1 to 4 Campaign National and International Ambassadors Announced
We are pleased to announce our national and international
ambassadors for the 1 to 4 campaign. Our ambassadors will play an important
role in highlighting the importance of
improving ratios for under twos in children’s services. Our international
ambassador is Professor Ron Lally of WestEd’s Centre for Child and
Family Studies in the United States of Americas. Our national ambassador
is Associate Professor Margaret Sims from Edith Cowan University in Western
Australia. Both Ron and Margaret have highlighted the
importance of improved ratios over many years. Interviewed recently about
the current ratio of 1 adult to 5 babies Professor Lally stated ‘child
care staff looking after five babies were acting like traffic police,
rather than providing developmentally appropriate care, as they are too
busy worrying about the children’s safety’. We welcome both
Ron and Margaret on board.
1 to 4 Campaign Teaparty Launch
A 1:4 teaparty campaign launch will take place on Wednesday 24 October at 10.30am at Mia Mia Child and Family Study Centre Building X5B Macquarie University North Ryde.Join supporters at this launch and show your support.
So what do you need to bring on the day:
- bring along signs and placards with statements of support
- children and families
- your desire to create change
RSVP’s are essential so please contact Catherine Hamill on 8922 6403 or catherinehamill@ccccnsw.org.au no later than the 15 October.
What does DOCs have to say about better ratios
Recently Dr Gul Izmir from the NSW Department of Community Services was questioned about the NSW DoCS position on better ratios for babies. The following question was asked of her at a conference “One of the strategy’s in the ‘DoCS Brighter Futures Early Intervention’ program is to engage vulnerable families and children under three at risk into quality childcare. I am interested in DoCS definition of ‘quality ’ as it is my understanding that the current ratio of 1 to 5 for children under 2 in NSW does not equate to quality as determined by the research. And I would say we are in fact exposing those such children to perhaps greater risk”.
Dr Izmir responded by saying that not everyone agreed with the research on better ratios for babies. Dr Izmir expanded by saying that most services that DoCS use for their Brighter Futures Early Intervention program have better ratios than 1 to 5. As such it is interesting that DoCS have a preference for services with better ratios for their early intervention funded programs but are not willing to legislate this ratio for all children in NSW? Words never cease to amaze us.
Thanks for your support?
The petition campaign was a huge success. We were overwhelmed
with signatures of support from the private sector, community owned sector
and corporate sector. As
such the response to the petitions contradicts claims made previously
by non-supporters of a 1:4 that the private sector opposes improving ratios
arguing it is counterproductive
when quality of services is not an immediate concern, but affordability
is. Thanks to everyone who took the time to organise signatures. We have
extended the timeline for
petitions so please keep sending them in.
YES - We made the Sydney Morning Herald
That’s right page 5 in hard copy and the 3rd most
read article online. Adele Horins article on 27 September titled ‘Child-care
Laws Horrific’ highlighted the impact of a 1 to 5
ratio. ‘Fifty years from now we will look back in horror at the
quality of the care available to children under three in childcare centres,
the same horror with which we look back on
child labour laws of the 1900’s’. A full copy of the article
is downloadable from the 1 to 4 website at www.ccccnsw.org.au/ratios.
Well done to everyone who helped get this important issue into the media.