PEAK Training Newsletter Spring 2021
Welcome to the spring edition of the PEAK Training newsletter. Please read on for all the latest information you need to know about regulations, upcoming dates to mark in your calendar and meet the PEAK Training team.
Happy reading!
In this newsletter:
Calendar Events
1 October 2021
International Day of Older Persons
Organisation: United Nations
The International Day of Older Persons is a celebration of the older people in all societies, and a reminder to continue developing a society for all ages.
1-7 October 2021
Be Kind to Animals Week
Organisation: Be Kind to Animals Week
Be Kind to Animals Week is a nation-wide initiative to encourage and inspire people of all ages to be kind to our furry, feathered, and finned friends
1-31 October 2021
Walktober
Organisation: Bluearth
Join the Walktober Challenge and take steps to make sure that this generation of kids are active and healthy. Commit to 31 days of activity!
1-31 October 2021
Mental Health Month
Organisation: WayAhead
Mental Health Month NSW is part of a national mental health promotion campaign held throughout October each year. The timing of the campaign centres on World Mental Health Day, which is marked each year on 10 October.
1-31 October 2021
Nude Food Day
Organisation: Nude Food Day
Nude Food Day is a nationwide initiative developed to encourage kids and parents to eat well and live well, and eliminate all unnecessary packaging and wrapping that goes into schools. Nude Food Day can be celebrated any day (or everyday!) in October.
2-10 October 2021
World Space Week
Organisation: World Space Week
This week celebrates the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition as well as every child’s imagination.
5 October 2021
World Teachers Day
Organisation: UNESCO
World Teachers’ Day held annually on 5 October is a UNESCO initiative, a day devoted to appreciating, assessing, and improving the educators of the world.
11-17 October 2021
National Nutrition Week
Organisation: Nutrition Australia
National Nutrition Week encourages Australians to learn about making healthy food and lifestyle choices.
23-31 October 2021
Children’s Week Australia
Organisation: National Children’s Week Committee
Children’s Week celebrates the right of children to enjoy childhood. It is also a time for children to demonstrate their talents, skills and abilities.
27 October 2021
National Kidsafe Day
Organisation: KidSafe Australia
National Kidsafe Day aims to increase awareness of unintentional childhood injuries and their prevention, as well as the important work of Kidsafe.
4 November 2021
Diwali
Diwali is a festival of lights celebrated by Hindu, Jain and Sikh religions.
8-14 November 2021
National Recycle Week
Organisation: Planet Ark
National Recycling Week aims to improve the positive environmental outcomes of recycling by increasing community awareness, increasing collection rates and reducing contamination.
11 November 2021
Remembrance Day
Organisation: Australian War Memorial
Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the armistice which ended the First World War (1914-18).
28 November – 6 December 2021
Channukah
Hanukkah is a Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem. It is also known as the Festival of Lights.
PEAK News
Following on from R U OK Day earlier in September, the PEAK Training team would like to take this opportunity to check in with all our students, and make sure you are coping during this challenging time. We know that working in ECEC can be very challenging at the best of times, however throughout 2020 and 2021, we have had the additional challenges of the pandemic. ECEC educators have a huge responsibility in caring for children and the families that attend their service. We understand students are facing challenges with their studies such as not being able to access services to complete their workplace tasks, or not having consistency in the children attending. Those who work in the sector have additional tasks relating to infection control and keeping up with the always changing compliance around managing the virus.
Please know that the PEAK Training team is here to support you. If you are finding yourself concerned about your studies, or have questions about your service or student requirements, please call one of our friendly student support team members. We are always happy to chat and ty and help. We are constantly finding ways to be flexible in our delivery of training, so that students have the opportunity to continue with their studies wherever possible. We are happy to shuffle things around for you if you need some flexibility. Please call us to discuss.
Remember to take care of yourselves. Make sure you have a support team around you who you can network with. Take time to relax, exercise and de-stress. We will get through this together!
Compliance Updates
Vaccinations for ECEC Educators 2021
Vaccination will be mandatory for all Early Childhood Education and Care Educators by 8 November 2021. An updated Public Health Order is expected soon. From 8 November all early childhood educators and staff across NSW will be required to have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccination. QR codes remain mandatory for all early childhood education and care services. Education and care services are considered an essential service and may remain open, unless directed by NSW Health.
LGA’s of Concern
From 19 September all early childhood educators who live or work in the 12 LGAs of concern will be required to have received one dose of COVID-19 vaccination and their second dose by 8 November 2021. Staff who live and/or work in LGAs of concern who are not yet vaccinated will have until the end of Wednesday 8 September to book their vaccination. From 9 September authorised workers who live and/or work in LGAs of concern will be required to carry evidence of their booking. Without this evidence, they will not be able to attend their place of work. If an authorised worker who lives and/or works in an LGA of concern is not vaccinated or does not have a medical contraindication form, they will not be able to attend work after 19 September 2021. ECEC staff who live in the 12 LGAs of concern and work outside of their LGA will be required to carry a permit from Service NSW, declaring they are an authorised worker. ECEC staff who enter one of the 12 LGAs of concern to work must also carry a permit.
OSHC Care settings
Staff working in out of school hours care and other settings on school sites are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated by 25 October. OSHC services both on and off school sites can continue to operate for before and after school care for any children that require it.
Please click here for further information and updates.
Recipe Idea
We would like to encourage educators to send in their favourite recipes that children love! A big thank you to our student Ruth for this delicious recipe… yum! An easy crowd-pleasing dinner.
Israeli Coucous
by Ruth, Diploma student
Ingredients:
- 1 pack of Israeli couscous (Coles and Woolworths stock them)
- 2 spoons of oil
- Mixed chopped veggies (zucchini, broccoli, carrots)
- Optional chicken breast cut int small pieces
- One clove of garlic – crushed
- 5 glasses of water OR chicken stock
Method:
-
Fry veggies and chicken breast
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Add ½ teaspoon of salt and/or chicken stock
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Add Israeli couscous
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Add crushed garlic
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Add 1.5 cup of water
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Bring to the boil and then simmer for 20 minutes with the lid on
Enjoy!
Staff Introduction
Wendy Thompson
Hi, my name is Wendy, and I am the Team Leader for PEAK Training.
I have been in the Early Childhood educator sector for the last 17 years. 10 years as a Family Day Care educator, along with a short period of time in centre-based care and the last two years with PEAK Training.
I started my journey as just a mum wanting to be at home with my children while they were young, and Family Day Care was a way of doing that. It did not take long before it became more than just a job I could do at home, to a real passion about what Family Day Care is and has to offer children, families, and the community.
I first started working with NSW Family Day Care Association in February 2015 in Professional Services, taking a short break in June 2017, to return in November 2018 as a Family Liaison Officer with NSW In Home Care and then moving back to PEAK Training in September 2019. My role has been varied during my time with NSW Family Day Care Association from liaising with new and existing Family Day Care service providers, consulting with a wide range of children’s services and government departments to coordinating training sessions in both accredited units and professional development.
What I like the most in my current role as Team Leader for PEAK Training, is the varied aspect of the job; from being involved in many government projects, supporting Family Day Care service providers and educators as we navigate the very different times we find ourselves in, to administrating and helping to support new educators as they take on their new qualification journeys by enrolling in either Certificate III or Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Outside of work I love spending time with my two grandchildren, gardening, catching up with family and being able to relax at home.
PD Webinars Coming Up
Thu 30 Sep, 7pm-9pm
Thu 14 Oct, 7pm-9pm
Tue 26 Oct, 10am-12pm
Tue 16 Nov, 7pm-9pm
Thu 25 Nov, 10am-12pm
Tue 14 Dec, 7pm-9pm
Sustainability in Early Childhood Settings
Thu 7 Oct, 7-9pm
Thu 18 Nov, 7-8.30pm
Work Health and Safety Refresher
Thu 21 Oct, 7-9pm
Thu 2 Dec, 10am-12pm
Wed 10 Nov, 7-8.30pm
Guiding Children’s Behaviour to Attain Self-regulation
Mon 1 Nov, 12.30-2.30pm
Healthy Eating and Safe Food Handling
Wed 20 Oct, 2-3.30pm
Maximising QIPS and Self-Assessment
Tue 5 Oct, 1-2.30pm
Supporting Inclusion of Children with Additional Needs
Wed 27 Oct, 7-8.30pm
Supporting Educational Leaders
Tue 23 Nov, 7-8.30pm
Book Suggestion
Please see below book recommendations from the PEAK Training team. Each quarter we would like to recommend books for our educators relating to calendar events happening in those months, or that may be related to special events.
“Diwali” by Hannah Eliot
“Michael Recycle” by Ellie Bethel