Early Years Edit | October 2024

Welcome to the October 2024 edition of the Early Years Edit. In this Edit we cover:

• Surface temperatures in children’s play spaces
• Virtual Child Health Project
• Meningitis Australia
• Bright Tomorrows 
• Welcome Baby to Country
• Triple P – School Readiness 
• Children’s Week celebrations

Surface temperatures in children’s play spaces

In 2022 The Department of Communities’ Education and Care Regulatory Unit (ECRU) noted an increase in the number of children in early education and care services who were sustaining surface burn injuries, caused by playground equipment. 
 
In an effort to educate the sector and provide correct information, ECRU engaged a forensic and materials scientist who looks to understand the fundamental physical origins of material behaviour including surface temperatures. 
 
Ellenbrook Early Learning allowed the scientist to test some of the surfaces of the outdoor play equipment, and the results were astounding. It was noted that the temperature of a play surface tested under cloud cover, increased by 10 degrees when in direct sunlight.
 
ECRU formed a working group with Kidsafe WA, the Fiona Wood Foundation and sector representatives to educate the sector. 

ECRU has seen a significant reduction in serious burns in education and care services as a result of the collaborative work.
 
Pictured above, the ECRU team and Hon Sabine Winton MLA, Minister for Early Childhood Education, joined educators and other stakeholders at the Ellenbrook School of Early Learning.

For more information on burns and safe outdoor practices in children’s play spaces, refer to:

• Helping you and your child - Fiona Wood Foundation
• Kidsafe WA
• Kidsafe resources for play safety can be found at Resources | Kidsafe WA
• More information on the findings, including surface temperature testing results, can be found on the ECRU webpage. See pages 3 – 8 of the Summer Hazards presentation.

Virtual Child Health Project

The Virtual Child Health Project is part of the WA Country Health Healthy Country Kids Program.

The project has been operating for just over two years, offering the 12 month and two-year developmental checks for child health (Purple Book appointments) virtually. This is an alternative service for families and has been rolled out to various rural and remote areas of our vast State.

During virtual appointments they:

• Check your child’s development is on track
• Give you a chance to talk about any worries you may have.
• Provide you and your family with Information and advice electronically.
• Referrals to other services if needed.

For more information, watch a short video on how the service works and SMS or call 0400 339 827 to find out about eligibility in your region.

Meningitis Australia

Meningitis is a dangerous invasive infection that causes swelling and poisoning of the brain. It is caused by non-fatal viruses such as measles, chicken pox and influenza. Bacteria called meningococcal, pneumococcal and HIB can be fatal in under 24 hours.

Virus and bacteria live in the nose and throat of one in four people in the community at any one time and can be easily spread. Meningitis can cause death, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, blindness, intellectual disability and deafness to name a few.

Anyone can contract meningitis but most at risk are babies, children under five, teens and the over 70s. We have vaccinations for this disease and encourage people to talk to their GP or pharmacist for more information. One way to keep your family safe is to KNOW ACT VAX.

·         Know the signs - including high fever, sensitivity to light and pale blotchy skin or rash. See more signs in the image above.

·         Act immediately - if you believe someone you know may have meningitis, take them to hospital immediately. Every second counts.

·         Vaccinate - full vaccination is the most effective protection against these diseases. Most, but not all are free.

Find out more on the Meningitis Australia website and watch educational animations that are under a minute long, including the General Meningitis video and Indigenous Meningitis video.

Bright Tomorrows

The Kids Research Institute Australia’s Bright Tomorrows app, uses an engaging animated character to demonstrate to parents how everyday activities can be turned into ‘meaningful moments’ that supports their baby’s early brain development.

Bobbie, the animated character, also features in the public awareness campaign, backed by communication science, to educate the wider community about the positive impacts of meaningful interactions on babies’ brain development.

Recently, Bright Tomorrows received a funding boost of $417,000 from Healthway to also develop mental health content. This will include the relationship between good nutrition and mental health to further support children’s development in the early years.

Learn more about the research behind the campaign and download the Bright Tomorrows app for free via the Kids Research Institute Bright Tomorrows website.

Welcome Baby to Country

The City of Armadale will host its fourth Welcome Baby to Country event on 25 October 2024 at the Champion Centre. This event includes a traditional welcome and smoking ceremony for babies aged 0-2 years, with the goal of providing a positive cultural start to life. This is an inclusive event open to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal families, promoting inclusivity and reconciliation.

The Welcome Baby to Country initiative forms part of the Early Years Partnership Community Plan, focusing on child development through a cultural lens. The ceremony, traditionally done on Country, involves placing baby within the smoke to cleanse and connect them to community and country.

Each registered child receives a commemorative certificate with baby’s name and the opportunity for a professional photograph. Approximately 45 babies are expected to attend, with registrations capped at 80.

The event also features participation from 12-15 relevant service providers, including counselling groups, dad groups, maternal and child health organisations and local Aboriginal businesses.

The initiative was driven by local Elder Aunty Viv who had a strong desire to create a program to support young families connection to culture, with the event being designed to sustain Aboriginal cultural practices in a modern metro setting.

Anyone that would like to attend with their child 0-2 years can register baby at Humanitix: https://events.humanitix.com/welcome-baby-to-country-oct-2024

Children's Week 19 - 27 October 2024

Observed annually across Australia, Children’s Week is dedicated to celebrating children and promoting the Rights of the Child as proclaimed by the United Nations in 1954. It also reminds us of our responsibility to advocate for children as citizens and their right to a positive childhood.

The 2024 Children's Week theme is based on Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Children have the right to a clean and safe environment.

In WA, Children’s Week is coordinated by not-for-profit organisation Meerilinga. This year, the Department of Communities provided funding to Meerilinga to support their Children’s Week Community Grants Program which assists regional and remote not-for-profit organisations and local governments to host Children’s Week events.

These events will be held across WA throughout October and November and during Children’s Week from 18-27 October, including:

• Meerilinga Bullsbrook Community Event to officially open Children’s Week on Saturday 19 October from 10am to 2pm
• Meerilinga Wanneroo Community Event to close Children’s Week on Sunday 27 October from 10am to 2pm.

Visit the Meerilinga Children's Week web page to see if there's an event near you.

Children's Week Play Picnic

The Department of Communities and Department of Education are proud to sponsor a Play Picnic for Children’s Week 2024. The event, hosted by Early Childhood Australia, runs from 9:30am to 11:30am on Tuesday, 22 October at Hyde Park.

Children and families can enjoy a fun filled morning with a range of play-based activities and learning experiences for the whole family, such as construction, sensory, music and reading.

For more information, please visit the Facebook event page.

This Children's Week, The Department of Communities is encouraging leaders of organisations in WA to review and enhance their existing child safe strategies to ensure the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations are embedded at all levels. Visit the Child Safe Organisations Knowledge Hub for more information.

Early Years Edit archive

Did you know that previous versions of the Early Years Edit can be found on our website?

Visit Early Years Edit (www.wa.gov.au) to find previous versions of the newsletter and Connecting Early Years Networks (www.wa.gov.au) for general information about the Early Years Networks.

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