I would like to start by acknowledging all the early childhood Educators and service staff that have started back into 2022 at a fast pace; navigating the current pandemic environment, welcoming new families, orienting new staff and settling new children into their learning environments, not to mention juggling your own personal lives in the background.
I really value your work. You are pivotal in playing an important role to re-establish the sense of ‘normal’ life for many families and children across the communities where you work. I recognise this is not easy and your resilience and professionalism is evident across all the services that we work with. This is what I base my commentary on when advocating on your behalf. I provide real case scenarios so policy makers can capture a glimpse of what it looks like on the ground. I continue to strongly urge government to recognise the work of the early childhood sector and to also pay special attention to the nuances that relate just to early childhood; a workforce who have never stopped working throughout this pandemic.
The year has only just begun, but I have already I have already engaged with the ACECQA on the Workforce Strategy, the NSW Department of Education on COVID management, ECT waivers, funding guidelines, workforce shortages, Preschool Reform Agenda, Rural and Remote strategy, March Census, and the Capital Works Program. My engagement with DESE has focused on the changes to the Child Care Subsidy, funding shortfalls, workforce issues, attendance at the Rural and Remote Forum. More broadly, I have meet with NESA on Teacher Accreditation changes, the Thrive By Five Rural and Remote Advisory group and the Ministers office on the recognition of the EC workforce and the challenges you are all facing.
In the engine room of CCSA the team have been working hard on developing new ideas and ways to expand our support for you. We have some very exiting plans for 2022 with you our Member at the centre of all our thinking. Our new CCSA Training Calendar, the Administrators Network, Coffee Conversations, and additional resources are here to complement the foundational support you already receive through Member Support, Consultancy and Training and Business Solutions.
Governance and Management is our primary focus. We are here to provide you with the latest information, and to support you in understanding how and when to make changes to remain compliant and up to date. It is AGM season, so please make sure your Approved Provider and/or Management Committee know about their membership with CCSA. Stay engaged with all that we have to offer through your membership and remember we are here to support you on the big and the little matters each and every day. The CCSA team are continuing to work from home, as we too are navigating our way through the latest iterations of the pandemic. I look forward to speaking with many of you across the many forums, and meetings we attend, and on a one to one basis in the coming months.