Reconciliation - Bridging Now to Next |
|
|
National Reconciliation Week at the Centres... The National Reconciliation Week (NRW) 2025 theme, Bridging Now to Next, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future. Bridging Now to Next calls on all Australians to step forward together, to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us. The themes artwork is created by Bree Buttenshaw, Kalkadoon woman, is native plants − which are known for regenerating after fire and thriving through adversity − this symbolises the collective strength and the possibilities of renewal. This is a time for growth, reflection, and commitment to walking together. Twenty-five years ago, Corroboree 2000 brought together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous leaders in a historic call for reconciliation. That work is to be continued in 2025, inviting all Australians to join First Nations peoples in Bridging Now to Next – building a more united and respectful nation. Read more about this year’s theme #BridgingNowtoNext
As you will be aware, Little Bee is continuing to celebrate our dedication to building stronger relationships and equality for all Australians, every cycle (annually) our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) goes back into draft so it can be evaluated and amended as new and existing strategies are implemented and continued. At Little Bee we ensure we embed First Nations peoples perspective in our curriculum and daily routines on an ongoing basis.
Educators from Little Bee Howrah and Airport are attending the Southern Reconciliation breakfast on Tuesday 3rd June and look forward to gaining new insights, information and knowledge from guest speakers at this event. Our educators are very proud of the significant aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture we have learned about with the children! You can read about our project work to see some of the cultural links we have made on the KinderM8 app in some children's project work. Some oral story sharing, and ochre paintings are just a few of the experiences we have been doing! We will be videoing each room teams 'Acknowledgement of Country' and you will find this on Facebook! Please find displayed in the Centre's some of our special work across this week! |
|
|
Meet Brody - our special visitor! |
|
|
Aunty Lee-Anne has retired and will no longer be able to support us with cultural activities at Little Bee, we will miss her very much and thank her for all the support she has given us in our journey. We are very excited to introduce Brody Praxton, who is from the Yorta Yorta and Djadjawurung people. Brody is coming along to Little Bee to share some Aboriginal cultural experiences with the children. Brody's first visit is on Monday 2nd June. We apologise for the late notice, but would love to invite any parents to come along who may be interested in learning about Brody's culture. Brody will spend a short time with the younger children and then move to the older rooms at the Airport, before heading out to Howrah to work with the children on music, dance, bush tucker, and his Creation story. If you are interested in coming along, please email Emily for the correct time to come along. |
|
|
Philosophy in Practice... |
|
|
Important Child Care Subsidy update As we approach the end of the financial year, it's important to remember... All guardians registered for CCS must confirm your 2025-2026 income to the department by 30th June if you would like to keep receiving Child Care Subsidy. WHY CONFIRM MY INCOME? To get Child Care Subsidy, you need to confirm your income estimate with Centrelink (via MyGov) for the next financial year. If you do not do this, CCS may stop, and they will not back it if you're late. If you need support please ask us, hopefully we can help you! |
|
|
Child Safe Principles and Policy updates We continue our work reflecting on the Child and Youth Safe Standards (10 principles) and looking at current practices at Little Bee. Continuing on from last year, this reflection has formed one of the QIP goals in our current cycle from April 2025 - April 2026. Each educator room team is currently reflecting on Standard 3 of the Child Safety Standards. Standard 3 entails: Families and Communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing. In the first few months of 2025, educators have been collaborating in teams to research and create a selection of child safety information posters, with the intention of continuing to create more posters, as required. These will create an information pack for Little Bee community members. We will be uploading our sample of these for families to view and we kindly ask you to fill in a short google survey in regard to the effectiveness of the information they provide. On Tuesday 3rd you will receive an email with a link to complete our survey. It will only take a few minutes of your time, and your feedback means to world to us. Thanks so much for your feedback on such an incredibly important topic!
In May 2025, Kathy and Emily watched the 'Child safety review' live webinar which is a public consultation about regulatory policy options to improve child safety in the education and care sector (open until June 11th 2025). Possible changes are across six themes:
Management of digital devices Child Safety training Responding to educator and staff member conduct Working with children checks Improving the safety of the physical service environment Additional recommendations We learned about policy options, and answered a survey in regard to these themes. If families would like any more information or to provide your own input before June 11th, please read the Consultation Regulation Impact Statement which can be accessed via an internet search. In April 2025, we revisited and updated policies: * Child safe physical environment *Child, staff and Community health and wellbeing *Child Protection. Copies can be emailed to families if you would like to give feedback.
|
|
|
Further key messages regarding Child Safety: Child wellbeing and safety is everyone’s responsibility; therefore collaboration is the key. The role of the Advice and Referral Line (ARL) is to help connect families with support with the aim of avoiding Child Safety involvement. The language we use is important – we want to encourage families to ask for help early, without fear of judgement. Professionals (in our case; educators in education and care) fulfill their mandatory reporting requirements by making contact with ARL. We don’t need to worry if it meets a ‘risk threshold’. Call early, call often – no matter how small the worry. Conversations are important! Insight and relationships with families is very important. Transparency is very important. Always consider the Safety, Risk and Wellbeing of children. The Child and Youth Wellbeing framework from Department of Education should be utilised, it gives us a common language to keeping children safe and healthy. Six domains of the child and youth wellbeing framework: Being loved and safe Being healthy Having material basics Learning Participating Having a positive sense of culture and identity |
|
|
Congratulations to Megan and Brad, Esme and Maggie on the safe arrival of Rex! |
|
|
A huge congratulations and a very warm welcome to the gorgeous Rex Peter Smith. Mum and Rex are both doing well and keeping warm in this cold weather. We can't wait to meet Rex soon when you have a chance to visit Little Bee Howrah! We know the children are very excited to see the photos of Rex. |
|
|
Public Holiday for the King's Birthday... Please be advised that Little Bee will be closed on Monday 9th June. Thankyou. |
|
|
Rainy Day Month in June As we are all well aware, the weather in Tassie is unpredictable and cold compared to the rest of the Australia in the Winter months. Even though the cold weather is here, we still love to get outside! Rainy Day month in June provides us with a great opportunity to chat with the children about dressing for the weather conditions, rugging up in our winter woolies and discussing with the children what happens when it rains! We can still play outside if it is only drizzling; playing in puddles and mud often gives us a thrill of excitement and many learning opportunities will occur naturally and spontaneously. At times when it is raining and too wet to get outside, we will utilise our indoor experiences and plan activities underneath our roller blinds to allow for an element of still being outdoors, but keeping dry. Please assist us to continue to get outside (unless it is pouring) by packing extra warm, named clothes. Families are welcome to provide gumboots for the children to wear outside and slippers for inside if they would like, Thanks. |
|
|
Please name all belongings: Please remember to name your children’s clothes, drink bottles, lunch boxes (Howrah) and any other personal items - thank you! Family information trays Please check your family information tray each week, we are often popping things in such as; centre correspondence, art work and small items which have been left behind. |
|
|
We have a duty of care to all our Little Bee children to ensure families are provided with current information regarding car seat safety. All children must be safely fastened in the correct child car seat for their age and size. A child who is properly secured in an approved child car seat is less likely to be injured or killed in a car crash than one who is not. For at least 6 months (recommendations are for as long as they are comfortable to do so), Approved rear facing child car seat. From at least 6 months to 4 years Approved rear or forward facing child car seat. 4+ years Approved forward facing child car seat or booster seat. |
|
|
Kindergarten in 2026 Is your child off to school next year?? If so, please ensure you contact your 'in area' public school, or your preferred school ASAP to discuss options for enrolment. Once you have completed your enrolment forms, the school will then be able to contact you to advise you of their future plans for the running pre-kinder sessions and transitioning to school. |
|
|
School holidays are fast approaching It is almost the end of the second school term (Saturday the 5th of July). If you are lucky enough to be heading away to somewhere interstate, or within the apple isle during school holidays, please let us know. This assists us with rostering (and also meals at Little Bee Airport). Thank you. |
|
|
Community Committee meeting! Our next meeting will be held on Thursday 5th at 9.15 am at Little Bee Airport to discuss upcoming events and our fundraiser, if you'd like to attend please let us know! Please see the below information poster about our exciting, upcoming raffle... |
|
|
Why is making links with our families and Community so important for your child? The educators at Little Bee believe that when children feel connected with the community they live in, their sense of overall wellbeing and belonging is enhanced. Children will develop a sense of ownership and appreciation for their local area, along with a sense of connection with family, friends and cultural, religious, sporting and activity groups. We encourage children to feel a part of the community and tap into children’s sense of community pride by using a variety of strategies. You may notice some of our rooms (at our Airport centre) and at our Howrah Centre have been asking families to support areas of our program by either coming in to the Centre, by supplying us with photographs from home of certain things in your child's life, etc. If families are able to help us with this, the positive impact on your child's learning, identity, sense of self worth, pride and belonging is ten fold. We know how busy many of our families are and we hope that we have not caused extra stress. However, families are the primary influence in their children’s lives and by creating and supporting collaborative relationships, we are ensuring that the quality of education and care we offer is at it's highest. We would like to thank the families who have supported these home and Community and links. We are extremely grateful and appreciative and know that your child is too, as they share parts of their home cultures with their friends at Little Bee. As mentioned above, if you would like to join our Community committee in any capacity - please let us know! |
|
|
Information for review We are currently reviewing the following policies and/or procedures: 6.11 Community Links 6.12 Transitioning processes 7.1 Confidentiality and privacy 7.2 Governance and management of Little Bee 7.3 Quality improvement plan process If you would like to have input reviewing these documents, it would be greatly appreciated, just let us know and we will forward copies to you. Please compose any suggestions you would like to make and place them, either in the suggestions box (at reception) or via email to: littlebee@littlebee.net.au Information for families These are the links we are promoting this month: Other readings can be found on the internet from recognised sites such as: www.kidsafe.com.au, www.rch.org.au, www.acecqa.gov.au, www.deewr.gov.au and www.kidswithasthma.com.au, www.healthinsite.gov.au Opportunities for Family Involvement Our next professional learning sessions will be held in June, July and August in collaboration with the 'Koori Curriculum' and will support child safety standards, particularly regarding cultural safety and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective. Online training will be advertised via email to families if anyone might like to watch any. Please watch this space! All families are invited to join our Community group, your ideas and opinions are greatly valued and appreciated. Families are also welcome to participate daily in Workplace health and safety checks, emergency evacuation procedures and/or compliance reviews. Please see Emily (Airport) or Sofie (Howrah) if you are interested. |
|
|
We acknowledge and pay respect to the Elders past, present and future, the Traditional Custodians of Lutruwita (Tasmania) and pay homage to the traditional owners of the land our centres stand on, the Moomairemener people. |
|
|
* This email is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above and may contain information that is confidential and privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please immediately notify Little Bee by email or phoning (03) 62485994 and delete this original message. |
|
|
|
|
