Dear colleagues
A warm welcome to our August edition of Early Childhood Update. This is another bumper edition filled with great resources, but first I’d like to reflect on NAIDOC Week celebrations and share some fantastic news about one of our esteemed colleagues.
From Sunday 7 to Sunday 14 July 2024, NAIDOC Week celebrated the unyielding spirit of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities under the theme ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud’. This theme shows how we as a sector can amplify First Nations voices and experiences.
A great highlight of the week was the recognition of Aunty Muriel Bamblett as 2024 NAIDOC Person of the Year. Aunty Muriel has been recognised for her outstanding contribution as chief executive officer of the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA).
Aunty Muriel’s commitment to defending the rights and opportunities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children has changed the lives of many children and families, and inspires incredible work across Victoria. We are privileged to have such a respected leader here in Victoria, and she has had an enormous impact on the role early childhood education has to play in supporting First Nations families, communities and cultures to thrive.
We also recently celebrated National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day on Sunday 4 August 2024. To mark the occasion, we sent kits packed with loads of fun resources, including native Australian animal cards, to more than 3,000 kindergartens – and it’s been fantastic to hear about the great conversations and celebrations the kits have sparked.
There is a lot to celebrate in early childhood, and the positive spirit will continue on Wednesday 4 September as we mark Early Childhood Educators’ Day. I encourage you to consider how you will celebrate this special day – and please take a look at our article for resources and opportunities to recognise the educators in your service.
Also in this month’s edition, you’ll see a range of grant and professional development support opportunities that services, teachers and educators can access. Along with a program to help teachers and educators return to early childhood education after a period away, you can also find information about the latest rounds of Building Blocks grant opportunities – supporting services with facility upgrades and new equipment – and guidance about how to apply for the Bush Kinder Grants Program.
I hope you continue to find this information helpful for you in your work supporting Victoria’s children and families.
Bronwen FitzGerald
Deputy Secretary
Early Childhood Education
Updated