Dear colleagues
Welcome to the October edition of Early Childhood Update, as we enter the final stretch towards the end of what’s been another busy and rewarding year for the sector.
As many of you will be aware, we have a new Minister for Children, the Hon Lizzie Blandthorn. Minister Blandthorn will be continuing the work of Minister Stitt to drive the Best Start, Best Life reforms across Victoria, and support child development and wellbeing across the parts of her portfolio. We look forward to working to support the Minister and her team.
Celebrating Children’s Week and recognising excellence
Looking ahead, we also have the annual Children's Week celebrations to look forward to. The theme for this year’s event is ‘Children have the right to relax, play and to take part in activities they enjoy’ based on Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
From Saturday 21 to Sunday 29 October 2023, thousands of children and families will have the chance to join the festivities, with more than 200 free events offered by not-for-profit organisations and local councils.
Please visit the Children's Week website to see the calendar of free events in Victoria and collateral you can use to promote your own events and the week more broadly.
Excitement is also building for next month’s Victorian Early Years Awards and on Friday 27 October 2023, we mark World Teachers’ Day.
We should all take the opportunity to celebrate the outstanding teachers and educators who educate, inspire and support our youngest learners.
News from the department
Lastly, I have some news to share with you about staffing changes at the department. I have accepted the role of Chief Executive of the new South Australian Office for Early Childhood Development, following the recent Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care in South Australia, led by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard. This work will include the rollout of universal three-year-old kindergarten.
From Wednesday 25 October 2023, Bronwen FitzGerald will act as Deputy Secretary and lead this work, pending a recruitment process. We will share further news with you on this once it’s available.
On a personal note, I am excited about this new challenge and the opportunity it presents to lift outcomes for young children and families in South Australia. That said, leaving the Victoria public service after 18 years and Victoria’s outstanding early childhood education sector after more than 8 years is bittersweet. I’d like to take this chance to thank you one last time for all your truly remarkable expertise and skill, and for all you do for Victorian children and families. I wish you all the very best and will be watching on with a keen eye from across the border.
Kim Little
Deputy Secretary
Early Childhood Education
Updated