Media Release: Children do their bit for National Tree Day

Mission Australia’s Elizabeth Vale Early Learning Service (ELS), in South Australia, is supporting this year’s National Tree Day by holding a tree-planting event on Friday, July 29.

Around 15 children, aged 3 to 5 and dressed in bright green clothing, will be doing their bit for the environment by planting trees at the centre.

Native plants and shrubs, provided by Bunnings at Parafield Gardens, will line the centre’s new natural outdoor environment.

A recent study, commissioned by Planet Ark ahead of National Tree Day on July 31, found only 35 per cent of children play outside daily. A generation earlier, 64 per cent of children enjoyed climbing trees, playing hopscotch, skipping and exploring nature on a regular basis.

“The lack of outdoor activity reduces opportunities for social and physical development,” said ELS Regional Manager, Laura Francis.

“Outdoor play encourages problem-solving and use of imagination.

“This event is a fun and practical way for children to learn about trees and the role they play in the environment.

“It takes as little as four minutes in a natural environment to reduce stress, improve mood and steady the vital signs.

“Mission Australia plans to ‘naturalise’ the environment of the Elizabeth Vale ELS through the addition of gardens, replacing plastic equipment with timber and using paint hues inspired by nature.

“We want to address the increasing disconnect between children and nature,” she said.

Media contact: Renae Sullivan – (08) 8211 7771 or 0438 980 636

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

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

Osborne ELS SA achieves High Quality rating

Congratulations to Mission Australia’s Early Learning Services (ELS) centre in Osborne, South Australia, for receiving “high-quality” results from 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.

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.

Centre Director Janette Lianos and staff at Osborne ELS are to be congratulated on achieving a high rating for all principles in all quality areas. The Continuing Improvement Plan focuses on maintaining a professional team who communicate well, ongoing professional development in the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and keeping the vision for developing a garden.

Read more Mission Australia Early Learning news here

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

Further ‘High Quality’ results for MAELS NSW

Congratulations to Mount Hutton and Beresfield Mission Australia Early Learning Services (MAELS) in New South Wales for receiving ‘High Quality’ accreditation from the National Childcare Accreditation Council (NCAC) earlier this week.

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.

Mount Hutton MAELS Centre Director Maree Terry and her staff have been commended for their Continuing Improvement Plan intentions to expand the centre’s multicultural resources, build on partnerships with families, promote children’s safety, health and nutrition, as well as provide professional development for educators.

Beresfield MAELS Centre Director Antoinette Yager and her staff were congratulated on their efforts towards continual improvement.

Particular mention was on the service’s achievements in Quality Areas 1 and 2, where relationships with children and families are valued and respected, including positive emotions that staff model to children as well as the various communication formats used with families.

All our 29 MAELS centres are undergoing the NCAC accreditation process, which is expected 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.

MA Early Learning Centres celebrate Australia Day

Children and staff at Mission Australia’s Early Learning Services (MAELS) centres have been celebrating Australia Day through song, flag-inspired clothes, Dreamtime stories and traditional tucker.

In Melbourne, our Cranbourne East and Eumemmerring centres explored Aboriginal culture and heritage through stories and “hand painting”. Children also dressed in green and gold and played Aussie games. At our Doveton centre, children enjoyed a special Australia Day afternoon tea with their families and staff.

Our three MAELS centres in Adelaide joined in the fun the day before Australia Day. At Redwood Park children made powder paint hand prints and Aussie T-shirts with fabric paint. The menu took on an Aussie flavour, with damper, a sausage sizzle and lamingtons.

Children at our Elizabeth Vale centre came dressed in the colours of the Australian and Aboriginal flags and later made their own flags for outdoor display. Lunch was a picnic of Vegemite sandwiches and pavlova.

At our Osborne centre, children make lamingtons and Vegemite sandwiches for afternoon tea, and teamed up to create a large Australian flag from newspaper and natural beach materials. Preschoolers learned Australian songs and painted bark; toddlers watched a short DVD about a corroboree, while the nursery children helped staff decorate their room with Australian and Aboriginal flags.

Children and staff at our Mannering Park centre, on the southern shores of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales, donned yellow, green and “Aussie-themed” clothes as part of their Australia Day activities and also enjoyed painting flags and bark.

Further down the NSW coast, our MAELS Shell Cove centre community last week hosted an Australia Day bake stall to raise funds for people affected by the Queensland floods. Children, who were dressed in red, white and blue, participated in Australian music craft and story activities and enjoyed lamingtons for afternoon tea.

These celebrations demonstrate Mission Australia’s Early Learning Services’ inclusive and family-focused approach to childcare, and highlight our belief that children and families play a unique role in Australian communities.

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.

Shell Cove MAELS staff help out western families at Christmas

Staff and families at Mission Australia’s Early Learning Service (MAELS) centre at Shell Cove, NSW, have opened their hearts to children in the state’s central west by contributing presents to a giving tree.

Centre Director Carissa Roberts said she was overwhelmed by the generous response to the “giving tree” Christmas Appeal, which will help families who access our Cootamundra OOSH (Out of School Hours) program.

For the past six years this program has catered for local families who have to travel up to an hour away to work as the result of the region’s long-lasting drought. In the past 12 months alone the Cootamundra OOSH program has worked with 202 families.

The Shell Cove MAELS team set up its “giving tree” in the centre’s foyer. In recent weeks generous staff and local families have taken gift tags from the tree marked with the names of boys or girls and bought appropriate presents to place under it.

On Monday these gifts were passed on to Bill Dibley, Southern NSW/ACT Community Services Operations Manager, and Cheryl O’Donnell, the OOSH Service Manager, to give to families who access the Cootamundra after-school care program.

Thinking of Reconciliation locally - Mission Australia services mark Reconciliation Week

Last week Mission Australia recognised National Reconciliation Week. Our services across the country engaged with Aboriginal people and communities in many different ways.

According to Reconcilation Australia, it is "the ideal time for all Australians to reflect, celebrate and commit - to join the reconciliation conversation and to think about how we can get involved in making a better future for Australia."

Today's news features some of the local activities that took place in appreciation of Reconciliation Week.

Pathways to Prevention - Inala, QLD

Pathways to Prevention - Inala marked the occasion by observing the hard work of their four Aboriginal colleagues.

Team Leader Lesley Kraemer recently shed some light on the relentless dedication her team demonstrates every day:

"Aunty Vivian Bonner has worked tirelessly for over 8 years at Pathways to support the families in the Inala community who have been referred to our service.

"She often goes beyond the call of duty to provide the necessary support."

"Ricky Morgan has recently joined our service and he shares the load with Aunty Vivian by building a strong rapport with some of the troubled boys that are in our community.

"Both Aunty Vivian and Ricky are doing great work and we are very fortunate to have them working with us."

Reconciliation Week is a time to consider the local efforts of people like Aunty Vivian and Ricky that largely go unnoticed.

Lesley noted that "in all of their work, both Aunty Vivian and Ricky raise the awareness of the needs of the Aboriginal community...In their work with families and children they incorporate aboriginal history and culture that helps to strengthen ties to their indigenous roots.

"We celebrated as a team and our Aboriginal workers were touched by our recognition at such an important week in Australia's history"

Cafe One on Wickham - Fortitude Valley, QLD

Café One on Wickham held a memorial service as part of their recognition of Reconciliation Week.

The service was lead by Mission Australia Chaplain for QLD, Tim Booth, to commemorate the life and contributions of long time Café One community member, Auntie Ruby.

Café customers, staff, volunteers and Brisbane City's Councillor for Central Ward, David Hinchliffe were present to pay their respects.

Tim Booth offerred his thoughts of the Café One community to mark this important date in the Australian calendar:

"What I see in this example and of many others around Mission Australia is staff getting on with doing practical ‘reconciliation work’ with clients and communities – both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal – quietly, professionally and effectively everyday.

"This is a source of hope for me, and I feel a great deal of appreciation to be able to witness the important and challenging work that staff do daily."

Mission Australia Employment Solutions - Goulburn, NSW

Employment Solutions - Goulburn celebrated Reconciliation Week with a luncheon of Australian fare with traditional ingredients and an educational workshop.

The workshop was lead by Clive Freeman - a Jarvis Bay Aboriginal educator who taught the group about traditional Aboriginal toolmaking and use of natural resources.

Skills Development Advisor Alfie Walker helped arrange the day's activities and was thrilled to celebrate and share his Aboriginal culture with his colleagues.

Early Learning Services - Tanilba Bay, NSW

The children of the Tanilba Bay's Early Learning Service participated in a range of fun activities that were designed to build their understanding of reconciliation.

Throughout the activites the children were involved in discussions about Aboriginal culture, and learnt about the Australian wildlife depicted in traditional dream time stories such as "How the birds got their colours".


Further Reading 

• Read our Aboriginal Advisor's piece "A Conversation for the Health of all Australians" here
• Visit Mission Australia's Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island resources page for our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), the latest indigenous news, current affairs and policy updates.

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 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.