Dear colleagues
Welcome to the second last edition of Early Childhood Update for 2024, which comes to you on the day of the Victorian Early Years Awards(opens in a new window) (Thursday 7 November 2024), where we’ll celebrate the remarkable talent, ingenuity, and professionalism that define our sector.
In keeping with the celebratory theme, congratulations also go to Sarah Rawley (Gowrie Victoria) who was recently awarded the Barbara Creaser Young Advocate Award at the 2024 Early Childhood Australia annual conference.
This prestigious national recognition highlights young early childhood professionals who excel in advocacy, with Sarah influencing and supporting funded kindergartens as a wayipungitj (supporter) for the Hume and Merri-bek area, North-Western Region.
But it’s not just awards: we’re committed to helping our workforce, right across the sector, share and grow their skills and expertise.
In this month’s edition, you can learn about the different ways to build your skills as an educational leader, including information on the upcoming Best Start, Best Life: 2025 Educational Leaders Conference(opens in a new window), the Victorian Educational Leadership Program(opens in a new window), the End-to-End Career Supports Alumni Conference(opens in a new window) and the Best Start, Best Life Evening Leadership series(opens in a new window).
Last week, we also announced the 2025 Kindergarten funding rates(opens in a new window), which we know will be welcome news.
We’ve been creating more options for families in areas of need, with Early Learning Victoria’s 4 new centres opening in Term 1, 2025 and have also announced the locations for 6 new centres, opening in 2027.
In this month’s edition, you’ll also find articles inviting you to:
- download a readiness checklist in preparation for Arrival(opens in a new window)
- prepare your service for the bushfire season(opens in a new window)
- help families find a service by using the new interactive map on the Find a Kinder Program (opens in a new window)website
- watch a heartwarming video(opens in a new window) about Sahay Moo See, an Early Childhood Scholarship recipient born in a refugee camp and now a kindergarten teacher in Werribee.
As we near the end of 2024 and look ahead to 2025, service providers are reminded that Transition, Learning, and Development Statements(opens in a new window) for all children transitioning to school in 2025 must be completed by Friday 20 December 2024. Declarations are also open for children recommended for a second year of funded Four-Year-Old Kindergarten(opens in a new window).
All the best for the month ahead.
Bronwen FitzGerald
Deputy Secretary
Early Childhood Education
Updated