Our initiatives

Initiative	What happened this year	What was achieved	What this means for next year	Supporting
*Whole of Government Policy Framework for the Early Years*	The Whole of Government Policy Framework for the Early Years was developed to provide direction and priorities for early childhood development in Tasmania. The framework was approved by the government in September. The mapping of existing government funded programs and services for young children and their families commenced. This project is jointly funded by the state government departments of Premier and Cabinet, Health and Human Services, and Education.	In December, regional workshops outlining the framework were held for early childhood service providers in the non-government sector. Feedback was received on the framework content as well as how the non-government sector could work in partnership with the government to implement it. Work began to develop a strategic plan to establish the elements of the framework to be implemented in the first three years. The information identified through the mapping process will support the development of the strategic plan.	The strategic plan will be finalised for consideration by government agencies.
Brighton Early Years Integrated Services Pilot Project	Primary schools in the Brighton municipality have established early years centres to improve services for families with children up to four years of age as part of the Brighton Early Years Integrated Services pilot project. Bridgewater, Brighton, Gagebrook, Herdsmans Cove and Green Point primary schools each established a centre that offered a range of programs and services to meet the needs of their community. The project was developed as a partnership between Our Kids Bureau in the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Education.	The welcoming and accessible early learning centres began to evolve into ‘community hubs’ for parents of young children. The centres: provided parents with information, support and referrals to other services, e.g. antenatal care worked closely with child health nurses and family support staff had a strong focus on early literacy development, promoting reading, singing, telling nursery rhymes and talking to babies and children. A cross-centre coordinator and a community based advisory group facilitated the sharing of ideas between centres, and identified ways to introduce efficiencies between the centres. The Centre for Community Child Health in Melbourne evaluated the project to determine future directions for the centres within the Brighton municipality.	Although the pilot project finished in June 2006, all schools committed to continuing their early years centres. The evaluator’s final report with recommendations for the centres will be released in August 2007.
Walk of Wonder Exhibition	The Walk of Wonder exhibition, part of the Brighton Early Years Integrated Services project, was held in Bridgewater in June. The ‘walk’ promoted the importance of the early years and aimed to create a sense of belonging and pride within the local community.	Teachers, parents and artists worked with children at the early years centres and local kindergartens to create artworks corresponding with children’s wonderings about their environment. The artworks were exhibited as a series of 15 banners that formed a two kilometre walk around Bridgewater.	The exhibition will move to Brighton and Gagebrook in late 2006.
Early Years Assessing Project	The Early Years Assessing project is an action research project for early years educators. Action research aims to improve practice in a particular field. This project was initiated to develop and test methods of assessing and recording young children’s learning. Teams consisting of a child care practitioner and a teacher used action research to investigate assessment practices.	Thirteen teams participated around the state and gained a greater understanding of valid and effective assessment for pre-school children. Having both a school and child care member on each team enabled: the development of strong partnerships between schools and child care services educators to gain an understanding of each other’s work the strengthening of existing networks opening new communication channels.	Several participants will present their work at a conference in 2007. Leadership teams in schools and child care centres will be invited to document their work to inform best practice in Tasmania.
Audit of Pre-Kindergarten Programs in Schools	An audit of the early years initiatives provided by Tasmanian schools for pre-school aged children with parents in attendance, was undertaken to gain information on the range of programs provided around the state. The register of programs for pre-school children, where parents do not have to be present, was also updated.	The audit provided an updated record of the range of initiatives schools are offering children and their families prior to them starting school. Approximately 75% of schools completed the audit providing details of their pre-school initiatives. These were made available on the department’s website.	The information gained through the audit will be used to: support schools in networking and sharing best practice examples inform directions and policy development under the government’s policy, A Better Future for Our Children and Young People support the development of the Whole of Government Early Years Strategic Plan.
Aboriginal Early Years Learning Officers Project	The Aboriginal Early Year Learning Officers (AEYLO) project employed four officers to work with Aboriginal children up to four years old and their parents and carers. They supported families with pre-school literacy, readiness for school, parental involvement with schools and access to child care.	The four Aboriginal staff worked with children from bases at Hobart, Rocherlea and Penguin. Work commenced on development of an operational model for the AEYLOs which included trialling mobile kindergartens. The AEYLO’s worked closely with other early childhood staff in both the department and child care centres.	The program will continue to be developed as part of the department’s network of early childhood services. Staff will receive further training and development.
Amendments to the Child Care Act 2001	The Child Care Act 2001 was amended in December, to better support the provision of quality child care in Tasmania. The amendments included: broadening of the definition of ‘responsible person’ linking fitness and propriety checks to the assessment of an individual as ‘fit and proper’ requiring persons-in-charge and responsible persons to make a declaration of acceptance of their responsibilities under the Act.	The amendments ensured the Act’s compatibility with the full range of commercial and managerial structures used by Tasmanian corporate, private and community-based child care organisations. Establishing responsibility in the event of contraventions of the Act or the licensing standards was simplified, and the paperwork required for re-licensing reduced.	The development of appropriate protocols to conduct interstate fitness and propriety checks will be investigated.
Licensing Outside School Hours Child Care Services on Government School Sites	Funding of $160,000 was provided to support 21 outside school hours care services on government school sites to become licensed. This became a requirement as of February 2005.	The outside school hours care services used the funds to undertake a range of improvements to buildings and premises. The improvements were identified by the Child Care Unit as necessary for the services to meet the licensing standards. Improvements addressed safety, storage and maintenance issues.	The maintenance needs of outside school hours care services on government school sites will be monitored.	Goal 1.4.1
Supporting the Outside School Hours Child Care Sector	The Child Care Unit held six seminars for outside school hours care services and schools with collocated services, on what the new Australian Standards are for playgrounds, play equipment and playground surfacing. Around 100 people representing 49 organisations attended the seminars across the state.	The seminars resulted in attendees having an increased understanding of the Australian Standards and their application. They also provided the opportunity for the services and schools to work together to improve their playgrounds. The sessions coincided with the provision of grants under the government’s $5 million Playground Blitz program which enabled a number of the services to upgrade their playground facilities to meet the new standards.	Greater awareness of the new Australian Standards will encourage services to work toward upgrading their playgrounds, making them even safer for the children in their care.