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Breaking the Cycle: Addressing Gossip in Early Childhood Workplaces

Breaking the Cycle: Addressing Gossip in Early Childhood Workplaces New!

In early childhood education, trust and collaboration are foundational—not just for children, but for the adults who guide them. Yet across the sector, many educators report that unprofessional gossip among staff continues to undermine workplace culture, erode morale, and fracture…
R U OK? Day: Restoring Connection in the Staffroom

R U OK? Day: Restoring Connection in the Staffroom New!

In early childhood education, care is our currency. We pour it into children, families, documentation, and compliance—but how often do we pause to ask, “R U OK?” to the person beside us? R U OK? Day isn’t just a date…
Understanding Regulation 122 and Adequate Supervision in ECEC

Understanding Regulation 122 and Adequate Supervision in ECEC New!

In early childhood education and care, child safety is not just a number—it’s a practice. While educator-to-child ratios are essential, they are only one part of a broader obligation: ensuring adequate supervision at all times. Together, these two pillars—Regulation 122 …
Contesting Departmental Decisions in NSW and Victoria: A Guide for Services and Educators

Contesting Departmental Decisions in NSW and Victoria: A Guide for Services and Educators New!

In the NSW and VIC early childhood sector, safeguarding children and ensuring accountability in service operations are paramount. But what happens when a complaint—particularly one involving alleged harm to a child—is investigated by the Department of Education and deemed “inconclusive,”…
Let the Children Speak: Why Their Words Matter More Than Ours

Let the Children Speak: Why Their Words Matter More Than Ours New!

“I was watching the rain because it made me feel calm. I didn’t want to talk; I just wanted to listen to the drops.” This simple statement carries more than imagination—it holds intention, emotion, and agency. This article is a…
Unpaid Overtime in Early Childhood Education: Know Your Rights Under the Children’s Services Award

Unpaid Overtime in Early Childhood Education: Know Your Rights Under the Children’s Services Award

In early childhood services across Australia, educators are often expected to stay beyond their rostered hours to complete tasks—cleaning, documentation, ratio coverage, or closing duties. But when this extra time goes unpaid, it’s not just unfair—it may be unlawful.
Active Supervision vs In Ratio: Why Both Matter — But Aren’t the Same

Active Supervision vs In Ratio: Why Both Matter — But Aren’t the Same

In early childhood education, two terms often surface in compliance conversations: active supervision and in ratio. While both are essential to child safety and regulatory integrity, they serve distinct purposes—and conflating them can lead to serious oversights in practice. Let’s…
Q: Am I In Ratio If I Am Completing Other Tasks Within The Room?

Q: Am I In Ratio If I Am Completing Other Tasks Within The Room?

A: Legally, yes—an educator is considered “in ratio” as long as they are physically present and supervising the required number of children according to the age-based ratios set by the National Quality Framework (NQF). But practically? That’s where the system…
QIP Priorities for Early Childhood Services

QIP Priorities for Early Childhood Services

With new child safety regulations having just come into effect, here’s a sector-responsive list of Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) priorities that services across Australia should consider updating immediately. These priorities align with the National Quality Standard (NQS), recent regulatory changes,…
Q: Can I, As an Educator, Refuse to Work Alone?

Q: Can I, As an Educator, Refuse to Work Alone?

In early childhood education across Australia, the question of whether educators can refuse to work alone is no longer hypothetical—it’s urgent. With rising behavioural complexities, mounting workloads, and increasing safety concerns, educators are asking, "Do I have the right to…
Father’s Day in Early Childhood: Inclusive Celebrations That Honour All Families

Father’s Day in Early Childhood: Inclusive Celebrations That Honour All Families

Father’s Day offers a chance to celebrate love, care, and connection—but for children without fathers, it can also be a sensitive time. In early childhood settings, educators have a responsibility to ensure that celebrations are inclusive, emotionally safe, and reflective…
Educator-to-Child Ratios: A System Built for Profit, Not Quality Care

Educator-to-Child Ratios: A System Built for Profit, Not Quality Care

Across the early childhood education and care sector, educators are sounding the alarm: current staffing ratios are insufficient to deliver safe, meaningful, and developmentally appropriate care. While recent reforms have focused on mobile phone bans and child safety protocols, many…
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