MacDonnell Regional Council – Children’s Services Services

The Early Learning Program provides a safe, educational and nurturing environment for over 120 children across 7 communities in the MacDonnell Shire. Children’s Services programs are working towards the National Quality Standards and practice is guided by the Early Years Learning Framework, in recognition of Aboriginal childrearing practices and ways of learning.

Children’s Services delivers a number of programs under the banner of early learning to support Aboriginal children from 6 weeks to 6 years grow strong in body, mind and culture. Educational opportunities and school readiness form part of our program, alongside healthy eating and nutrition programs, language and culture, protective behaviour curriculum, and provision of integrated services including health and dental.

Children’s Services is committed to innovative recruitment solutions to address the critical shortage of early childhood educators, and to prioritise capacity building for local based Aboriginal employees. 75% of our 45 strong workforce are community members. Children’s Services operates 5 days a week, from Monday to Friday, with a variety of operational hours to suit individual community needs. In consultation with stakeholders, program objectives are developed and delivered to best reflect the diverse needs of community members. The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority, Department of Education and Early Childhood Australia support the delivery and review of remote programs to support high quality educational outcomes for children.

Children’s Services deliver the following programs funded in entirety by the Department of Education:

• Early Learning Program.
• Healthy eating&nutrition program.
• Language and Cultural program.
• Protective Behaviours.
• Physical activity (gross motor) program.
• Infrastructure provision to encourage an integrated service model for streamlined access toNTHealth nurses, occupational therapists, dieticians, and hearing professionals.
• School Readiness and Transition program.

Children’s Services programs support improved access to early learning programs for remote community residents and positive educational outcomes for young children. The Children’s Services team encourage participation in the early years program through consultative practice, recognising that the interconnectedness of Aboriginal pedagogy including narrative-driven learning, visualised learning processes, hands on and reflective techniques, use of symbols, learning on country and connectedness to community underpin program objectives.

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