From the 01 July 2017, the Fair Work Commission has announced a 3.3% increase in minimum wages. The increase will apply to base rates of pay from the first full pay period starting on or after 01 July 2017.
Parent / Educator meetings help build respectful and positive relationships and enable educators and parents to share information about the child. Meetings add to the casual, daily conversations that you have with families by providing more detailed information about children's achievements and allow time for deep conversation.
From 01 Feb 2018, a revised NQS will be introduced to help clarify how quality is rated in education and care services.
Knowledge, Skills and Dispositions describe how children explore during the Kindergarten Year within a holistic learning program.
ACECQA is very concerned that some educators with first aid certificates are not trained in medical emergencies, due to the fact that dodgy training colleges are handing out qualifications to incompetent students.
NSW Early Childhood Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the state government would “use the full extent of the law’’ to deal with dodgy childcare qualifications.
“Services and individuals that have submitted fraudulent documentation will be investigated and can be prosecuted,’’ she said.
All staff in family daycare, and at least one carer in each long daycare centre, must be trained in first aid, anaphylaxis and asthma management.
“A situation where a student has completed one qualification and is incorrectly deemed competent, could present a serious and significant risk to children being educated and cared for,’’ ACECQA warns in a submission to the Department of Education and Training.
“A failure of graduates to properly administer first aid to children in their care in times of emergency carries a high risk to children and could have life-threatening consequences.’’
Childcare centres have also complained about qualified educators who do not possess the basic literacy skills expected of them. ACECQA criticised the poor English skills of some educators and calls for mandatory literacy tests before students graduate.
It has been demanded by The Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) of private daycare centres to the Federal Education Department to take “bold action’’ against training colleges that fail to properly train staff.
“The very nature of the industry evolves around very young and, as such, vulnerable children who are reliant on the competency and skills of their educators,’’ it said.
Reference:
Bita, Natasha (2017), Kids Lives At Risk In Childcare First Aid Fail, Daily Telegraph,
NSW Health has issued an alert for an outbreak of measles in South Western and Western Sydney.
Three infants and a young adult from the western Sydney region, and a young adult from Queensland who spent time in far northern NSW, have contracted the disease.
Of the cases, the three were infants were too young to be vaccinated and the adult could not remember their vaccination status. One infant acquired the disease from a previously reported case.
It is important for everyone to ensure that they have received at least two doses of measles containing vaccine (MMR). Infants and young children are vaccinated with measles containing vaccine at 12 months and 18 months of age. Older children and adults born during or after 1966 should ensure that they have been vaccinated with two doses of vaccine. The Measles vaccine is free, so please make sure you visit you local GP and make sure you have had the recommended 2 doses.
Symptoms of measles include fever, sore eyes and a cough followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash spreading from the head and neck to the rest of the body.
People with measles symptoms should seek medical advice as soon as possible, stay home from work or school, and limit other activities to avoid exposing other vulnerable people, such as infants, to the infection.Children shold be excluded for 4 days after the onset of the rash
For more information in regards to signs, symptoms and prevention of measles, read: Measles
Reference:
Measles is a serious disease that is easily spread through the air. Immunisation is effective in preventing the disease. All children and adults born during or after 1966 should be vaccinated with 2 doses of measles containing vaccine if not already immune.
Parents who do not wish to vaccinate their children on conscientious grounds are banned from having their children enrolled in child care centres in NSW.
There is an urgent recall regarding EpiPen 300 Batches, following consultation with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
The urgent recall is for 4 batches of EpiPen 300 with the following batch numbers and an expiry of Apr 17:
No other batches of EpiPen, including the EpiPen Jr 150 microgram version, are thought to be affected, the TGA said.
This recall is due to the potential that these devices may contain a defective part that may result in the device failing to activate or requiring increased force to activate.
If the EpiPen fails to activate it may result in life threatening adverse events as the underlying anaphylaxis will not be treated.
If you have an Epipen with one of the above batch numbers you will need to replace it with a new one as soon as possible by returning it to your pharmacist, who will replace it with an EpiPen 300 from a different batch FREE OF CHARGE.
For more information please read the following: EpiPen 300 Recall
This is a guide for educators on what to observe under each sub learning outcome from the MTOP Framework, when a child is engaged in play and learning. Educators can plan experiences for the curriculum and gain an understanding on how children can achieve each individual outcome.
To support children achieve learning outcomes from the MTOP Framework, the following list gives educators examples of how to support and facilitate the children attain their goals. It also provides examples on how to promote each individual outcome throughout an OOSH setting.
