Getting back to nature

Did you know it takes as little as four minutes in a natural environment to reduce stress, improve mood and steady the vital signs?

This is just one of the findings Mission Australia’s National Director of Mission Australia’s Early Learning Services (MAELS) took home from last week’s World Forum on Early Care and Education.

With delegates representing 73 nations, the conference examined the natural world’s potential to reduce childhood obesity and have a positive impact on ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and learning.

Ms Howard said the conference reaffirmed Mission Australia’s plan to ‘naturalise’ the environment at its 29 MAELS centres through the addition of gardens, replacing plastic equipment with timber and using paint hues inspired by nature.

“We not planning to introduce natural environments into our centres because it’s ‘trendy’ or looks good, but because there is increasingly a real disconnect between children and nature,” she said.

“Today we have children growing up in developed countries who are afraid of wind, rain and snow. This is the generation we are handing society.”

Ms Howard said that initiatives such as vegetable gardens at MAELS Shell Cove (NSW) and Doveton (Victoria) centres were already making a difference to young lives:

“The children at those centres can’t wait to get outside when they arrive,” Ms Howards said. “It’s a small but important way we can start reconnecting children with nature.”

Further reading:

• Find out more about Education Week in Victoria
• ‘Families need adventure playgrounds and cities need families’
• Resources, photos, videos and more from the conference: will be shared at http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/current-work/upcoming-events/2011-world-forum

Government Media Release: New report highlights Australian job opportunities

The Australian Jobs 2011 report was released today, highlighting opportunities and encouraging all Australians to participate in the workforce in Australia’s current strong economy.

Minister for Employment Participation and Child Care, Kate Ellis, released the 2011 edition of the annual publication at the Local Employment Coordinators Conference in Canberra.

“It is essential that job seekers, students and employment service providers have access to up-to-date information about what the opportunities are and where the jobs are now, and where opportunities and new jobs are likely to arise in the next five years,” Ms Ellis said.

“The Australian Jobs report is a key resource in helping job seekers to find employment opportunities in our nation’s dynamic job market, and for employment service providers to plan for the future.”

Australian Jobs, prepared by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, provides key information about Australian employment figures, helping job seekers and employment service providers alike.

This year’s report focuses on regional labour markets and contains useful information about occupations and industries and about state and territory labour markets.

“Australia’s economy is strong. More than 265 000 new jobs have been created over the past year and the national unemployment rate is 4.9 per cent,” Ms Ellis said.

“The Australian economy needs more skilled workers if we are going to successfully take advantage of the minerals boom and manage the challenges of our ageing population.”

“This presents a great opportunity for Australians who have previously had difficulty gaining employment to find and to keep a job.”

Australian Jobs supports the Australian Government’s focus on developing a highly skilled and educated workforce to meet Australia’s future needs, by highlighting the link between higher levels of education and training and better labour market outcomes such as lower unemployment and higher pay.

The report highlights that 4.1 million Australians are employed in regional areas, with regional employers experiencing particular difficulty recruiting skilled workers.

Ms Ellis said that this means there are sound opportunities for employment outside state capital cities.

“Improving labour market outcomes – putting more people into more jobs – benefits individuals, their families and communities but also the whole Australian economy,” Ms Ellis said.

“The 2011-12 Budget lays out a strong plan to make the most of current economic circumstances and get more Australians into work.”

“This report shows us that there are jobs available and that there has rarely been a better time in our nation’s history for people to enter the workforce.”

For more information and to view Australian Jobs 2011 www.deewr.gov.au/australianjobs or email AustralianJobs@deewr.gov.au

Media Contact: media@deewr.gov.au

Non-media queries: 1300 363 079

This media release originally issued on the 18 May 2011 by the Hon Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Employment Participation and Child Care

Grandparent support group launched in Goulburn

The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that there are 14,000 grandparent families caring for children in this country. And it’s thought many more grandparents are not included in official statistics because they are unaware of where to turn for financial, practical and emotional support.

For this reason, Mission Australia – in partnership with the Council of the Ageing and Grandparents Relative and Kinship Carers Alliance – has launched a weekly support group for grandparents in the Goulburn area who permanently look after their grandchildren.

The group of about 20 grandparents – mostly grandmothers – will meet on a weekly basis in Mission Australia’s Goulburn Community Services office with Mission Australia staff providing information they require and arranging guest speakers.

Mission Australia’s Southern NSW Operations Manager, Cheryl O’Donnell, said the grandparents who attended last Friday’s launch barbecue and information session at Mission Australia’s Goulburn office were relieved to find local support.

“One of the ladies who attended had recently taken on the carer role of her grandchild,” Ms O’Donnell said. “It was pure chance that she saw the notice in the newspaper. It happens to so many older people and they just have no idea where to go for support.

“In fact, a number of grandparents in the group said they received children with only the clothes they had on, and the biggest issue they faced was how to deal with the trauma that comes with these children.

“The majority find themselves caring for their grandchildren unexpectedly. Often it’s because of parental substance abuse, parental incarceration, mental health issues, child neglect or abuse, domestic violence or the death of a parent.

Ms O’Donnell added that taking such a hands-on role late in life can be a major emotional and financial strain.

“As almost two-thirds of grandparent families rely on a government pension, benefit or allowance as their main source of income, many find themselves tapping into their lifetime assets and savings as they attempt to support their grandchildren,” she said.

“We know many grandparent-carer families go under the radar and are not included in official statistics. That means government policies aimed at supporting grandparent-carers are lagging behind, and subsequently, so are the number of services available.”

One service that has been particularly effective in providing support is the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program – which is run by Mission Australia in Nowra in partnership with the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs in Nowra (NSW).

Operating since 2004, it helps around 50 grandparents who between them care for approximately 40 grandchildren at any one time.

“We know the program works from the research we’ve undertaken with grandparents who are part of the program. It’s been invaluable in providing them with guidance in raising their grandchildren, helping them deal with stress, addressing legal difficulties and giving them access to a social network of other people in the same situation,” said Ms O’Donnell.

“We think rolling out programs similar to this in other areas around the country would be extremely beneficial, particularly for providing grandparent-carers with the social and legal support they so often need. But there’s room for more action in this area.”

Results in for MA Early Learning Services Shell Cove

Congratulations to Mission Australia’s Early Learning Services (MAELS) Shell Cove for being accredited as a 'High Quality' service by the National Childcare Accreditation Council (NCAC).

NCAC is a not-for-profit, Australian Government-funded organisation that is responsible for administering Child Care Quality Assurance for long day care centres.

Its Quality Improvement and Accreditation System (QIAS) is based on seven Quality Areas and 33 Principles that summarise and define long day care – and our Shell Cove centre achieved the high-quality ranking against all seven indicators.

Centre Director Carissa Roberts and staff have put in a lot of effort in the weeks and months leading up to their high-quality accreditation. MAELS NSW Regional Manager Ben Williams and our National Accreditation Advisor Karen Dawson have also gone above and beyond to help the service obtain this result.

All our 29 MAELS centres are undergoing the NCAC accreditation process, with seven having undergone the process so far and the remaining 22 to be completed by March.

To be accredited, a centre must achieve a rating of “satisfactory” or higher on all seven Quality Areas, including staff relationships with children and peers; partnerships with families; programming and evaluation; children's experiences and learning; protective care and safety, health, nutrition and wellbeing, and managing to support quality.

Mission Australia Early Learning opens it's doors in Shell Cove

Mission Australia threw open it doors to local families at its Shell Cove Early Learning Service on Sunday to celebrate the launch of the new centre.

Families enjoyed a BBQ and children’s entertainment including storytelling, face-painting and pony rides.

New enrolments taken on the day have gone into the draw for a free skydive by Sky Dive on the Beach (Wollongong) in October.

Mission Australia’s spokesperson, Ben Williams, said Mission Australia had a long and successful history caring for children and providing not-for-profit early learning.

“We plan on making a significant contribution to early learning in the Wollongong and Shellharbour areas having taken on the former ABC Learning centre in Shell Cove,” said Ben.

“Currently we assist hundreds of children and their families through early childhood support services. We’ll be drawing on all of that experience and knowledge at Shell Cove."

As a not-for-profit provider, Mission Australia's early learning services have a very different structure and approach to the previous owner, ABC Learning, noted Mr Williams.

“Because we’re a not-for-profit organisation, any surpluses generated from Mission Australia’s centres are returned straight back into the services to deliver better outcomes for children.

“The bottom line for us is we’re here to provide high quality early learning and care and to make a long-term difference. We run our services for the benefit of children, families and the community – not shareholders.

“The local Shell Cove community has really embraced the notion of a not-for-profit like Mission Australia taking over the management of this centre and we’re looking to repay their faith by providing a fantastic service to support children and families,” said Ben.

Tiger Putt Putt, Country Kitchen Café, Photo House Kiama, Play Days, Tangs Restaurant Shellharbour Village, Bakers Delight Wollongong, Play Maze and Donut King all made prize donations for the open day.

Advantage U Tennis Coaching also conducted tennis demonstrations for the children.

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More information for parents:

• Parents interested in enrolling their children in Mission Australia Early Learning at Shell Cove can contact the centre on 02 4297 6922, or visit the site webpage for more information - click here.
  
• To download the Parent's Handbook, click here.
• For more information please visit Mission Australia Early Learning Services online - click here.

Media Release: Mission Australia Launches South Australian Early Learning Centres

Mission Australia will introduce a new era of child care to South Australia today with the launch of its three “family focused” early learning centres in Adelaide.

The centres at Redwood Park, Elizabeth and Osborne are former ABC Learning sites – part of the 29 centres Mission Australia acquired earlier this year and took over in June.

Mission Australia Early Learning Service’s CEO Karen Twitchett says the launch of the sites represented a new beginning for South Australian children and their families.

“Months of planning, co-ordination and consultation with leading developmental and learning experts have ensured these centres are ready to provide the best care and learning services for children and their families,” Ms Twitchett said.

The launch of the Mission Australia Early Learning Services in South Australia will be staged at the Osborne Early Learning Centre at Lot 19, Brookman St, Osborne, from 8.30 am, Tuesday, 22 September.

Children will have their faces painted during the “party” and will engage in activities including “children’s yoga”, a jumping castle and cake cutting. Ms Twitchett will read the children a story between 8.30 am and 10.30 am.

Ms Twitchett said Mission Australia’s Early Learning services would work with families and their communities to provide high quality education and care with an emphasis on supporting children to make a successful transition to school.

“We take a holistic approach to early childhood learning which means we look at all aspects of a child’s life to ensure they can get the different types of care they need,” said Ms Twitchett

“We envisage that in the future our centres will become community hubs where children, their families and other community groups can connect and access a range of services.”

As a not-for-profit provider, Mission Australia Early Learning Services has a very different structure and approach to the previous owner, ABC Learning, noted Ms Twitchett.

“Because we’re a not-for-profit organisation, any surpluses generated from Mission Australia’s centres will be returned straight back into the services to deliver better outcomes for children.

“The bottom line for us is that we’re here to provide high quality early learning and care and to make a long-term difference. We run our services for the benefit of children, families and the community – not shareholders,” said Ms Twitchett.

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Parents interested in enrolling their children in Mission Australia Early Learning Centres in South Australia can contact:

• Elizabeth Vale Centre on 08 8252 8539 - view map
• Osborne Centre on 08 8248 2355 - view map
• Redwood Park Centre on 08 8265 0758 - view map
• You can find out more about Mission Australia Early Learning Services at our website.