05 MarELAA CEO Update 5 March 2020
Dear members and friends
There are a few things happening in the early childhood sector at the moment to which ELAA is contributing, including some where members have the opportunity to provide direct feedback.
Children’s Services Regs
The consultation period for the Victorian Children’s Services Regulations ends at midnight on 17 March 2020. ELAA will be contributing feedback on the changes to the regulations and so may individual services. For further information on the proposed changes and to give your feedback see our news article on the ELAA website.
EYM framework
A draft Early Years Manager (EYM) Monitoring and Improvement Framework has been developed by Vic DET to help clarify EYM responsibilities and reduce administrative burden. It seeks to:
- articulate a set of core requirements for EYM service delivery (in addition to broader kindergarten funding obligations and regulatory requirements of an approved kindergarten provider)
- identify key indicators to monitor performance against the core EYM requirements, which DET will collate on an annual basis.
Before the Framework is adopted, there will be a thorough consultation process with the sector, in which ELAA will play a key role, along with Municipal Association Victoria (MAV) and other stakeholders.
ELAA welcomes this initiative, particularly given our advocacy concerning EYM sustainability throughout 2019 and in to 2020. We will contribute to the review of the Framework to ensure it provides greater clarity and reduces the administrative burden on EYMs.
Additional Child Care Subsidy
Responding to concerns raised by ELAA and the sector, a new bill introduced by Federal Minister for Education, Dan Tehan, will make it easier for the most vulnerable children to access early learning through Additional Child Care Subsidy. The Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Improving Assistance for Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Families) Bill 2020 is intended to streamline access to the additional childcare subsidy (child wellbeing) by cutting red tape for families and childcare providers. The changes will further support vulnerable and disadvantaged families to access quality and affordable early learning and child care by enhancing an early learning provider’s ability to provide early access to the additional subsidy to vulnerable and disadvantaged families where appropriate. To find out more about the bill, click here .
Coronavirus
Finally, there has been an unprecedented amount of coverage regarding the Novel Coronavirus or COVID – 19 as it is also known. While some sources provide updated and useful guidance, other information sources can be dangerously inaccurate. To this end I encourage ELAA members and friends to refer to the following two reliable sources of information: the Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET) Coronavirus advice page and the Australian Government’s Department of Education, Skills and Employment Coronavirus (COVID – 19) page . Both sources are regularly updated, include useful resources such as factsheets, and often provide information specific to early childhood education and care services.
All the best,
David Worland
CEO – ELAA
