June 2024
Welcome to Makuru – the season of puddles, beanies, boots, raincoats and rainbows. This is the time to brave the cold in the south and enjoy the beautiful still sunshiny days in the north. The winter solstice is approaching, so it is a great opportunity to educate children about the shortest day and longest night of the year and where the sun rises and sets and how these impacts on our seasons and nature.
Welcome to our new Staff Member
We would like to extend a very warm welcome to Mandy Redshaw. Mandy has taken the role of Assistant Office Administrator working very closely with Sandra, the staff team, Educators and families. Mandy has a background in accounts and administration and brings a wealth of knowledge to the role. Mandy will be working Monday to Thursday, so please make her welcome.
National Allergy Council Best Practice Guidelines for ECEC
The National Allergy Council has crafted Best Practice Guidelines for preventing and managing anaphylaxis in children’s education and care (CEC) based on current evidence and consultation with stakeholders. These guidelines aim to offer support and practical tools to CEC services across Australia, assisting in risk reduction while facilitating children’s participation in various activities. While national laws and regulations must be adhered to, these guidelines provide additional recommendations to enhance anaphylaxis management. They serve as a valuable resource for both overarching bodies and individual CEC services, aiding in standardizing practices nationwide. It’s essential for you to also consider strategies for accommodating Educator Assistants, volunteers, and visitors with known allergies alongside implementing these guidelines. The Allergy Aware resource hub has also been refreshed.
Nature Alliance Annual Membership
The Annual Membership Invoices will be sent to you via email at the beginning of July for payment by the end of August. The Annual Membership amount remains the same at $350.00. If you would like to enter into a payment plan to pay this, please contact Sandra in the office by phoning 0431 449 567 or emailing her at info@naturealliancefdc.com.au.
Fee Schedule Changes
As advised in the February March Newsletter the Nature Alliance Levy will increase to $1.65 per hour as of Monday July 8th, 2024. It is anticipated that by this date we will also have been advised of the updated CCS rate. This is an excellent time to think about reviewing your Fee Schedule as most of you tend to make changes to your own fees when the levy increases. If you are planning on updating your fees, please complete the Fee Schedule Template 24-25 Financial Year End link and get these into the office as soon as possible. Please remember you need to give your families at least two weeks’ notice before you make any changes, so ensure you keep them in the loop.
Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse
On 1 November 2024, mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse in Western Australia will be expanded to early childhood workers. The Department of Communities is offering face-to-face/webinar training for early childhood workers, to be held across a range of locations and times (including evenings). To register for a session, please scan the QR code or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/mandatory-reporting-early-childhood-workers3278049. Please note that it compulsory that all Educators complete this course and evidence that it has been completed must be sent to the office by 30th September 2024 so we can update FDSee.
Updated Forms
The following Forms have been updated and uploaded onto the website
• Cancellation of Care Form
The new version allows us to refund Parents holding fees.
Which version of forms shall I use?
Save your digital storage space and access all the most up to date versions of forms via the Nature Alliance website intranet. Save it as a shortcut on your PC and save your precious time having to redo out of date forms. You’ll find it here
Great Resource
The eSafety website has some great resources for Educators, children and families. eSafety is Australia’s independent regulator for online safety. The organisation aims to educate Australians about online safety risks and help to remove harmful content such as cyberbullying of children, adult cyber abuse and intimate images or videos shared without consent.
Word of the Day
Relational Pedagogy – Underpins the ways in which Educators build trusting respectful relationships between children, families, other Educators, and professionals as well as members of the community.
2024 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards
Nominations are now officially open for the Family Day Care Australia (FDCA) 2024 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards! FDCA Excellence in Family Day Care Awards celebrate the wonderful work done by Educators, Coordinators and Services in the family day care sector to deliver high quality early childhood education and care to children across Australia. The only awards in Australia that focus solely on family day care, the Awards highlight the benefits of the nurturing, natural approach to early education and care that family day care provides. More than 43,000 nominations have been received in the Awards thirteen-year history. By placing a nomination and spreading the word, you’ll help raise the profile of Family Day Care community as a whole. For more information click here.
PD in Your Pocket: Ensuring Safe Arrival and Transport of Children
Join expert Louise Dorrat in this insightful session Ensuring Safe Arrival and Transport of Children. This is aimed at enhancing your skills in planning for children’s safety, health, and wellbeing during their arrival and transportation. Designed to provide practical strategies and essential knowledge, this session will ensure that children in your care arrive safely and securely, whether at your service or on their way home.
Office Hours
Our office hours are 8.30am to 4.30pm. If you have a query outside of these hours, please phone and leave a message. If you need to speak with someone in an emergency, please ring Jo Georgiou and if your call is not answered immediately, leave a message and your call will be returned.
Phone Numbers
Sandra / Mandy: 0431 449 567 (Mon – Fri); Joy: 0429 030 362 (Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri); Jo C: 0477 029 531 (Mon – Fri); Jo G: 0477 029 132 (Mon – Thurs); Lea: 0477 029 228 (Mon, Tue, Thurs & Fri).
To ensure that we respond to your emails promptly please send your queries to: info@naturealliancefdc.com.au
“Life’s greatest joy is found in the moments where we let go of worries and embrace the simple pleasure of laughter and play.”