KidsMatter Early Childhood in ACT
News
I write this article as I travel on the way home from a regional pilot site in NSW where we completed Component 4 professional learning last night. I can’t help but reflect on where we started, where we are now and how KidsMatter Early Childhood principles are embedded in policies, practises and approaches at this service, cleverly woven together with other initiatives they have adopted. This was illustrated clearly to me last night where one of the participants was attending her first KidsMatter professional learning opportunity. Her questions highlighted not just knowledge but approaches and perspectives other participants had as a result of engaging in KidsMatter over time.
What you see at this pilot site is quite different from what you would see at the pilot site engaging in component 4 professional learning next week, regardless of the fact that both sites completed their professional development within a fortnight of each other. And that is exactly as KidsMatter Early childhood intended. It is designed so it can be meaningful, relevant and manageable to any service and still impact on the positive mental health of staff, families and children. There is one more ACT pilot site to complete their Component 4 Professional Learning: Helping children who are experiencing mental health difficulties.
I would like to acknowledge the role psychology students from Australian National University have had with pilot sites in providing a valuable resource and point of connection for ACT children, families and early childhood staff.
Janelle Bowler
ACT KidsMatter Early Childhood Facilitator
