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CEO Commentary
Post the 2022 Budget there has been a huge amount of buzz about Early learning, hasn't there?
It is great to see families getting the policy attention that they deserve! While child care and early learning is in the spotlight we just wanted to take the opportunity to highlight that parental choice needs to continue to be the focus. While parents still cannot get their children into the centres that best align with their family values and educational philosophy at a price point that they can afford, we haven't really solved the problem! It is also really important to continue to identify policy gaps. And while it is fantastic to see economic reform that allows women to return to work, we cannot forget that this must go hand in hand with empowering parents' capacity to be the best parent they can be. As they are their child's first, longest and most consistent teacher.
Policies that support early learning and capitalise on the brain development of children are essential. As is nurturing loving hearts and kindness. But we cannot forget that this learning occurs both informally and formally in educational settings. We cannot forget that building the capacity of parents is just as important for children's brain development as the opportunity to experience formal learning environments. Preferencing one over the other is not supportive. Parents should always have the choice to decide on the best learning environment for their children without undue financial penalty. Whether parents choose a bespoke framework of at-home activities, playgroups and library activities or combine paid services like swimming lessons and gymnastics lessons mixed with part-time care or choose full-time learning centre environments. It needs to be understood that both ways provide rich learning environments.
The narrative increasingly seems to be sliding to the idea that parents are "outsourcing" their parenting and it is important that as more women take up the opportunity to return to work and men adopt more balanced work/home lives we capitalise on the opportunity to improve parenting outcomes at the same time. We need to be loudly advocating for all parents to be skilled and empowered to parent their children to the best of their ability with a fully resourced suite of supports available to them.
Take care,
Jenni
APC's new CEO!
I am a parent of two beautiful adult children and a proud grandmother of three. As the newly elected President of APC, I am excited by the challenge of working with an extremely talented Board and CEO to progress families' involvement in ensuring better education outcomes for our children. My adult life has focused on supporting children to achieve their best. As a past president of the Australian Council of State School Organisations, as someone working in education in a variety of settings including internationally in some of the more disadvantaged countries, I feel extremely positive about the work APC is doing and look forward to increasing our footprint. Families are and always will be the first educators of their children and APC is there to support them.
I am looking forward to working for and with you as we continue this journey together.
As a parent, it can be tough to keep up with the latest work trends, and technology let alone the tech and work trends that will be required knowledge for our kids!
That is why you shouldn't miss the Year 13 Tech Expo. Make sure you share it with your young person too so they can explore the world of opportunities opening up in the tech world of work. There are some massive opportunities for your young people.
The expo is full of content like this awesome video about the creation of tech giant Atlassian.
MyKidsCareer is a groundbreaking values-based approach that helps support parents and carers to guide their children to fulfilling careers. Our values underpin our hopes and aspirations for our children. So it makes sense that as parents we utilise them to help guide our children, especially knowing that the key to finding a fulfilling career means finding work that is meaningful.
On the launch of the website and associated tools, Dr Suzanne Cremen said "The focus in Australia regarding vocational and career pathways has been on skills and skillsets. Yet, whether we are conscious of them or not, it is our values that determine whether the work we do has meaning and purpose for us. The Values Activity provides an accessible tool for parents to become aware of the range of values that are driving them and influencing their kids' career choices. Parents trialling the activity report beneficial outcomes including greater self-insight, awareness of intergenerational patterns, new perspectives on inner and outer conflicts, renewed clarity of purpose, and increased respect for their child’s unique vocational journey."
The website is a treasure trove of activities and information to assist parents in the work they do to support their children on the pathway to a successful future.
The Australian Parents Council worked with a long list of experts to help deliver this project including Dr Suzanne Cremen, Leonie Stanfield, Lucy Sattler and Angela Colliver.
We excitedly invite you to explore the website and Values Activities at the MyKidsCareer website. www.mykidscareer.com.au
The Australian Government has funded Triple P – the Positive Parenting Program to roll out the Parenting Education and Support Program (PESP). Under the initiative, Triple P online programs will be freely available for families across Australia with children aged 0-11years.
Triple P is an Australian, evidence-based parenting program. Developed at the University of Queensland and backed by more than 40 years of ongoing research, Triple P gives practical evidence-based strategies to help families approach the challenges of parenthood in a positive way. It’s backed by research and proven by parents.
More information is in the attached brief and flyer. Click here to access the online program.
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