Our thoughts and prayers are with those families and communities affected by these devastating bushfires.
As best as the Australian Childcare Alliance (NSW) can humanly tell, ACA NSW's members have not been affected thus far. We have also tried to determine if any other NSW-based early childhood education and care services have been affected, and are relieved that there has thankfully been only a very small handful with only sheds and other minor infrastructure burnt. In other words, there has not been any human injuries or loss of human lives so far from the early childhood education and care services community in NSW.
That said, with already under 2,000 homes destroyed, there would be a significant number of families including those with children who would be devastatingly affected. As such, ACA NSW is calling on our ACA NSW members and beyond to offer any suggestions and resources that can be useful given the current situation.
ACA NSW is also very appreciative of the invitation received from the NSW Department of Education asking how else can governments be of assistance to those affected by the bushfires. A meeting will be held next Monday to further discuss the issues, possible options and what resources we can all bring together to assist during this time of crisis.
To these ends, ACA NSW has put together a feedback form (see below) to gather suggestions and offers that we can all be immediately put into action. We appreciate them in anticipation.
PUBLISHED: 7 JANUARY 2020