Early childhood teachers across Victoria are sounding the alarm over new childcare reforms, warning that the changes are piling administrative burdens onto staff and eroding the joy of teaching.
Explore the responsibilities, legal obligations, and best practices of the nominated supervisor ECEC with this three-part webinar series presented by Victoria McDowell and Meray Parsons from Gowrie NSW.
The following lists cultural and special events that are taking place in December 2025. This should help you to plan and organise upcoming events and celebrations for December 2025.
A: Something as simple as a child asking to braid an educator’s hair—or children braiding each other’s can spark important questions about connection, trust, and professional boundaries. For many, braiding is more than a playful activity; it is a gesture of closeness, a way of forming relationships, and in some cultures, a practice rich with tradition and identity.
At the same time, educators must balance these relational opportunities with health, hygiene, and safety considerations, ensuring that practices in the service align with professional standards and family expectations. This tension—between fostering connection and maintaining boundaries—makes hair braiding a valuable topic for reflection in early learning settings.
Outdoor play is vital for children’s well-being, offering opportunities for physical activity, exploration, and connection with nature. In Australia, however, educators face a unique challenge: how to balance children’s right to outdoor play with the risks of extreme heat and high UV exposure. With summer temperatures often exceeding 35°C, services must make careful, informed decisions about when it is safe to go outside.
In early childhood education, children are not just learners; they are active participants in shaping their environments. One emerging practice gaining traction among educational leaders is the establishment of a children’s council. This initiative provides children with a structured platform to express their ideas, make decisions, and contribute to the life of the centre.
In early childhood education, the role of the Educational Leader is both visionary and grounded. It’s not just about overseeing curriculum—it’s about cultivating a culture of inquiry, emotional safety, and continuous growth. Each day brings opportunities to mentor, reflect, advocate, and co-create learning environments where children and educators thrive.
This guide outlines the core responsibilities and daily tasks that shape pedagogical leadership. It honours the invisible labour, the quiet coaching moments, and the intentional decisions that uphold quality practice and sector integrity.
Observations are more than compliance—they’re acts of care, advocacy, and professional insight. When educators write observations with emotional intelligence and sector-savvy language, they make children’s learning visible, amplify their voices, and strengthen the case for quality early childhood practice. This guide supports educators in writing observations that are purposeful, symbolic, and aligned with the EYLF.
In early childhood education, every family brings a unique rhythm of celebration, memory, and meaning. The Family Holiday Traditions template offers educators a powerful tool to honour these rhythms—inviting families to share their cherished customs and weaving them into the fabric of the learning environment.
Placements are designed to be safe, structured opportunities for students to learn, observe, and gradually build confidence in their professional practice. They are not employment contracts, nor should they be used to fill staffing gaps. When boundaries blur, students can feel pressured, undervalued, and even exploited. Understanding the difference between learning and labour is essential for both centres and students.
Macquarie University’s Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)—StepAhead Program is designed for diploma-qualified educators with at least two years of post-diploma work experience. It provides a pathway to upgrade existing qualifications into a full bachelor’s degree, recognising prior learning and professional practice.
Every photograph, every story, contributes to a child’s digital footprint, often in ways they cannot fully understand or consent to. This is where the concept of safe pedagogical photography emerges: a conscious, ethical approach to capturing learning moments that celebrates children’s growth while safeguarding their privacy.
An early learning centre in Mandurah, Western Australia, has been left devastated after an alleged arson attack caused extensive damage estimated at $500,000.
In early childhood settings across Australia, the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) is more than a document; it’s a living, breathing presence in children’s play. When educators truly see the EYLF in action, they witness a tapestry of learning, relationships, and identity unfolding moment by moment. This article explores how the EYLF manifests through play and how educators can deepen their observations, documentation, and advocacy by tuning into its rhythms.
