint we have no confidence in how to deal with the situations around individuals who make the choice not to be vaccinated. But we do know it's part of this 'new normal'.
In respect of the business of childcare, how do we get back what we once had? How long is it going to take? Who's going to help us? And where do we begin?
Why ACA has partnered with the Michael Hughes Foundation
ACA’s vision is a future where every child in Australia has access to high quality, affordable and sustainable early learning programs.
In line with this vision, the provision of a safe environment which fosters the good health of the children, their families and the staff at each early learning service is paramount.
Whilst first aid qualifications and ongoing staff training are mandatory requirements for early learning services under the relevant legislation in the Education & Care Services National Regulations, the National Quality Framework and the Work Health & Safety Act, these requirements do not include mandatory equipment for the emergency response to cardiac arrest. Over 30,000 cardiac arrests happen out of hospitals each year. The data demonstrates that cardiac arrest does not discriminate - it can happen at any age in life for varying reasons.
ACA is proud to support Australia’s largest child safety education and awareness day - Day For Daniel. Held annually on the last Friday of October, Day for Daniel endeavours to raise awareness of child safety, protection, and harm prevention, while honouring the memory of Daniel Morcombe.
We’re asking early learning services to participate in this event, which takes place this year on Friday 29th October.
Day for Daniel offers age-appropriate education for our children through child safety and protection initiatives to help empower children to ‘Recognise, React and Report’ if they feel something is not right.
On August 10, 2021, the NSW Department of Education announced that the Child Safe Standards for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) and Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) services will soon be legislated. This single message generated a wave of confusion and anxiety among early learning services.
In order to provide some clarity on this matter, our friends at Childcare Centre Desktop have kindly provided an update on the status of the roll-out below.
In summary, Childcare Centre Desktop advises that this and confirm it should not be viewed as an additional legislation requirement equating to more policies and more work for services.