Media coverage - Liverpool Leader: Horningsea Park early learning centre has highest rank in care

Mission Australia’s Horningsea Park Early Learning Service has passed a test with flying colours.

The centre has received a high quality accreditation ranking - the highest possible - from the National Childcare Accreditation Council.

The centre was rigorously tested on 33 principals in seven categories by a council official during a recent day visit.

The categories included staff relationships with children and peers, partnership with families, programming and evaluation, children’s experience and learning, protective care and safety, health, nutrition and wellbeing, and managing to support quality.

All seven categories were ranked as high quality, the highest of four bands.

The Horningsea Park service was registered in April 2009 after taking over from an ABC Learning Centre.

Centre director Ruth Brennan said staff had worked hard to improve the care for children.

“We are very proud of this achievement,” she said.

Story originally published 7 June 2011 in the Liverpool Leader.

Further reading:

• Getting back to nature
• ‘Families need adventure playgrounds and cities need families’
• Previous MA news - Early Learning Services

Media Release: MA's Shell Cove childcare centre achieves highest possible accreditation

Mission Australia’s Shell Cove Early Learning Service (ELS) childcare centre has received a ‘high quality’ accreditation ranking – the highest possible – by the National Childcare Accreditation Council (NCAC).

The accreditation is the national standard that defines the quality of child care.

The centre was tested in 33 principle areas within seven quality categories. They included: 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’s Shell Cove ELS achieved ‘high quality’ in every category.

Shell Cove Centre Director Carissa Roberts says: “Mission Australia’s ELS has worked hard to enhance the quality and care provided for children in our Shell Cove long day care centre since taking over from ABC Learning in mid-2009.

“Achieving the ‘high quality’ ranking reflects the work we have put in to ensuring that we are offering not only the best possible care for the children at our centre, but also the best possible environment in which they can develop and learn.
“We are very proud of this achievement.”

Ms Roberts says that, on top of the high quality ranking, there are other exciting developments in store for the centre.

"Over the coming months there will be even more enhancements at our Shell Cove ELS, one of which will be the renovation of our outdoor learning area – made possible by a generous donation from the Abbott Foundation.

“We are currently collecting input from families and the community regarding the renovation before the upgrade takes place over the coming months.

“In addition, after receiving a $400 grant from NSW Health as part of its ‘Munch and Move’ program, we are about to improve and increase our vegetable patch. Expanding our vegetable patch will extend this already popular component of our centre.

“The children just love the hands-on involvement in nurturing and cultivating the produce – which is then used in the daily preparation of the children’s meals.”

Mission Australia’s Shell Cove ELS has an enrolment of 360 children per week and its occupancy rate is 76 per cent. For more information about Mission Australia Early Learning Service, visit: www.missionaustralia.com.au/early-learning-services.

Media contact: Sally Popplestone, mob: 0415 547 626

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.

Supporting children and families affected by the floods

The recent floods around the nation, and particularly in south-east Queensland, have had an emotional impact on Australians of all ages – including children. Early Childhood Australia has compiled a range of useful information and advice for parents and carers of children affected by the floods.

This not only includes children living in flood-affected areas, but also those who have been indirectly affected as a result of graphic imagery in newspapers and on television.

Their latest online issue of ‘ECA WebWatch’ addresses issues such as talking with children about grief and loss; dealing with emotional distress; recognising how children display grief and ways parents can support their children in the aftermath of a crisis.

You can read ECA’s compilation of useful online articles at this link.

Makeovers for our Early Learning Services forts

Play equipment at the 13 Mission Australia Early Learning Services (MAELS) throughout New South Wales have been creatively spruced up as part of a statewide fort makeover competition.

The idea was to turn a plain piece of standard play equipment into something that would inspire creative play.

Mannering Park ELS, in the Lake Macquarie area, won the competition thanks to the five dedicated staff members who came in over the weekend to paint the existing fort. They also added a variety of materials that would engage a child’s senses, such as glittering crystals, coloured sun-catchers in the shape of butterflies, beaded bamboo curtains, fluttering materials, tinkling wind chimes and noisy pots and pans.

The children played their part by creating bark paintings that were attached to the fort, as well as adding craft made from natural materials. MAELS centres are in the process of replacing artificial features with more naturalistic materials, including recycled materials.

MAELS centres in Cooranbong, also in Lake Macquarie, and Kurri Kurri in the nearby Hunter, should also be congratulated for their outstanding efforts.

The other MAELS centres in New South Wales include Beresfield, Stockton, Tanilba Bay and Mount Hutton in the Hunter; Bateau Bay, Woodbury Park, Cooranbong and Tumbi Umbi on the Central Coast; Horningsea Park in Sydney, and Corrimal and Shell Cove in the Illawarra region.

Woman’s Day shares a Macarthur Christmas miracle

Read about how Mission Australia’s Macarthur Early Childhood Intervention Service (MECIS) has transformed the lives of two Sydney children in this week’s Woman’s Day.

Six-year-old Saul and his sister Mischa, 5, both have autism. Watching them laugh and play together is something their mother had never thought was possible, given that children with autism often have trouble relating to others or expressing themselves with words.

“That was Saul and Mischa until we found help with the Macarthur Early Childhood Intervention Service (MECIS),” Marion told Woman’s Day. “I wonder what I would have done, where the kids would be at, had I not found them.”

Mischa has now learnt to say her name and Marion is ecstatic that her son is able to start school.

Based in Sydney’s south-west, the Macarthur Early Childhood Intervention Service (MECIS) is a Mission Australia program that provides specialised early childhood intervention services for children from birth to school-entry age who have a diagnosed developmental delay or disability.

MECIS provides therapy, education and support services that aim to assist parents or carers to achieve the best possible outcomes for their child.

Fun Day for MAELS centre in Parmelia

Mission Australia’s Early Learning Services (MAELS) centre in Parmelia, Western Australia, is holding a Community Fun Day on Sunday 14 November to raise money for new equipment.

Running from 9am to 2pm, the day will feature 20 market stalls, a bouncy castle and petting zoo as well as games and a free play-doh activity table for children.

There’ll be plenty of festive food too, with a sausage sizzle, popcorn, slushies and fairy floss available.

Fundraising coordinator and Centre Director Brooke Clark said the Parmelia centre would gratefully accept any donations or sponsorship from the community.

There are still a few stalls left for just $10 for the day. If you are interested in sponsoring or hiring a stall for the day, please call 9419 5699.

Located at 11 Warren Road, Parmelia, the centre offers long daycare for more than 50 children up to five with a goal of making an easy transition to school.

It provides preschool-aged children with individual play-based learning experiences. Like all MAELS centres, the Parmelia centre is aiming to replace artificial surrounds with more naturalistic environments, hence the need for new equipment.

Over the past year, Mission Australia Early Learning Services centres have provided affordable childcare to 2,243 children.

Volunteering is a life-changing experience

“Volunteering for Mission Australia has been a life-changing experience I’ll always treasure,” says Melbourne-born Yenny, a youth worker in the Northern Territory. “It challenged me in so many ways and rewarded me with a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.”

Yenny originally became involved with Mission Australia through the Youth Challenge Australia (YCA) program, a not-for-profit body that engages young people in community projects. When she volunteered with YCA, she was sent to the remote Territory settlement of Finke, working with Mission Australia’s youth development program.

“It was an incredible experience,” says Yenny of her time at Finke. “I was supporting two youth workers and their Anangu team as well as working with the Finke primary school.”

She assisted daily at the school with the early childhood literacy program, established new creative learning activities and held workshops in screen printing and design. She even started up her own photography workshop that became so popular that it received sponsorship to continue.

Mission Australia appreciated Yenny’s work so much that, soon after she returned to Melbourne, we told her a position had become available in Finke. She applied and was accepted. A few weeks later she was back at the settlement, continuing to transform the lives of Finke’s youth!

Volunteers like Yenny are a valued part of the Mission Australia team, helping to transform the lives of Australians in need.

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If you would like to be part of the volunteering team please call the National Volunteering Hotline on 1800 110 578 or email your enquiry to volunteering@missionaustralia.com.au

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Media Release: Leading charities provide a new start for ABC Learning

A new chapter for Australian childcare begins today with the announcement that four highly-respected non-profit organisations have formed a new company to purchase ABC Learning.

Subject to finalisation of contracts, 678 ABC Learning centres will be purchased from receivers McGrathNicol by GoodStart, a non-profit company established by Mission Australia and the respected not-for-profits Social Ventures Australia, the Benevolent Society and the Brotherhood of St Laurence.

GoodStart has offered to manage the remaining 26 centres while the receiver finalises arrangements for these locations.

The three charities have more than 420 years combined experience delivering social programs, including high quality childcare built on the critical role of learning and care in the early years.

The venture has been backed by the NAB, one of Australia’s biggest banks, and the Australian Government.

Current ABC Learning Group General Manager Matthew Horton will be appointed CEO on completion of the purchase and the majority of key senior managers will remain in their roles, providing continuity at the most senior levels of the company.

Accrued employee entitlements will be carried over to the new owner.

GoodStart spokesperson Maree Walk said the company will operate the centres to the highest standards of education and care, with financial surpluses reinvested back into programs that improve childcare access and quality.

“Today marks a new start for parents, children and staff at ABC Learning centres around the country,” Ms Walk said.

“The organisations behind GoodStart’s purchase of ABC Learning are stable and respected, with a proven track record of delivering childcare and other social programs with professionalism, integrity, and a focus on the needs of children and families.

“GoodStart will build on the work undertaken by ABC Learning’s current management, who have done a great job stabilising the business and restoring confidence in the centres, and staff, who have continued to provide a fantastic service to parents in often uncertain circumstances.

“The mini baby boom children are now reaching an age where childcare may be required, so the timing of this announcement couldn’t be better for parents.

“GoodStart will provide the continuity and care parents are seeking, and we encourage them to make contact with their local ABC Learning Centre to see if it is right for their children.”

Ms Walk said the centres will continue to be run under the ABC Learning brand.

The new company’s aims are:

• Provide high quality, accessible and stable early childhood education and care;
• Work with families to support them providing the best possible foundations for their children;
• Be an integral part of the local communities in which the centres operate;
• Retain, attract and develop high quality staff at each level of qualification; and
• Meet key financial targets to generate surplus which can be reinvested in programs that improve childcare access and quality.

GoodStart will have charitable status under tax laws, and will operate with the business disciplines of a publicly-listed company.

The company has received financial backing from the founding organisations and a number of private benefactors including businessman Robin Crawford, the independent chairman of the new company.

This has allowed the company to obtain debt funding from NAB. The Australian Government has also assisted by providing $15 million in medium-term loan funds.

These funding sources have provided sufficient capital to finance the acquisition of the business and funds to support day to day operations.

In addition to Mr Crawford an interim board will comprise the CEOs of the founding organisations, Toby Hall (Mission Australia), Tony Nicholson (Brotherhood of St Laurence), Richard Spencer (Benevolent Society) and Michael Traill (Social Ventures Australia).

Following completion of the transaction a new board will be appointed with appropriate early childhood and business skills and experience.

The board will be guided by an Early Childhood Expert Reference Group, which will provide recommendations on areas including educational programs and priorities, staff training and professional development.

“Recent history has demonstrated the provision of good quality childcare and education must be undertaken with the business disciplines necessary to sustain operations over the long term,” Mr Crawford said.

“Despite the very public consequences of the previous management’s growth strategies, a balanced assessment of the business shows a broad network of generally well constructed and maintained facilities and a 14,000-strong staff that share the company’s commitment to high quality childcare.

“Staff who have a passion for their jobs are critical to delivering good quality care, and we intend to retain, attract and develop high quality staff at each level of qualification.

“We welcome this week’s COAG announcement on national standards for childcare and early education and look forward to working with the Australian and State Governments on their plans for the sector.”

In April 2009 Mission Australia acquired 29 former ABC Learning Childcare Centres and has since been successfully operating them under the Mission Australia Early Learning Services banner. The purchase of 678 centres by GoodStart will not affect this arrangement.

Mission Australia celebrates 150th birthday in Newcastle today

Mission Australia will celebrate its 150th birthday with a morning tea in Newcastle today to thank loyal donors, volunteers and staff in the Hunter for their tireless support over the years.

Special guest at the event is the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Cr John Tate. He’ll be joined by around 100 other guests representing government departments, funding bodies, corporate partners, individual donors, volunteers and Mission Australia staff.

Lisa O’Brien, Mission Australia’s Operations Manager for Northern NSW, said the organisation had a long history in the region, originally providing support to families and children via the Mayfield Baptist Church before evolving into the Hunter Mission in 1991 and then joining the Mission Australia family in 2000.

“We run a range of crucial services for individuals and families in need in Newcastle and throughout the Hunter,” said Ms O’Brien.

“Our homeless services – such as Mission Australia’s Newcastle Adult Accommodation Support Service (NAASS) and The Signpost – focus on helping people at risk of homelessness maintain their housing or provide a first point of contact for homeless people to access assistance, including low cost accommodation.

“Our services for young people detect signs of problem behaviour and help divert them from the juvenile justice system. For those leaving detention we provide the support they need to get their lives back on track so they can avoid re-offending.

“We work with people with mental illness and help them overcome social isolation and participate in their community through education and employment.

“Our financial services help a diverse range of clients – from people in a bad position because they’ve lost their job and are unable to manage their debts through to those battling addiction.

“Our employment programs have been helping long-term jobseekers in the Hunter for more than a decade.

“And we have five new early childhood services in the area – which we recently took over from ABC Learning – and which emphasise supporting children to make a successful transition to school.

“These are examples of just some of the services we run in Newcastle and the Hunter – programs that make a real difference in people’s lives – but which we couldn’t run without the support of our loyal local donors, volunteers and business partners.

“We really look forward to celebrating our 150th with all our friends,” said Ms O’Brien.

To read more about Mission Australia's 150th Anniversary, please visit the 150th website (click here).

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.