Victoria Avenue Children’s Centre has been awarded the Excellent rating by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), the highest rating a service can achieve under the National Quality Framework, 16th November 2018 – 15th November 2021.
Victoria Avenue Children’s Centre was recognised for its collaborative partnerships with professional and community organisations, commitment to children that respects, reflects and celebrates culture and diversity, including place of origin, practice and environments that enhance children’s learning and growth, and positive workplace culture and organisational values, sustained commitment to professional development and support of educators.
Exceptional practices at the service during the rating period included:
- The service has developed a partnership with the Sydney Olympic Park Authority (SOPA) over the past three years. This has enabled them to develop educator confidence, and knowledge and delivery of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives while collaborating with SOPA to generate a three to five year old cultural program.
- A ‘My Place, Our World’ program focuses on support and celebration of the diverse needs and abilities of its children and families. Program examples include monthly home visits hosted by each child and family, and weekly sign language visits facilitated by students from Victoria Avenue Public School.
- The service introduced a ‘Bigger World’ program to increase community connections and engagement with outdoor spaces. Triple strollers and car restraints were purchased to support the participation of all age groups. Student volunteers from the local TAFE were engaged to assist with local community excursions. Initial trips were undertaken close to the service, as the children’s confidence grew excursions expanded to include the local Men’s Shed, leisure centre, library and the Sydney Opera House.
- The service participates in a monthly staff swap program with its sister service, Wellbank Children’s Centre. Occurring since March 2017, the swap program encourages across- service networking, inspiration and idea sharing, and understanding and support around being a casual staff member for a day.
- A ‘Tiny Tails’ program supports children and families who live in apartments to experience care and responsibility for animals, within the service and their homes. This includes children and families having the option of adopting Bella the rabbit over the weekend to experience having a pet. The service also has a care roster to foster children’s learning regarding respect for living things.
As a leader in the sector, Victoria Avenue Children’s Centre shares its practice and learnings with other education and care services through face-to-face mentoring via its enrichment program, which includes tailored educational workshops and tours of the service. Assisting with play sessions at Concord Library is one way the service ensures their positive impact reaches beyond the children and families who access their service.
Congratulations to the team at Victoria Avenue Children’s Centre for this amazing accomplishment. All of your hard work, determination and dedication are well deserved to achieve this rating.
The team at Victoria Avenue Children’s Centre would also like to acknowledge the Centre Coordinator Emma Armitage, who has inspired, mentored and supported them in reaching their Excellence rating goal.
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