ECEC Provider in Focus: Growing Minds Family Day Care

Growing Minds Family Day Care is a Family Day Care (FDC) provider based in the Northern Territory. Dragonfly Play and Learn is a long day care (LDC) service provider which operates under the same provider approval. 

What is the history of Growing Minds Family Day Care? 

Growing Minds FDC has been operating since 2023 and has a number of educators located around Palmerston. Growing Minds FDC is continuously working toward establishing more FDC homes around the Northern Suburbs and in Darwin.

What is the Growing Minds vision and approach to learning? 

Growing Minds aims to provide emotionally, psychologically and physically safe environments supporting self esteem and confidence in all children. Educators are guided in holistic approaches to education and care including Montessori and Reggio Emilia. Open-ended free play and exploration is held in high regard as the way children best learn. 

Friendships and social connections are nurtured amongst children and families and strong connections with the community are maintained. Growing Minds FDC respects and honors all cultures and is inclusive of the vast needs of children and families.

Are there any unique aspects to the Growing Minds FDC offering? 

Growing Minds FDC environments support strong connections with nature. Educators recognise the importance of outdoor play and the value of nature in a child’s development.

Learn more about Growing Minds FDC here. 

TAFE and NSW Department of Education partner for new microskill program 

The New South Wales Department of Education has partnered with TAFE NSW to launch a new program that will support the professional development of early childhood educators and teachers across the state. 

Offered fee-free, the sector specific online professional learning and leadership development programs have been developed to strengthen knowledge, uplift skills and support participants to grow their careers.

Phase one of the program will launch Spring 2024, and is anticipated to provide: 

• Online microskills in a range of in-demand topics
• Targeted leadership development programs
• Opportunities to engage with other professional educators and teachers
• Webinars and other professional learning resources

While eligibility criteria do apply, in broad terms the program will be universally available to all early childhood education and care (ECEC) professionals, regardless of their qualifications and experience.

The program goes some way to addressing the pre-election commitment made by the current NSW Government to address issues of burnout in ECEC employees, and to boost retention in the sector. 

Leadership programs will be designed in collaboration with ECEC sector experts to provide targeted leadership capability development, with all programs forming part of a suite of initiatives being developed by the NSW Department of Education to attract and retain ECEC professionals.

Interested readers from NSW are encouraged to register their details to be the first to find out how they or their team can access the program.

A list of FAQs about the initiative is available here.