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The best way to get the job is to get the qualification

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Choosing a career and getting an education is the first step to finding that perfect job. Georgia Brown a former Cire student in Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (above centre) made a decision to postpone her teaching degree in order to take some time and reevaluate her career choice. Having aspirations to become a teacher Georgia looked into other educational career options.

“I have always had an interest in educating others and the thought of being there in the beginning, when a child starts their learning journey really appealed to me.” Georgia

Making the decision to make the change came easy after that. Enrolling at Cire Training was the first step to achieving her career goal. The advice and support given by her trainer Anja Laukart (above left) provided her with the skills and confidence required to go out and successfully gain employment in the industry. A valuable part of the qualification is the work placement. A Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care requires 180 hours of work placement. This component of the course gave Georgia real life hands on experience which ultimately led to her successfully gaining a permanent position at Community Kids Early Education Centre in Chirnside Park.

“I have been lucky enough to have been offered permanent work through practical placement, which has been incredibly rewarding. I was able to walk into my placement with the appropriate knowledge and skills needed for the job with the added bonus of already knowing my manager and peers. This made the process much easier.” Georgia

Georgia’s career goal is to obtain her Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care and maybe even go further and someday be a centre manager, who knows? But for now she is working in an industry she loves and by the sounds of it she is doing really well.

“Georgia is naturally at ease in this role. She works really well with the children, her peers and the families. Overall she is a great addition to the team and is very passionate when it comes to working with children.” Sarah (above right) – Centre Manager and Bec (not photographed) – Educational Leader

We thought it would be appropriate to complete this good news story with a final comment from Georgia.

“As a whole I thoroughly enjoyed my course and the result of getting a job I love has made the experience absolutely wonderful.”

If you have enjoyed this article and would like to know more about the industry, courses and career options click here or call 1300 835 235.

Cire would like to thank Sarah and Bec for allowing us to visit Georgia’s workplace to conduct this interview.

A visit to the library

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As a part of our kindergarten program the children visited the Lilydale library. This was the children’s first excursion on the bus, and they were all very excited. It was important to talk beforehand about safety on the bus and the children helped by thinking of ways we could all stay safe together on their first excursion. On the bus, the children spoke in quiet voices, and some held hands across the aisle. When we arrived at the library, we made our way to the children’s area. There were so many books. They didn’t hesitate and started selecting the books that they wanted to borrow, and soon we had a pile of books so high that it almost toppled over. Of course we couldn’t borrow all of them so a smaller selection was made. Next up was story time which was a huge hit and before they could say “reading is fun”, it was time to get back on the bus.

Libraries can play a strong role in early learning for all children, with the key role being in the development of early literacy skills. Early literacy is knowledge and skills required to become a successful reader and writer. These include cognitive development of the brain and its responsiveness to the environment, language development, listening and oral skills and relationship building. We’re very excited about our library visits and aim to continue them fortnightly for the year.

Children engage with a range of texts and gain meaning from these texts. They listen and respond to sounds and patterns in speech, stories and rhymes in context by viewing and listening to printed texts and respond with relevant gestures, actions, comments and questions. They begin to understand key literacy concepts and processes, such as the sounds of language, letter-sound relationships, concepts of print and the ways that texts are structured. By introducing children to books at an early age they become familiar with words and appreciate illustrations that help tell the story and keep them intrigued.

As educators we continually strive to find equitable and effective ways to ensure that all children have opportunities to achieve learning outcomes. We recognise the connections between children, families and communities and the importance of reciprocal relationships and partnerships for learning. They see learning as a social activity and value collaborative learning and community participation.

If you would like to know more about our early childhood education services click here or call 03 5967 2776 Yarra Junction or 03 9736 1918 Mt Evelyn. Our services range long day care, 3 and 4 year old kinder to OSHC.

The benefits of music and movement

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UYCH Children’s Centre celebrated Lunar New Year on Monday. Being China’s biggest ceremonious holiday our centre was an abundance of activity all inspired by Asian culture. Traditional stories were told about the importance of families getting together to prepare for good fortune. On that note the children sang a Lunar New Year song about just that, good fortune called Gung Hay Fat Choy.

The benefits of music and movement
As described in the Creative Curriculum for Preschool Children by Diane Trister Dodge and Laura J. Colke. Children naturally love music! Whether it’s soft and soothing or a lively tune, children feel it both physically and emotionally. Throughout the early years, children are learning to do new things with their bodies. Young children are also learning that movement can communicate messages and represent actions. They begin to learn about the world by acting on objects and people, and they “think with their bodies” well before they think with words. This is why body movement is not only fun for children but also a good opportunity for them to solve problems. Singing or chanting can help make routine activities and transitions such as gathering children into a circle or group activity, smoother and more enjoyable. Music helps to set a mood. Quiet, soothing music calms and relaxes children, while a lively tune rouse them for energetic clean up time.

Music and movement are also social activities that help children feel part of the group. As children grow in their appreciation of the beauty of music and dance, they acquire a gift that will bring them great pleasure. Music brings another dimension of beauty into our lives. Music and movement benefit a child’s development in many ways.

  1. Participating in a group
  2. Social skills
  3. Express emotions
  4. Enhance self‐concept by sharing music and dance of each other’s culture
  5. Refine listening skills, noticing changes in tempo or pitch
  6. Awareness of movement and body positions
  7. Creativity and imagination
  8. Learn new words and concepts
  9. Explore cause and effect
  10. Develop large motor skills
  11. Improve balance coordination
  12. Improve small motor skills, finger play and musical instrument

UYCH kinder programs embrace this methodology by having a dedicated Music and Movement Coordinator, Toula who taught the children a dance using scarves and fans. Combining cultural props with music the event was a great way for the children to creatively express themselves. With scarves

flowing and many smiles on their little faces you could tell enjoyment was had by all.

Activities like these are a great opportunity for the children to engage in cultural experiences, here are what some of the children had to say:

“The words in the song were really good” – Grace

“I liked Toula’s dancing the best” – Caleb

“I liked the red fan” – Bailey

The Children Centre would like to thank Helen from the Yarra Junction Op Shop for her generous scarves donation.

If you would like to know more about our early childhood education services click here or call 03 5967 2776 Yarra Junction or 03 9736 1918 for Mt Evelyn

Little green thumbs having loads of fun

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During the recent school holidays, our kinder aged children were encouraged to try out their green thumbs at out Mt Evelyn Children’s Centre. With the help of their educators they planted alfalfa seeds on wet paper in little cups, and beans and peas in pots and in our garden. When our kinder teacher came back at the start of term they had already sprouted, and the children were delighted to see the little seedlings get taller each day.

It didn’t stop there, last week they de-seeded the dried sunflower heads that they had grown last summer in preparation to plant. The children enjoyed getting their gloves on and pouring potting mix into the egg cartons that had been collected. Each having a go at planting some of the little seeds. They also planted broad beans a few months ago, and these are now growing beautifully in the tyres in our yard. They are flowering at the moment and the children hope to get some beans from them soon.

Using books, pictures and posters they discussed the life cycle of the sunflower, as well as other plant life-cycles at group time. The children have also enjoyed using these same materials to research, discuss different plants, and eventually they will decide what they will be planting in our plot in the community garden next door.

These activities all have connections to our Early Years Learning Framework, which is our guide in curriculum and programming. The areas this is described as incorporating are:

  • Community – exploring the relationships between living things and notice the changes that occur to them.
  • Learning – making connections between the processes of planting and having enthusiasm and confidence to take part.
  • Communication – contributing their ideas to the discussions. Overall it is getting children in touch with nature, and the joy of seeing and hopefully eating what they’ve grown.

UYCH Early Childhood Education and Care services have proven to be an excellent choice in the valley. Recently our Yarra Junction Children’s Centre received an accreditation of Exceeding by the Department of Education and Training. If you would like to know more about the accreditation and our services click the links below.

UYCH Children’s Centre – exceeds expectations
UYCH Family and Children’s Centre

Image of a little girl planting seeds
Image of a little girl planting seeds
Image of potted plants
Image of potted plants
Image of a little girl planting seeds
Image of a little girl planting seeds
Image of green growing in a tyre tube
Image of green growing in a tyre tube
Image of seeds ready for planting
Image of seeds ready for planting
Image of potted plants
Image of potted plants

Together we can build a brighter future

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In July this year, Karen Armstrong, UYCH Community College Team leader – Innovation and Development travelled with a group of 14 women to Siem Reap in Cambodia. The trip was a culmination of months of hard work raising funds to help the people of Siem Reap by supporting Husk Cambodia, learning about the Cambodian culture and how we can all benefit from helping each other.

Karen was eager to come up with innovative ideas, one of those being a healthy eating recipe e-book, which saw community members get involved by contributing recipes for the venture. The group discussed a variety of ways to raise funds from organising a 60’s dance night to providing massages. This determination paid off resulting in over $10,000 being raised. This was a huge achievement as it exceeded the amount required to fund the community work that was planned for the trip. Originally they were asked to raise $2,400, so this allowed them to change the scope of the project and distribute the money between three charities that the group visited during their trip.

The largest project they funded was building a home for a young family. This was truly a team effort, the carpenter built the frame and the group helped the family members construct the walls and lay the floor. They also helped make wheelchairs for children and adults who are still being injured as the result of landmines left by the Pol Pot regime in the 1970s.

“I found this to be a very rewarding experience, which was made more so because their previous hut would have been deemed unsafe for them to live in during the monsoon flood season.” Karen Armstrong – Team Leader Innovation and Development

Karen also had the opportunity to visit two local schools. During her visit she was able to get creative by participating in an art project with the children, making paper birds and observing classroom delivery in order for her to gain knowledge from an educational perspective.

While the trip was organised by a local yoga and pilates instructor and had elements of relaxation and meditation, the lasting memories from Karen’s trip came from the charity work that she and the other women had the privilege to partake in.

Not only did this project help the Siem Reap community, Karen was able to utilise what she had learnt from the experience and take it into her own classroom back home. Her Certificate IV in Education Support students were able to use the information in their assessment tasks. This showcased how important these projects are to our local community and abroad. Sharing cultural experiences and making a difference to people’s lives is what serving the community is all about, together we can build a brighter future.

“Spending time getting to know the local community is an experience I will never forget; it has also given me further insight into the needs of our close neighbours.” Karen Armstrong – Team Leader Innovation and Development

If you are interested in building a career in community services the first step is gain a qualification. UYCH Community College offers nationally accredited courses that can help you achieve just that, click here for further information or call 1300 835 235.

To find out more about education volunteer work visit Ponheary Ly Foundation.

YVCS Students making a difference part 2

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You may have read our blog  “Students making a difference” posted 08/07/205 about our two VCAL Foundation classes at the Yarra Junction campus of Yarra Valley Community School raising money to support orphans and primary school children in Kariakomo Orphanage in Kenya through the Milking Cow & Goat Project run by the Rotary Club of Healesville.

The students managed the project with one goal, raise as much money as possible to make a difference. The main fundraisers that took place were a sausage sizzle and raffling off a trailer load of wood. They drew the crowds in with the smell of a BBQ and once a sausage had been sold, they tempted the public with a chance to win firewood to keep them warm during winter.

Originally it was hoped that the students would raise enough money to buy a goat or two for the community, but with the money raised they have been able to pay for 5 acres of maize seed to be planted and grown, ensuring that the Kenyan children have a regular supply of food.

The students of YVCS raised over $1000 which is a great achievement and showcases their dedication to this project. To say thank you for all their hard work they were invited to celebratory BBQ hosted by Healesville Rotary, with club members Wilma, Bruce and Don providing a lovely lunch to be enjoyed any all in attendance.

YVCS students enjoyed bacon and egg rolls and sausages and onion on the BBQ. Once the food was all gone, Wilma Best, Project Manager for the Milking Cow & Goat Project, presented the students with a framed certificate of achievement and appreciation.

“The fundraising project has been a great experience for the students, teaching them not only entrepreneurial skills, but helping them to build their social conscience in reaching out to other children in the world, not just in their own backyard.” Willa Vale –  VCAL Foundation Teacher

Well done to all involved! 

To find out more about UYCH youth education services click here or call 1300 835 235

Story time enjoyed by all

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The children of Mt Evelyn UYCH Children’s Centre love having story time and this year we have been lucky enough to have continuing visits with Beck from Eastern Regional Library’s Outreach Flexi-van Service. We discovered this service at the end of last year and due to it’s popularity we are now approaching one year.

Beck has been a huge hit with the youngsters and they look forward to her visits every second Tuesday, during school terms. Stories are theme based to ensure the children get the most out of each book title, and sometimes include a puppet play. Beck often brings along fun activities to follow up, such as colouring or cutting and pasting, which have relevance to the stories she has read. The children are very enthusiastic when it comes to creating projects from the storybooks and characters featured in them. The children are then encouraged to choose from a selection of brand new library books that they can borrow to enjoy between visits.

Studies have proven that reading to children at any age, but particularly 4-5 year olds, every day has a significant positive effect on their reading skills and cognitive skills (i.e., language and literacy, numeracy and cognition) later in life. We read stories to the children every day at the centre, and we hope that this will help them to foster a lifelong love of reading.

This program has been a great success and we would like to extend a big thank you to Beck and Eastern Regional Library’s Outreach Flexi-van Service for your ongoing support to the children of Mt Evelyn UYCH Children’s Centre.

UYCHIImage of Children's Centre story time
UYCHIImage of Children's Centre story time
IImage of Children's Centre story time
IImage of Children's Centre story time
IImage of Children's Centre story time
IImage of Children's Centre story time
IImage of Children's Centre story time
IImage of Children's Centre story time
IImage of Children's Centre story time
IImage of Children's Centre story time

For further information regarding our Children’s Services in Mt Evelyn and Yarra Junction visit our webpage.

Bush kinder – planting for our future

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The Yarra Junction UYCH Bush Kinder have been busy little green thumbs, and the weather did not deter them at all; Dressed in their little red rain suits, gumboots and with determined looks on their faces they began planting for the future. Their task was big, very big, they had to plant 300 trees and shrubs indigenous to Yarra Junction as a part of the Ribbons of Green Program.

This initiative was part of the Yarra Ranges Shire Ribbons of Green program, which encourages local services to offset carbon emissions through the planting of indigenous plants donated by the Shire.

The team led by Simone, our sustainability leader, and Ian, from UYCH maintenance managed the project by helping the children plant and learn about the importance of nature and the role it plays from an environmental perspective.

UYCH used these plants to help revegetate our bush block which over the past term has had much work done. Through participating in the Ribbons of Green initiative our service has been able to provide our children with opportunities to learn about local indigenous culture, sustainability and develop connections with nature.

The children helped to dig the holes and plant the different types of indigenous plants, trees and shrubs. The rain didn’t deter the children from planting and as for the mud, well that became the headlining act as the children had plenty of fun. This is what some had to say;

“We’re gonna plant the plants not kill the plants.”

“I’ve got my working boots on just like Ian.”

“I am a good digger.”

“I like flowers, not grass.”

The Yarra Junction Children’s Centre would like to thank Benn Sheffield from the Yarra Ranges for all his help in organising the Ribbons of Green project.

The UYCH Bush Kinder is a great way for your children to start their educational journey. For further information call 5967 2776.

Image of the Bush Kinder children planting shrubs
Image of the Bush Kinder children planting shrubs
Image of the Bush Kinder children planting shrubs
Image of the Bush Kinder children planting shrubs
Image of the Bush Kinder children planting shrubs
Image of the Bush Kinder children planting shrubs

Renos and revamps for the Children’s Centre

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You could recently mistake the UYCH Family and Children’s Services Mt Evelyn centre for being like a scene from the Block with all the renos and revamps occurring.

After recently being lucky enough to receive a grant from the Yarra Ranges Council to renovate the main bathroom facility for our toddlers and kinder children, works were well under-way throughout June to revamp, freshen up and re-create a new, more functional bathroom and change room. This particular bathroom had been in serious need of remodelling for a while now, so the council came out, got our ideas and hopes, and created a bathroom with their tradesmen that educators and children alike are loving. The new look and extra storage have already got educators making plans on how to make the most of what we have been given.

UYCH and the staff at the Mt Evelyn children’s centre would like to thank the Yarra Ranges Council for their generous contributions and Urban Maintenance Systems for their practical knowledge in helping us get a new bathroom facility, making our centre even more fantastic.

Our garden and play area also received a revamp with fresh new soft-fall being installed in the bottom area of the yard. As many parents with children in the older rooms know, it had been getting steadily muddier out there for a while. Now while mud play is great for children, under climbing equipment we need the soft-fall to meet regulations and keep everyone safe.

We had over 20 metres of dirt and mud removed by bobcat driver Simon from Dinkin Dirt and replaced with lovely new soft-fall, making the garden area feel so much more fresh and renewed. Shane was quite the attraction while he was there, the children were fascinated with his machinery and his work. Even the builders going in and out for the bathroom renovation didn’t get as much attention as the bobcat digging out the yard. When Shane started in the morning, children were trying to get a look out of our sleep room windows just to check out the new garden area. As the older children moved to their rooms they wanted to be outside at the fence watching. Shane did a very good job and had it finished before lunch, which meant more time for our children to check it out and play. Thank you to UYCH management, maintenance and Shane from Dinkin Dirt for re-creating our lovely yard area.

If you’re looking for a fantastic local children’s centre for long day care or kinder, visit click here for more information or contact 9736 1918 for more information.

Image of the bathroom renovations for the UYCH Children's Centre
Image of the bathroom renovations for the UYCH Children's Centre
Image of the play yard renovations for the UYCH Children's Centre
Image of the play yard renovations for the UYCH Children's Centre
Image of the bathroom renovations for the UYCH Children's Centre
Image of the bathroom renovations for the UYCH Children's Centre
Image of the play yard renovations for the UYCH Children's Centre
Image of the play yard renovations for the UYCH Children's Centre
Image of the play yard renovations for the UYCH Children's Centre
Image of the play yard renovations for the UYCH Children's Centre
Image of the play yard renovations for the UYCH Children's Centre
Image of the play yard renovations for the UYCH Children's Centre

YVCS Students making a difference

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The Milking Cow and Goat Project – YVCS students raising money for orphanage in Kenya.

Foundation VCAL Students from the Yarra Junction Campus at YVCS are currently working with the Healesville Rotary Club to raise money for The Milking Cow and Goat Project which supports orphans and primary school children in Kariakomo Orphanage in Kenya. These children live in extreme poverty, dying of starvation and diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Malaria. 300 orphans and poor children attend school and their daily intake of food consists of some beans and maize and ¾ glass of milk. Once a week they get one egg and a banana so as you can see they really need our support. The students have developed fundraising projects to support the purchase of cows and goats that will provide more milk for the children.

As a part of this project the students came up with some great ideas on how to raise the funds needed to make sure their milk supply doesn’t run out. The first initiative was to run a raffle, being winter a decision to make the prize a trailer full of fire wood was a winner. So off they went making a flyer and putting them up in local businesses to spread the word. They took to main street of Yarra Junction with their trailer full of wood to promote and sell tickets. Their entrepreneurial  skills didn’t stop there as they held a sausage sizzle at the same time, so customers could purchase a ticket while waiting for their banger in bread, good thinking on their part. Their hard work has paid off as they have raised over $1000 and they still have more ideas up their sleeve, so be sure to keep an eye on our website and blog for more fundraising activities to take part in.

If you’d like to support this fantastic fundraising activity come into UYCH Main Office – 2463 Warburton Hwy in Yarra Junction to purchase your raffle tickets – $2 each or 3 for $5. The raffle will be drawn Wednesday 5th of August so there is plenty of time to purchase a ticket or three.

For more information on The Milking Cow and Goat Project visit www.cowsandgoatsproject.org.au

If you would like to know more about our youth education programs click here.