Reconciliation Week—

27th May—3rd June 2015

‘It’s Time to Change it Up!’

‘The dates commemorate

two significant milestones in

the reconciliation journey—

the anniversaries of the

successful 1967 referendum

and the High Court Mabo

decision.’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfp6ZVlF_9E

Keeping Reconciliation on the Agenda

Volume 9 Issue 5 June 2015

This Newsletter has been prepared by Yorganop, the Indigenous Professional Support Unit (IPSU) for

WA. The IPSU is a part of the Inclusion and Professional Support Program (IPSP) funded by the

Australia Government Department of Social Services.

In This Issue:

• Learning About

Documentation

• Healthy Eating NQF QA 2.2.1

• SNAICC Conference

• IPSU Learning Boxes

• IPSU 2015 BBF Muster

It was wonderful to be part of the ECA Reconciliation Symposium

held in Adelaide on 8—9 May, 2015.

Over 300 early childhood educators and professionals gathered for

one purpose: to advance reconciliation in early childhood education

and care.

The program promised us lots of time for conversation and exploring

ideas, and we weren't disappointed. Sitting in our tables of 8 we

met new colleagues and discussed in depth the ideas and provoca-

tions of the very knowledgeable presenters.

We shared from our own context; our personal experiences and our

work experiences, and were able to ask questions in a safe space.

Once again, it was reinforced for us that before we can offer a

program that is ‘culturally competent’, each one of us needs to be

comfortable in our own culture heritage. This is an ongoing process.

Educators were encouraged to push past the fear of ‘doing some-

thing wrong’, - to listen, reflect, ask questions, and to search out the

people who can guide us.

The mantra of ‘relationship’ was unpacked too. What kind of

relationship are we talking about? Relationships take time to build

and are built on trust and loyalty.

Each person was asked to make a

commitment to do three things to

follow up from the Symposium.

3 x 300? That makes nearly 1000

actions, large and small, as an

outcome of two days talking and

listening. Together we can make

a difference.

Chris D, IPSU Program Manager

Lots of time spent yarning in our round table

groups of 8 helped us to get the most from this

learning experience.

When they reflected on what they heard at the conference, the educators said

they had learned:

‘Take the time to listen to children and have meaningful

conversations.’

‘What you record should be helping you to know what to do next.’

‘We take too many photos!!!!!!’

‘There are many different ways to document, and we need to have

meaningful and relevant documentation for support children’s

learning.’

Alma Fleet gave us four questions to think about when we are gathering information for

documentation:

Who is it for? - The child? the families? the educator? the employer? the regulator?

Or all of these?

Who contributes? Everyone? The more the better! How can you get others to contribute?

When are decisions made about the documentation?

Do others get to have input to this decision making?

What is the pedagogy of the documentation?

How do you decide what will be documented? Is it just recording what

happened or does it help you think about what happened and plan what can

happen next?

How do we do it?

Learning About Documentation:

Recently the IPSU team and educators from two BBF services attended the

Semann Slattery and Associates NQS Documentation Conference in Perth.

There were no quick fixes, templates or easy answers on offer at this work-

shop. We were being asked to THINK and do what works best for the

children, families, communities and educators. This will look different for every

service.

The conference focused on sharing different methods of documenting

children’s learning journeys. We were reminded to record what is important,

focussing on what children are learning, not what they are doing.

‘

‘Documentation follows children’s and educators’ thinking and finds ways to make that

thinking visible. It is a means of analysing what lies beneath the play experiences to

find the questions being asked and the learning that occurs.

(Fleet, Honig, Robertson, Semann & Shepherd, 2011)(

Many thanks to Anthony and his team for

sharing so much from their many years of

reflecting on and documenting children’s

learning. (Thanks to S&S for the photo.)

The IPSU table among the many eager to

explore ways to record children’s learning.

Documenting is not only about how we can

to do what the NQS asks, but even more

importantly, it is about how we can create

richer opportunities for children’s develop-

ment.

National Quality Framework QA 2.2.1 -

Healthy Eating

The NQF says: ‘Healthy eating is promoted and food and drinks provided by the

service are nutritious and appropriate for each child’.

Some services have a full �me cook to prepare cooked meals for children

every day. In smaller services, including playgroups and more remote

communi�es, educators prepare sandwiches for the children. It is

important that these sandwiches are nutri�ous and appealing. Provide a

variety of fillings over the week and keep introducing new tastes for the

children to try. Children can help to make their own wraps or bread rolls

for lunch.

Plan your lunch menu for the week. This will help you to organise the buy-

ing of ingredients. You can freeze fresh bread, wraps and rolls for up to 2

months. Remember to use only wholemeal or mul�grain for added nutri-

�on. Try some of these healthy filling ideas that are recommended by

Nutri�on Australia. h'p://www.nutri�onaustralia.org

Egg

Egg with le'uce and mayonnaise

Sliced egg, and salad (cucumber, le'uce and tomato)

Curried egg with carrot and le'uce

Cheese

Cheddar cheese slices with tomato

Cheddar cheese slice with le'uce, cucumber, tomato, chutney

Chicken or turkey

Lean chicken breast with le'uce, tomato and mayonnaise

Lean turkey breast with salad (tomato, cucumber, le'uce, grated carrot)

Beef

Lean roast beef with tomato, baby spinach and horseradish

Lean roast beef with le'uce, tomato, red onion and fruit chutney

Lean roast beef with salad and wholegrain mustard

Ham

Lean ham with salad and mayonnaise

Lean ham, tomato, le'uce and fruit chutney

Lean ham with cheese and tomato or pineapple

Fish

Tuna (in spring water) with sweet corn, capsicum, tomato, cucumber and le'uce

Tuna (in spring water) with tomato, le'uce and mayonnaise

Salmon (canned) with cucumber and le'uce

Little kids need fresh healthy food to grow

strong and to learn well. They deserve the

best we can give them every day.

IPSU Learning Boxes help

you to deliver program experiences in ways that

reflect Aboriginal cultures and the practices of

the National Quality Framework.

IPSU eligible BBFS can call:

1800 788520

to request a Learning Box. Or visit our website

to find out more. www.ipsuwa.org.au

Reminders for IPSU eligible Budget Based

Funded Services (BBFS)

Yorgi Bear loves Musters!

The SNAICC conference is looking to be a great event.

Keynote speakers are:

⇒ Michael Chandler PHD from Canada,

⇒ June Oscar CEO from Fitzroy Crossing and

⇒ Professor Fiona Stanley from the Telethon Institute.

This is the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

conference in the southern hemisphere, featuring over

70 sessions.

Registrations opened on the 4th May, 2015. For more

information visit the SNAICC Conference website:

www.snaicc.org.au/conference/

We hope we will see you there!

IPSU Muster Broome

We are currently planning our next Muster for

BBF services for the 28-29 July 2015 to be held

at the Mercure in Broome.

This is a great opportunity for the mobile play-

groups and OSHC programs to participate in

targeted professional learning just for you!

Our Muster Agenda includes:

◊ Program planning, What’s the right fit for your

staff and children?

◊ Reviewing policies and procedures that are

focused for your service.

◊ Special guests

◊ Visits to other services within Broome.

There will be opportunities to build your under-

standing of the National Quality Framework and

time to share your

experiences and

learnings with each

other. We look

forward to sharing this

learning experience

with you.

The happy team of the Regional Chidlren’s Services Network

Mobile Playgroup. See you in Broome for the 2015 Muster!

Whooping Cough

(Pertussis)

Anyone can get whooping cough! And in WA

we have recently been sadly reminded that

this virus be extremely distressing and even

fatal for young babies if they catch it.

Generally, people know that babies and children need to be immunised against whooping cough.

But it is less widely known that adults need boosters. Health authorities recommended that you have a Pertussis booster if: :

• if you have not had a pertussis vaccination in

the past 10 years

• for both parents when they are planning a

pregnancy

• for other adult household members, grand-

parents and carers of infants under 12

months of age

• For adults working with young children,

especially health care and child care

workers.

http://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Healthy-WA/Articles/

U_Z/Whooping-cough-pertussis

Child Development Videos

Zero to Three (the National Centre for Infants, Toddlers and Families based in the US) has released a series of

great videos on their website. The series includes:

• Development From Birth to 12 Months Old: Forming a

Trusting Bond to Nurture Learning

• Development From 12 to 24 Months Old: Strong, Posi-

tive Connections and Interactions Fuel Learning

• Development From 24 to 36 Months Old: New Skills

Develop Through Play, Routines, and Relationships

• School Readiness: Foundations in Language, Literacy,

Thinking, and Social–Emotional Skills

The resource can be downloaded and used with fami-lies and other educators to encourage the best ways to help young children thrive.

There is a guide that can be used with videos for dis-cussion and handouts that give a range of ideas to en-courage everyday interactions with very young chil-dren. Visit

http://www.zerotothree.org/parenting-resources/MOEM/

moem-series-2.html

Congratulations

Koori Mail !

The Koori Mail is a great newspaper! For 24 years

this Aboriginal owned and operated newspaper

has been bringing us Australia-wide news from

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective:

the joys, successes, challenges of daily life and the

celebration of family, community and individuals.

The Koori Mail will be a great addition to your

team’s staff room reading material. You can

subscribe at www.koorimail.com or pick it up the

newsagency. (If they don’t stock it, you could ask

them to get it in.)

1320 Hay Street

West Perth WA 6005

Toll Free: 1800 788 520

Fax: 08 9321 9019

Email: admin@ipsuwa.org.au

Web: www.ipsuwa.org.au

PO Box 367

West Perth WA 6872

Dates to Remember for June 2015 Free call: 1800 788 520

5th June: World Environment Day– The theme is ‘’Greening the Blue’’. This is a good

time to look at sustainable practice in your service. What can be reduced, recycled and

reused. Encourage children to care for their natural world.

27th June: Red Nose Day- In Australia each year over 3,000 families experience the loss

of a baby or child. SIDS and Kids continue to save babies' lives and support families with

our donations.

14th June: World Blood Donor Day- "Thank you for saving my life’’ is the theme.

Think about donating blood regularly, especially if you are young and healthy. You could

save a life. http://www.who.int/campaigns/world-blood-donor-day/2015/event/en/

18th June : Ramadan begins. Many Muslims in Australia will fast during daylight hours

in the month of Ramadan. It is a time of self evaluation and spiritual growth.

orbitislam.com/importance-of-ramadan/ explains more about this important Muslim

observance.

Remember the Date:

IPSU Mobile and OSHC Muster

Broome 28th and 29th July, 2015.

Act as if what you do makes a difference,

because it does! Unknown

3rd June: Mabo Day– commemorates the anniversary of the High Court decision brought

by Eddie Mabo which recognized native title rights. Read more about this ground breaking

decision at Mabo Day also signifies the last day of Reconciliation Week. https://

indymedia.org.au/2013/05/27/why-celebrate-on-mabo-day-june-3

Digital Ideas of the Month: In this new back page feature we will bring you an

‘App of the Month’ that will help you develop a great service.

First up, we have selected the Vegie Guide. This app will assist you and the children in

planning the next vegetable crop for your sustainable garden patch. No matter where you are in

Australia this app will guide you to produce a healthy crop of seasonal edible plants. The app also

lets you take photos and progress notes to keep track of the plants growing cycle.

http://www.ipadsforeducation.vic.edu.au/education-apps/apps/283-abc-vegie-guide

1st June - Western Australia Day WA Day acknowledges Aboriginal people as

the traditional owners of this land, early European settlers, and the many people

from all over the world who call Western Australia home. Check the website for

more information. www.celebratewa.com.au/waday/