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Following the confusion from ACECQA's announcement that HLTAID004 (Provide an emergency first aid response in an education and care setting) course will be superseded by HLTAID012 (Provide first aid in an education and care setting) first aid course, both the Australian Children's Education & Care Authority (ACECQA) and the NSW Department of Education's Early Childhood Education and Care Directorate have since provided written clarifications.
Notwithstanding ACECQA's website (as of 16 February 2021 still) saying that "HLTAID004 was superseded by HLTAID012 on 15 October 2020" (as shown below), ACECQA has written to ACA NSW saying "please be assured that HLTAID004 remains on our published list of approved first aid qualifications. This means that any individual who holds HLTAID004 and satisfies the requirements of Regulation 136 is not impacted by the release of the new First Aid Training Package products."
The NSW Department of Education has also written to ACA NSW saying "that the validity of an educator’s qualification under the superseded units will remain fully recognised for its full intended duration (until it expires or they are required to take a refresher)."
ACA NSW now anticipates that all NSW Authorised Officers will be updated with the above information.
Should any ACA NSW member require any further information/clarification, please contact ACA NSW on 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au
PUBLISHED: 16 FEBRUARY 2021
The video of the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) NSW Network meeting held on 8 February 2021 is as follows:
The corresponding slides for the above Network Meeting are here.
The topics discussed presented/discussed were:
Should ACA NSW members require any further information, please do not hesitate to call the office on 1300 556 330 or e-mail nsw@childcarealliance.org.au.
PUBLISHED: 10 FEBRUARY 2021
What does International Mother Language Day?
International Mother Language Day celebrates and raises awareness for the importance of language, cultural diversity and multilingualism around the world each year.
When is International Mother Language Day?
Sunday, 21st February
Activities:
Frère Jacques, frère Jacques,
Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines! Sonnez les matines!
Ding, dang, dong. Ding, dang, dong.
The song is traditionally translated into English as:
Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping?
Brother John, Brother John,
Morning bells are ringing! Morning bells are ringing!
Ding, ding, dong. Ding, ding, dong.
Tiana joined the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) NSW in January of 2021. She began her early childhood education and care journey after leaving school and beginning her traineeship. With a Diploma in early childhood education and care, she has 8 years of early childhood education experience, of which 3 were as a nominated supervisor and centre director.
Her experiences are primarily in long daycare and preschool services as an educator as well as having led a team of educators. She now leverages her extensive knowledge of the National Quality Standards (NQS) and the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) for the benefit of the ACA NSW members as Approved Providers and for their services, educators and teachers and ultimately children under their care.
You might also find Tiana on a wakeboard, kayak, or cooking up a storm in the kitchen!
Working With Children Check (Expiry September 2023)
For the benefit of members of the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) NSW, the following are answers to members' frequently asked questions.
Members will need to use their username and password in order to gain access.
RL-01 | What is the required indoor and outdoor encumbered square metre? | |||||||||||||||||||||
The required space for indoor and outdoor encumbered square metre are:
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RL-02 | What are the requirements for fencing? | |||||||||||||||||||||
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RL-03 | Can I employ an employee working towards a qualification under the age of 18 and be counted in ratio? | |||||||||||||||||||||
Yes, you can employ an employee under the age of 18 years and if they have, or are actively working towards an approved qualification they can be counted into your educator and child ratio . You must ensure that the employee under the age of 18 years:
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RL-04 | Does an employee under the age of 18 years require a working with children check? | |||||||||||||||||||||
A Working with children check can only be applied for candidates that are 18 years or over. |
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RL-05 | What is the Educator to child ratio? | |||||||||||||||||||||
The minimum number of educators required to educate and care for children at a centre-based service is to be calculated in accordance with the following ratios:
Educators must be working directly with children at the service to be counted to be included in the educator to child ratio for the centre-based service. |
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RL-06 | Must educators be covered when on Meal breaks, rest pauses and programing time? | |||||||||||||||||||||
Yes, if educators are not working directly with the children (on a meal break, rest pause, programming or taking on other duties) they must be replaced by another educator to ensure educator to child ratio is met at all times. |
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RL-07 | How many diplomas’ must I have rostered on? | |||||||||||||||||||||
When children are present at the service, you must ensure at least 50 per cent of the educators who are required to meet the relevant educator to child ratios for the service must have, or be actively working towards, at least an approved diploma level education and care qualification. The above must be met immediately once there are children present and signed in at the service. |
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RL-08 | Is there a regulation that requires two people on open and close a service? | |||||||||||||||||||||
No, there is no regulation that outlines that there must be two educators required to be rostered on for opening and closing the service. However, it is best practice to have two educators on the premises on open and close for:
One of the educators is required to hold or is working towards their approved diploma qualification to comply with regulation 126 (1)a |
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RL-09 | What are the Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) requirements in NSW? | |||||||||||||||||||||
Early Childhood Requirements in NSW are as follows:
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RL-10 | What are the criteria for a person working towards early childhood degree to be qualified to apply for a waiver? | |||||||||||||||||||||
For a candidate who is working towards their Early Childhood degree and to qualify to be the acting ECT waiver they must meet the following: (a) Is actively working towards an approved early childhood teaching qualification; and Approved waivers must be displayed at the entry of the service. |
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RL-11 | Does my educational leader need to be an ECT? | |||||||||||||||||||||
No, the educational leader can be the approved provider, nominated supervisor, early childhood teacher or a qualified educator who is suitable to lead the development and implementation of educational programs in the service. |
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RL-12 | Who can be appointed as a responsible person / nominated supervisor? | |||||||||||||||||||||
An approved provider can appoint any candidate they believe is fit and proper to be the services’ nominated supervisor or responsible person. The person must:
They must have knowledge and understanding of and must have completed and hold the approved Child Protection Training courses:
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RL-13 | What are the current and approved Child Protection Training courses? | |||||||||||||||||||||
The current and approved Child Protection Training courses since 1 October 2017:
If any educators have obtained a child protection certificate or recognition prior to 1 October 2017 and does not meet the approved course codes above may want to complete a refresher. |
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RL-14 | How long must children, staff records and other documents must be kept and for how long? | |||||||||||||||||||||
Below is a table of the duration of how long children, staff records and other documents must be stored for:
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RL-15 | When do you commence the count for 60 days in any 12 month period when an Early Childhood Teacher is absent from the centre-based service due to short-term illness or leave? |
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Regulation 272(7) clarifies an early childhood teacher may be replaced for a maximum of 60 days in any 12-months period. The 12 month period does not have a set commencement date and is not based on a calendar year. Instead, it is determined by looking at the 12 month period immediately prior to the day an early childhood teacher or suitably qualified person is replaced, and calculating whether or not the 60 day maximum has been exceeded during that period. The total period of 60 days applies in respect of each full-time equivalent role required to be filled by an early childhood teacher. In case of a part-time early childhood teacher, the 60 day limit is to be calculated on a pro rata basis under Regulation 272(8). Please be advised that services who allow a diploma qualified or primary teaching qualified educator to replace an early childhood teacher under Regulation 272(6) must ensure that all decisions around the relieving educator are documented, including: |
PUBLISHED: 17 JUNE 2019
UPDATED:23RD FEBRUARY 2021