Education & Care Newsletter | Spring 2025

FROM SUZIE | FROM MIFFY | CELEBRATIONS & EVENTS | CELEBRATING LEARNING & PLAY | THE POWER OF PLAY | TASSIE MUMS | FAMILY REMINDERS

Tassie Mums – Season of Giving

Let’s Bring Essentials and Joy To Tasmania’s Children In Need!

The Lady Gowrie Tasmania (LGT) community will come together again this year to support Tassie Mums by participating in their Season of Giving campaign.

By donating you can provide vulnerable and at-risk Tasmanian children with essential items and a special toy – a gift that truly makes a difference during the festive season and beyond.

What Can You Donate?

A helpful guide of what items can be donated is below and please remember – giving just one or two of these much needed items is a wonderful contribution!

Where Can You Drop Off Your Donations?

Southern Tasmania
LGT Head Office – 346 Macquarie Street, South Hobart
Tassie Mums Collection Points: https://tassiemums.org/seasonofgiving

Northern Tasmania
Pedder Street Education and Care Service – 21 Pedder Street, South Launceston
Tassie Mums Collection Points: https://tassiemums.org/seasonofgiving

What Is The Closing Date For Donations?

We will be accepting donations at the designated drop off points until Friday 28^th November, 2025.

The work undertaken by Tassie Mums and their passion for supporting babies and children in need, closely aligns with LGT’s vision of providing services and programs that enable Tasmanian children to thrive, so thank you for supporting this campaign if you can.

More information about the Season of Giving campaign and the incredible work undertaken by Tassie Mums can be found at:

https://tassiemums.org/seasonofgiving

2025 Season of Giving Donations Socials Tile (1)

FROM SUZIE | FROM MIFFY | CELEBRATIONS & EVENTS | CELEBRATING LEARNING & PLAY | THE POWER OF PLAY | TASSIE MUMS | FAMILY REMINDERS

The Power of Play

The Power of Play for Children & Families

When was the last time you indulged in play that resulted in real fun and laughter? We all know the value of play in enhancing children’s learning, development and wellbeing but play also enhances wellbeing for parents and carers.

Amidst all the busy family schedules and time demands, prioritising play, fun and laughter as a family is a vital component for healthy and happy lives. Playing together as a family also promotes connection, communication and creates irreplaceable childhood memories.

To learn more about the power of play for children and families please visit:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/relationship-based-parenting/202402/the-power-of-play

https://www.playandlearntogether.com.au/

Spring Play Ideas for Children

Do you remember making mud pies as a child? Then what better way to celebrate spring and keep children busy than with mud and some spring flower petals!

Mud play enhances children’s development, connects them with nature, supports their wellbeing, sparks curiosity and creates wonderful childhood memories.

All you need is a mud, flowers, a few basic ‘cooking’ supplies and a sprinkling of imagination to try out these fun, nature-based play ideas at home:

https://runwildmychild.com/ways-to-have-fun-with-mud/

https://mothernatured.com/nature-play/mud-play-for-kids/

https://artfulparent.com/30-spring-activities-for-kids/

FROM SUZIE | FROM MIFFY | CELEBRATIONS & EVENTS | CELEBRATING LEARNING & PLAY | THE POWER OF PLAY | TASSIE MUMS | FAMILY REMINDERS

Family Reminders

SUNSMART REMINDERS

As we welcome back brighter and sunnier days, it is important we revisit the Cancer Council’s SunSmart reminders:

SLIP on some sun-protective clothing that covers as much skin as possible.

SLOP on broad spectrum, water resistant SPF30+ (or higher) sunscreen. Put it on 20 minutes before you go outdoors and every two hours afterwards. Sunscreen should never be used to extend the time you spend in the sun.

SLAP on a hat – broad brim or legionnaire style to protect your face, head, neck and ears.

SEEK shade.

SLIDE on some sunglasses – make sure they meet Australian Standards Free SunSmart UV App UV radiation can’t be seen or felt but is harmful on warm, sunny days and on cool, cloudy days too.

REMEMBER – ‘WHEN THE INDEX HITS 3, COVER UP FROM UV!’
SunSmart’s free Global UV app puts sun protection advice at your fingertips, so you know when UV levels can damage your skin leading to skin cancer – wherever you are in the world.

Download the new SunSmart Global UV app today: http://bit.ly/3jia8Xe

To learn more about sun safety for your family please visit: https://www.sunsmart. com.au/

COMPLIMENTS & COMPLAINTS

At Lady Gowrie Tasmania we believe that an accessible feedback system is vital to enable us to provide high quality, inclusive and safe education and care services. Families can raise compliments or complaints verbally in person or via phone to your Service Manager or in writing via the designated email address feedback@gowrie-tas.com.au.

Your feedback ensures we are focused on continual improvement and putting ‘Children First’. Additionally, it enhances our work under the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)’s National Quality Framework (NQF) and supports our response to the Reportable Conduct Scheme and Child Safe Standards in the Child and Youth Safe Organisation Act, 2023.

THE BASICS

Lady Gowrie Tasmania and The Basics Tasmania have teamed up with the Tasmanian Government to help give children the best start in life.

Did you know that in the first three years of a child’s life there are a million new neural connections forming every second?

There are experiences that we can offer children to give them a great start in life and maximise positive brain development.

The Basics are five principles that optimise positive brain development in young children. They are:

Maximise Love, Manage Stress.
Talk, Sing and Point.
Count, Group and Compare
Explore through Movement and Play
Read and Discuss Stories.

For more information visit www.thebasicstasmania.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram.

Brochures with more information about the five principles are also available at Lady Gowrie Tasmania Education and Care Centres.

CCS REMINDER

Don’t need to lodge a tax return? If you got CCS in 2024-25, you still need to confirm your income with Services Australia so they can balance your payments.

You can do this via your Centrelink online account through myGov or the Express Plus Centrelink app.

For more info call the Families Line on 136 150 or visit https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/balancing-child-care-subsidy.

CHRISTMAS CLOSURE

All Lady Gowrie Tasmania services, offices and programs will close for the Christmas break at the usual time on Wednesday 24^th December, 2025 and will re-open on Monday 5^th January, 2026.

We hope this early announcement gives families plenty of time to plan ahead for the closure period.

STORYPARK

Storypark allows educators to communicate your child’s learning as it happens by sharing photos, videos, audio, observations and routines within a secure online environment.

For more information about Storypark and staying connected with your child’s learning, please speak to your Service Manager or visit: https://au.storypark.com/families

Lady Gowrie Tasmania is a proud supporter and member of the B4 Early Years Coalition (B4). B4 is a movement for change to ensure every child in Tasmania is cared for and nurtured through the early years, no matter what.

To learn more about B4, please visit: https://b4.education.tas.gov.au/

FROM SUZIE | FROM MIFFY | CELEBRATIONS & EVENTS | CELEBRATING LEARNING & PLAY | THE POWER OF PLAY | TASSIE MUMS | FAMILY REMINDERS

Celebrating Learning & Play

Celebrating Community Engagement at Kingston LDC

At our service, community is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that by connecting with the world around us, children can deepen their understanding, build empathy and develop a strong sense of belonging.

This year we have welcomed a variety of external visitors to share their knowledge and experiences with the children. These sessions are always rich with learning opportunities, encouraging children to ask questions, engage meaningfully and gain insight into the many roles people play in our broader community.

So far this year, we have had visits from:

Delta Dogs – Teaching children about dog safety and how to interact with pets respectfully.

Denison Dental – Helping us celebrate Dental Week by promoting healthy oral hygiene.

Tasmania Police – Talking about the important role the police play in keeping our community safe.

Kidsafe – Supporting National Road Safety Week by educating families on proper car seat fittings and sharing valuable results with our service.

Parent Guest Speaker – Sharing a unique and exciting story about preparing for a trip to Macquarie Island, sparking curiosity and conversation.

We are also incredibly fortunate to be located next to OneCare Bishop Davies Court, where our 3 to 5-year-old children visit every fortnight. These visits involve organised art and craft sessions with the residents, creating meaningful intergenerational connections. The joy, conversation, and creativity shared during these sessions are truly special – for both the children and the residents.

We strongly believe that community engagement is a vital learning tool. It empowers children to become active participants in the world around them and supports the development of their social, emotional and cognitive skills. By fostering these connections, we are not only supporting individual growth but also strengthening the fabric of our local community.

From the Team at Kingston Education and Care Service

Fostering Friendships at Launceston Preparatory School OSHC

This term, the children and educators have been focusing on creating, developing and strengthening friendships in OSHC. They have been engaging in small group activities and exploring new experiences together, including creating tie dye socks.

Using their imagination and creativity, the children designed their own patterns with the rubber bands by folding, twisting and scrunching their socks. They also refined their fine motor skills during the challenging task of having to tie the rubber bands around their socks.

The children then picked their own colours and had a blast soaking their socks with dye! Once the socks were set, washed and dried, the children could not contain their excitement and wore their colourful sock creations all afternoon.

It was wonderful to see children working together on their designs, with the older children collaborating with the younger ones to share their skills and knowledge. This experience provided an opportunity for the children to connect and strengthen their friendships.

The children also engaged in loose parts play and deconstruction. They excitedly put on their safety glasses and used real tools to pull apart an old laptop and a broken remote-control car, discovering circuit boards, cogs and even motors hidden inside.

This hands-on exploration sparked curiosity and problem-solving as the children pulled apart everyday items. It developed their fine motor skills, critical thinking and a deeper understanding of technology while fostering teamwork, communication and imagination.

As educators, we are so proud of how these learning experiences have helped the children to strengthen their friendships and social skills through play, and we are excited to provide new play and learning opportunities next term!

From the OSHC Team at Launceston Preparatory School

FROM SUZIE | FROM MIFFY | CELEBRATIONS & EVENTS | CELEBRATING LEARNING & PLAY | THE POWER OF PLAY | TASSIE MUMS | FAMILY REMINDERS

Educators’ Day Celebrations

What an incredible week it was celebrating the care, dedication and professionalism of our educators in their vital work with children! A heartfelt thank you to our children, families and leaders for making educators and everyone in our team feel valued and appreciated.

Our Kingston Education and Care Service marked this special day with a joyful morning tea shared among colleagues, providing a moment to pause, connect and reflect on the important work they do every day.

Children and families were also invited to contribute their own messages of gratitude, and each room featured a gratitude jar poster on the door where families could leave heartfelt notes for our educators. The response was overwhelming and deeply appreciated by everyone.

We invite you to follow the link below to view a snapshot of the photos and beautiful Educators’ Day messages from children and families across all our services:

https://gowrie-tas.com.au/early-childhood-educators-day/

Thank you again to all our wonderful educators and in the words from one of our families – ‘You are seen. You are heard. You are valued’.

Book Week Celebrations

Books take readers on a learning journey of discovery, amazement and wonder. Encouraging children to read and reading with them, is one of life’s greatest gifts. Reading enhances children’s imagination, language and empathy but most of all – it is fun!

For 80 years, the Children’s Book Council of Australia has brought children and books together across the country through Book Week celebrations. Children, families, education settings and communities spend one fabulous week celebrating books and children’s authors and illustrators.

The highlight of this week at Lady Gowrie Tasmania are all the wonderful Book Week parades and costumes as children celebrate their favourite books, characters and authors. The Corporate Team located in South Hobart were delighted to attend the Integrated Centre’s annual Book Week celebrations.

Our CEO, Suzie Jones, got into the spirit of Book Week by dressing up as a butterfly and reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar to the children. Afterwards the children proudly paraded their costumes and shared their special books from home.

Stories were shared and conversations were sparked – proof that sharing and reading books really does bring people together! This delightful Book Week parade at Head Office has become a much loved and anticipated annual event on our calendar.

FROM SUZIE | FROM MIFFY | CELEBRATIONS & EVENTS | CELEBRATING LEARNING & PLAY | THE POWER OF PLAY | TASSIE MUMS | FAMILY REMINDERS

From Miffy

Miffy Wedd – General Manager Education and Care

Dear Families,

CELEBRATING ASSESSMENT & RATINGS RESULTS

I would like to extend a huge congratulations to the following teams for successfully completing their Assessment and Rating process and achieving the following results:

John Paul II OSHC – ‘Exceeding the National Quality Standard’

Gordon Square LDC & OSHC – ‘Meeting the National Quality Standard’

These are outstanding results and are a testament to these teams’ unwavering commitment to excellence and dedication to providing high-quality, safe and inclusive education and care environments that go above and beyond expectations.

CELEBRATING CONNECTION, GROWTH AND THE POWER OF PLAY

I take this opportunity to welcome the children, families and educators from St Therese’s Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) service. Thank you for welcoming Lady Gowrie Tasmania (LGT)’s team and for your patience during the transition phase. It is a fantastic OSHC service with a strong focus on children’s play and learning, and I know it will continue to thrive.

I would also like to take a moment to recognise and sincerely thank the incredible team at LGT who have supported the transition and warm welcome of St Therese’s OSHC service into our community. This has been a significant milestone, and it would not have been possible without the dedication and collaboration of many.

My heartfelt thanks go to our Education and Care Leadership Team, Cathleen Pickett (Service Manager), Rachel Knight (Educational Leader), our People and Culture Team and the Service Support Team. Your time, care and commitment have been instrumental in ensuring a smooth and positive transition for children, families and educators alike.

In July, I had the pleasure of joining our Service Managers in Launceston for two days of professional development and reflection. These Connection Days are a valuable opportunity for leaders across our education and care services to come together, share knowledge and explore how we can continue to adapt and lead through the evolving landscape of early childhood education.

Together, we reflected on the challenges and opportunities ahead, and how we can best support our teams to deliver high-quality, safe and inclusive outcomes for children and families. We are excited to extend this opportunity to our Assistant Managers in October, and I look forward to the insights and energy they will bring to these important conversations.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Caitlyn Eberhardt (Administrations Officer Education and Care) and Kate Warrener (Finance Business Partner) for their outstanding leadership and dedication in successfully rolling out Xap across our services. This has been a significant undertaking, and the commitment to ensuring a smooth and supportive transition for everyone has been truly commendable. Thanks also to Service Managers and Service Support Officers for your hard work in implementing the system in our services to support the provision of high-quality education and care.

At the heart of our work at Lady Gowrie Tasmania is a deep belief in the power of play. In our education and care settings, play is not just a way for children to pass the time, it is the foundation of learning, growth and wellbeing. Through play, children explore their world, test ideas, build relationships and develop essential life skills including creativity, communication, resilience and empathy. Whether they are constructing with blocks, engaging in imaginative storytelling or discovering the wonders of the natural world, children are learning in rich and meaningful ways.

Our educators thoughtfully plan and guide play-based experiences that support each child’s unique development. These moments of play help children build a strong sense of identity and belonging, while also supporting their emotional wellbeing and confidence. By nurturing play, we are laying the groundwork for lifelong learning and helping children thrive in every aspect of their development.

For families who are interested in learning more about the power of play and supporting children’s play at home, we have included some play resources and links in this newsletter.

2025 EARLY CHILDHOOD AUSTRALIA NATIONAL CONFERENCE: UNIVERSAL NOT UNIFORM

This month, Lady Gowrie Tasmania was well represented at the Early Childhood Australia 2025 National Conference with a small group of our staff travelling to Perth to attend. The conference was an opportunity for our sector to come together and shape the future of education and care and the legacy we leave for the next generation of children.

Stacy Benge, a featured keynote speaker, emphasised the value of integrating practical, real-world perspectives into early childhood education. She shared her conviction that children thrive when engaged in simple, genuine experiences. A strong proponent of child-led play, Stacy highlighted the critical role of play-based literacy in fostering children’s development.

A presentation from Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett introduced the attendees to the 6Rs Framework and supporting educators in responding to and de-escalating behaviours that challenge. The 6Rs speak to the significant role of regulations, relationships, routines, respect, responses and reflection.

The staff who attended the conference are looking forward to sharing their valuable professional learning insights with their teams over the coming weeks and months. To learn more about the conference and the incredible work undertaken by Early Childhood Australia in advocating for young children and our workforce please follow the links below:

https://www.ecaconference.com.au/2025/

https://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/

Please feel free to contact your Service Manager if you have any questions or require support with your children’s education and care journey at LGT.

Many thanks,
Miffy Wedd
GENERAL MANAGER – EDUCATION AND CARE

FROM SUZIE | FROM MIFFY | CELEBRATIONS & EVENTS | CELEBRATING LEARNING & PLAY | THE POWER OF PLAY | TASSIE MUMS | FAMILY REMINDERS

From Suzie

Dear Families,

I hope everyone is enjoying the longer and brighter days that come with the arrival of Spring.

WELCOME TO ST THERESE’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL OSHC

On behalf of everyone at Lady Gowrie Tasmania (LGT), I am delighted to welcome to our community the children and families from St Therese’s Catholic School Outside School Hours Care (OSHC). We look forward to working with you all and continuing to provide high quality, safe and inclusive Before School, After School and Vacation Care programs for your children.

I would also like to welcome to LGT the fantastic team of OSHC educators from St Therese’s Catholic School OSHC. This team of passionate and experienced educators will continue to work in partnership with children and families to develop fun, play-based learning programs based on children’s developmental needs, interests and experiences.

TASMANIAN TRAINING AWARDS FINALIST

At the recent Tasmanian Training Awards our Trainee Coordinator, Bec Hayes, and I had the great pleasure of accepting a finalist certificate for LGT in the Skills Tasmania Large Employer of the Year Award.

Thank you to Skills Tasmania for recognising the important work we do in supporting over 80 staff undertaking Certificate III or Diploma qualifications in Early Childhood Education and Care. Training is a strategic priority for LGT and is embedded in our daily operations – blending theory and practice through coaching, personalised study plans and peer learning.

Thank you to our trainees whose enthusiasm, passion and commitment to their learning strengthens our workforce and enriches the education and care we provide to children. Thank you also to our incredible team at LGT who provide quality sector-specific training, leadership, mentoring and support to our trainees.

This recognition of our work will further inspire our team to be a leading employer in the sector, with a focus on workforce capability whilst delivering high quality, safe and inclusive education and care programs for children.

CHILD SAFETY INITIATIVES UPDATE

Children’s safety continues to be a strong focus of the work that we do every day at LGT. Our ‘Children First’ philosophy supports the rights of all children to grow, learn and play in a safe place. We have zero tolerance towards abuse, neglect or exploitation of children and are committed to continually improving our child safety practices.

We have strengthened the safety of all children in our care in line with the new Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) child safety guidelines that came into effect on 1^st September. Thank you to families for your continued cooperation by not using phones or any device that can take photos in spaces accessed by children in our services and programs.

Other actions LGT is taking to support children’s safety and wellbeing include:

Continuing to assess risks and implement mandatory child safe standards across our services and programs
Exploring ways to integrate children’s voices in program planning and play experiences
Strengthening children’s understanding of their rights and what safety means through conversation, storytelling and everyday practices
Regularly updating our community with new child safety initiatives and improvements to our child safety practices
Promoting community awareness of how to identify and report incidents or allegations of child harm

We welcome feedback from all our families as we work together to create safer, stronger communities. Please share your suggestions with your Service Manager or email feedback@gowrie-tas.com.au.

If you have concerns about a child’s safety and wellbeing please: call 000 if you believe a child is in immediate danger; visit https://tellsomeone.tas.gov.au/; phone the Strong Families Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line 1800 000 123; and/or speak with your Service Manager or email feedback@gowrie-tas.com.au if your concern relates to a child attending LGT.

Together, we will continue to build a culture where children are safe, protected and able to thrive.

CELEBRATING EDUCATORS’ DAY 2025

I was proud to witness the entire LGT community come together and thank our educators and support staff for the incredibly important work they do every day to support children’s learning, development and wellbeing.

The messages of thanks from children and families on the pinboards in services were very much appreciated by our educators and support staff, so thank you to all families for taking the time to do this.

LGT recognised this special day of celebration with thank you cards for our teams, providing morning tea at our services and every staff member was given a drink bottle to support their wellbeing at work.

To view a collection of messages and photos from Educators’ Day 2025 at LGT please visit:

https://gowrie-tas.com.au/early-childhood-educators-day/

I hope you enjoy reading through this newsletter which includes meaningful play and learning stories from our education and care services; our Educators’ Day and Book Week celebrations; resources on the power of play; tips on supporting children’s play at home; child safety initiative updates; essential SunSmart reminders and much more!

As always, I would like to thank families for your continued support and partnership in your children’s education and care journey at LGT.

Until next time,
Suzie Jones
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER