28 JulELAA CEO update 28 July 2021
Dear members and friends
As Victoria starts the cautious process of emerging from lockdown 5.0 we would like to acknowledge the professionalism and dedication of the Early Childhood Education and Care providers and their staff who have continued to provide the essential services of quality care and learning throughout the Pandemic. A reminder that Victorian Services should refer to updates for service operation which can be found in the Victorian Department of Education and Training’s COVID-19 update. This resource includes links to mental health and well being services and resources. Our thoughts also go to services, workers and families in states still struggling with current outbreaks, particularly New South Wales.
Our thanks also to our members for their patience over the past week or so as sharply increased call volumes to our advisory service have resulted in increased wait times. We’ve had a lot of enquiries relating to the implementation of the recently approved VECTEA 2020 but anticipate, as providers become more familiar with the new Agreement and use our supporting resources, that call volumes should stabilise soon. VECTEA signatory providers wanting extra support with VECTEA are advised to attend our second VECTEA implementation session this Friday, 30 July. You can find out more about the session by CLICKING HERE . Further supplementary support sessions may be held via Zoom into the future and ELAA will communicate to VECTEA signatory services if these are to be made available.
We would also like to remind ELAA members to make the most of two feedback opportunities – the 2021 ELAA Communications Survey and our National Workforce Survey. Both close this Friday and we strongly encourage you to respond to both so we can optimise the way we communicate to you and also advocate for necessary policy changes and initiatives to support and build our workforce.
Finally, a ‘Save the Date’ for your calendar … the ELAA Annual General Meeting is on 18 November, 6.30p.m. to 8.30p.m. and we are planning on this to be the perfect opportunity for members to catch up face-to-face, learn of our plans for the future, and engage with the keynote speaker. More details and invitations will come in the near future.
Take care and keep safe
Megan O’Connell and Wendy Mason (Acting Co-CEOs)
