Childcare centre pass marks

MOST of Townsville’s daycare centres are meeting national standards, with a high number exceeding the standards.

It comes as 184 child care centres across Queensland were inspected by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority between January and September 2020.

Childcare centres are assessed on seven criteria – education, health and safety, physical environment, staffing, relationships with children, partnerships with families and communities and governance and leadership. Data reveals most Townsville daycare centres met the standards.

Australian Childcare Alliance and Educating Kids president Majella Fitzsimmons said no local childcare centres needed significant improvements according to the assessment.

She said two of Educating Kids’ centres exceeded the national quality standards – the Townsville City and Domain centres – while its Kirwan centre sufficiently met the standards.

Ms Fitzsimmons explained the importance of childcare centres, saying they were crucial in developing the minds of young children before school.

“They’re foundations for learning,” she said.

Through play-based learning, Ms Fitzsimmons said children’s development could be broadened.

She said it was a style of teaching that continued in primary school until the age of eight. “We look at children’s strengths and their interests. If they’re really interested, they will learn a lot,” she said.

The number of government inspections of Queensland centres was less than half of what it was in 2019.

Over January to September 2019, 442 centres were inspected. The national Education Council suspended the assessment and rating of centres in a meeting on April 2.

Queensland’s assessors recommenced assessments in June.

An Education Department spokesman said monitoring continued remotely during the assessment shutdown.

“During the suspension of assessment and rating, monitoring of services continued in

Queensland, with the health, safety and wellbeing of children continuing to be the prime consideration of the RA,” the spokesman said.

“Where appropriate, monitoring was conducted remotely, via a tele-monitoring process, but wherever a risk assessment indicated that it was necessary to manage a potential risk to a child or children, authorised officers continued to visit services and conduct investigations in person.”

NORTH Queensland’s up and coming trades professionals have been recognised at the TAFE Queensland 2020 Townsville Trade Excellence Awards.

Eight award categories were announced at last week’s ceremony at the Bohle campus, with the winners taking home 3D printed trophies and donated industry prizes.

It was a big night for Townsville City Council employee Lachie Lowe who took home two accolades.

Mr Lowe was named the Electrical and Refrigeration Apprentice of the Year and also received the event’s top commendation, the Outstanding Apprentice of the Year Award.

“I was shocked to win two awards, I felt very honoured,” Mr Lowe said.

Mr Lowe was recognised for being a standout apprentice in the classroom and at job sites, from the Townsville 400 Supercars motor racing event to helping with the region’s 2019 flood recovery effort.

At the ceremony, Mr Lowe’s teachers described him as a hardworking apprentice who was always trying to improve his skillset.

“Earlier this year I finished my electrical apprenticeship with the Townsville City Council and I was able to secure a second apprenticeship in instrumentation so I could expand on my knowledge,” Mr Lowe said.

“I enjoy my training at TAFE Queensland, it’s a diverse and handson learning environment. My teachers are really knowledgeable and I enjoy being able to interact with other apprentices and learn about the work that they do.”

Several other winners were also crowned with Sophie Maltby taking home the TAFE at School Trades Student of the Year Award, Abi Winter was named the Automotive and Engineering Apprentice of the Year, Taylor Cox picked up the accolade for Building and Construction Apprentice of the Year, the Cabinet Making Apprentice of the Year Award was handed to Aden Tranter, Reece Harris claimed the Plumbing Apprentice of the Year title, and the Female Trades Student of the Year Award went to Hope Duell.

TAFE Queensland general manager (north region) Tim Campbell said the Bohle campus was training more than 1000 apprentices.

“TAFE Queensland is proud to work with local employers to support the career aspirations of students,” Mr Campbell said.