Ensuring Quality Initial Teacher Education

In July 2021 Baringa provided feedback on the current review of Initial Teacher Education (ITE). ITE aims to ensure that graduate teachers start their teaching career with the necessary knowledge, skills and dispositions to be successful teachers in any Australian school. Baringa is invested in ensuring children are supported through the early and primary school years to achieve appropriate outcomes.

In our response, Baringa called for teachers to be better-supported to facilitate connections to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and cultures, and highlighted an urgent need for more training and support around children’s mental health and well-being.

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Australian Curriculum Review

In July 2021 Baringa provided a response to the Australian Curriculum Review. The Review aims to improve the Australian Curriculum by refining, realigning and decluttering the content to focus on the essential knowledge and skills students should learn and to be clearer for teachers on what they need to teach.

Baringa provided feedback on three key aspects of the curriculum that align with our own priorities for early learning - Personal and Social Capability (including mental health), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures, and Sustainability. We look forward to seeing the release of the revised Australian Curriculum in early 2022.

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Building Sector-wide Relationships

A big thank you to Professor Barney Dalgarno, Executive Dean, Faculty of Education at the University of Canberra for visiting us on 27 April 2021. We had the pleasure of showing Prof Dalgarno around Baringa, then discussing the university's work for Early Childhood Teachers and priorities for supporting the early childhood education profession. Prof Dalgarno met with our Executive Officer PJ Aguilar, Centre Director Betty Lam, Educational Leader Carley Adams and Social Impact Coordinator Kristy Bartlett.

Furthering our skills and qualifications means we are able to combine our passion with best practice, and provide children with an inclusive environment that best supports their individual needs. We also discussed approaching long-term change as a collective, and how the sector can work together. We look forward to learning more from the inspiring UC Faculty of Education.

Passionate and Professional Leaders

Baringa is proud to advocate for the early childhood education sector through strategic and everyday actions. In February 2021, our Leadership Team worked on Baringa's 2021 Quality Improvement Plan, with a focus on building on our passionate and professional culture!

Thanks to Dee of Thinkoutloud for helping us visualise how we can be more supportive, kind and dedicated ~ important values enabling us to lead the way in our sector. Investing in ourselves allows us to invest in the Baringa team and together support our children and families.

Advocating for Children’s Mental Health

In February 2021, Baringa provided a submission to the National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy consultation. Developed by the Australian Government National Mental Health Commission, the Strategy is due to be released in mid-2021.

Baringa places high value on the mental health and wellbeing of our children and was delighted to submit feedback in support of the Strategy. Healthy Wellbeing is one of Baringa’s identified Quality Improvement initiatives for 2021, and our Healthy Wellbeing Working Group is working hard to normalise discussions around healthy mental and physical health throughout our organisation and broader community.

Set up for Success: Early Childhood Strategy

On 20 September 2020 Baringa was very excited to welcome ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, Yvette Berry, to host their press conference on early childhood education, launching “Set up for Success: An Early Childhood Strategy for the ACT”.

Well done to our Hibiscus, Grevillea and Banksia children who welcomed our visitors and happily shared our outdoor education and play space to the cameras! Thank you to our Melaleuca Team Leader and Early Childhood Teacher, Carmen Ulrick who addressed the media so eloquently.

While Baringa remains apolitical, we are grateful for the opportunity to bring attention to the importance of early childhood education and the professional recognition of hardworking educators.