Education and Care Newsletter | Winter 2025

Family Reminders

CCS REMINDER

If you get Child Care Subsidy (CCS), it’s time to estimate your 2025-26 family income! Updating your family income ensures you are being paid the right amount of CCS. You can lodge your estimate by using your Centrelink online account through MyGov or the Centrelink app. To find out more visit: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/your-family-income-estimate-for-family-assistance-payments?context=41186

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 visit: https://au.storypark.com/families

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.

Lady Gowrie Tasmania has partnered with The Basics Tasmania to support our families and educators in helping children from birth to three years of age to thrive and reach their full potential.

To learn more about The Basics Tasmania program and to access the fantastic family resources to help children from birth to three years of age to thrive, please visit: https://www.thebasicstasmania.com/

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/

Winter Wellness Reminders

The cooler winter months bring colds, the flu, covid and other illnesses. That’s why being prepared is the best way to protect yourself and your family.

PREPARE!

Flu can be serious for young children. Children are most likely to catch and spread the flu and young children may become very sick. Be prepared by ensuring your child has received their annual flu vaccine. This will boost their immunity against most likely circulating flu strains and help stop them getting very sick.

PLAN!

If your child is at higher risk of becoming very sick from the flu, covid or other respiratory illnesses, make a plan with your healthcare provider for when your child becomes sick.

PROTECT!

Protect others, especially those at risk of severe illness, by keeping your child home if they’re unwell, encouraging regular hand washing, and covering coughs and sneezes.

More information about Winter Wellness for families can be found here:

https://www.health.tas.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-06/fact_sheet_-_winter_wellness_2025_-_information_for_parents_and_carers.pdf

Winter Play Ideas for Children and Families

Playing and exploring outside in winter is important for children so they can continue to build emerging skills that are crucial to their physical, emotional and social development and their overall wellbeing.

Exploring outside in different seasons also provides children with new experiences and opportunities to explore the world around them through a different lens.

So why not pop on your warm layers, head outside and have some family fun with this Winter Outdoor Scavenger Hunt!

For older children you might also like to have some fun together with these easy and intermediate winter crosswords and wordsearch puzzles:

https://www.treevalleyacademy.com/winter-crossword-puzzles/

Child & Family Wellbeing

What Is Behaviour?

Behaviour is simply how we act and respond to the world around us. For children, this includes everything from how they play, talk, and move, to how they react in different situations. From the moment they’re born, children begin learning about how the world works-and every child is different. They each have their own personality, and their ability to manage emotions depends on their age, stage of development, and individual experiences.

As children grow, they start to understand how their actions affect themselves and others. Learning to understand their feelings and behaviour is a big part of growing up. It’s not something that happens overnight-it takes time, support, and lots of practice. Our role as adults is to guide them gently as they learn these important life skills.

You have probably heard the team ‘challenging behaviour’. It is normal for children to sometimes exhibit challenging behaviour, such as behaving or expressing big emotions. If we look at behaviour through the lens of wellbeing, we begin to understand that all behaviour is a form of communication. It reflects a child’s internal state-how safe, regulated, and connected they feel. Instead of seeing the behaviour as something to “fix,” we can view it as a signal that the child may need support, understanding, or help in developing skills to navigate their feelings and social situations with greater ease.

Understanding Challenging Behaviour

Sometimes what we see as challenging behaviour is actually a normal part of a child’s development. It’s important to ask ourselves: Are my expectations realistic for my child’s age and stage? Children are still learning how to manage their emotions, communicate their needs, and understand the world around them. How we interpret a child’s behaviour often depends on what we believe about how children should behave. That’s why it’s helpful to look at behaviour through the lens of development and wellbeing. What might seem challenging to us could simply be a child expressing themselves in the only way they know how right now. When we adjust our expectations to match where children are developmentally, we’re better able to support them with patience and understanding.

For example, a 2-year-old might hit or bite other children. While this behaviour can be upsetting, it’s actually a normal part of early development. Some might believe that biting a child back will teach them not to bite, but what the child learns in that moment is confusion (you bit me so it’s ok to bite). Young children learn best through experience, by watching how adults behave, and by testing boundaries in safe and supported ways. Our role as adults is to guide them gently, helping them understand what’s okay and what’s not, while showing them how to express themselves in more appropriate ways.

Understanding your child’s behaviour can sometimes feel overwhelming, but there are simple, everyday strategies that can make a big difference. Here are some practical tips to help support and guide your child’s behaviour in a positive way:

Show the behaviour you want to see: Children are always watching and learning from us. When we speak kindly, stay calm, and treat others with respect, they’re more likely to do the same.
Create routines and structure: Having a predictable daily rhythm helps children feel safe and secure. At the same time, it’s okay to be flexible when needed-every child and every day is different.
Keep instructions simple and clear: Use short, age-appropriate phrases so your child knows what’s expected. This helps reduce confusion and sets them up for success.
Be consistent: When you respond to behaviours the same way each time, your child learns what’s okay and what’s not. This builds trust and helps them feel more secure.
Celebrate the positives: Notice and praise the behaviours you want to see more of. Be specific-say things like, “I love how you packed away your toys!” rather than just “Good job.” High fives, smiles, and claps go a long way too!
Use natural or logical consequences: When a child makes a mistake, help them learn from it. For example, if they draw on the wall, they can help clean it up. This teaches responsibility in a calm and respectful way.
Think about what might be going on underneath the behaviour: Is your child tired, hungry, or feeling overwhelmed? Sometimes a simple need is driving the behaviour, and a small adjustment can make a big difference.
Be kind to your child – and to yourself: Big emotions can be hard for little ones to manage, and they can be tough for parents too. When things get elevated, take a breath, stay calm, and be the safe, steady presence your child needs.

Helping your child build positive behaviour takes time, patience, and lots of love. These strategies aren’t about being perfect-they’re about creating a supportive environment where your child feels safe to learn, grow, and thrive. And when things feel too hard or confusing, it’s okay to ask for help. You’re not alone.

Supporting and Guiding Children’s Behaviour Resources

For additional resources on supporting and guiding behaviour for younger children please visit:

https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/challenging_behaviour_toddlers_and_young_children/

https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/emotions-and-behaviours-understanding-and-supporting-childrens-feelings-and-responses/

For additional resources on supporting and guiding behaviour for older children please visit:

https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Challenging_behaviour_school_aged_children/

https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/emotions-and-behaviours-understanding-and-supporting-childrens-feelings-and-responses/

Cindy Woolley
EMPLOYEE WELLBEING MANAGER

Play and Learning Stories

Learning through Play at Richmond LDC

Recently at our service, we have noticed a wonderful shift in the way children are engaging with play. What once began as simple role-play games and storytelling, has blossomed into rich, complex imaginative and dramatic play scenarios that are becoming a daily highlight in our learning environment.

As educators, we have been closely tuned in to these moments listening to their conversations, noticing their needs and thoughtfully supporting their play. By observing and engaging in discussions with the children, we have been able to extend their thinking and build on their learning. For instance, when a group of children began playing ‘cafes’ we introduced props such as coffee cups, plates, money and foods that the children have seen being served at cafes.

To further support this evolving interest, we have thoughtfully structured areas of the learning environment to inspire and encourage deeper imaginative engagement. Open-ended resources, props, costumes and materials are readily available and easily accessible to promote independence and creativity. We also rotate materials based on the children’s interests and feedback, ensuring the environment remains dynamic and inspiring.

Through these play experiences, the children are not only having fun, but they are developing vital skills including communication, problem-solving, emotional intelligence and collaboration. They are negotiating roles, making group decisions, expressing ideas and empathising with others – all through the power of imaginative play.

As we continue to foster this interest of dramatic play within our program and document children’s voices in our ‘planning floor book’, we look forward to seeing where their imaginations will take them next!

FROM THE TEAM AT RICHMOND LDC

Exploring Learning Environments at Norwood OSHC

Recently, the children and educators have been focusing on creating meaningful learning environments and facilitating children’s development through play-based learning.

Children have been engaging in a range of small world environments including a fairy garden, an ocean landscape and even a vet clinic role playing space. These learning environments have provided the opportunity for children to engage in imaginative play and make connections to the world around them. Extending on these experiences, the children have engaged in conversations about their own experiences visiting the beach. We learnt about their favourite holiday destinations and that many of the children love to visit their families’ shack during the school holidays.

The children at Norwood OSHC have always been heavily invested in constructive and hands-on experiences. To extend upon this interest, we have sourced some new resources including hammer and nail sets, and ‘Pix Brix’ sets which have fine-tuned the children’s problem solving, logic and fine motor skills.

In our team meetings we have researched the Reggio Emilia approach to the environment being the ‘third teacher’ and used this theory to support our learning program within our space. We discovered the importance of focusing on being intentional with our learning environments through reflecting on how we implement this method within our space. After reflecting on our program, we will be responding to the children’s voices and implementing our next program around Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). We will be introducing a STEM Club by implementing experiences relevant to each aspect of STEM and providing the children with the option to choose which area of STEM they would like to engage in.

We look forward to sharing with our families more about the children’s STEM Club and the exciting play-based learning experiences to come!

FROM THE TEAM AT NORWOOD OSHC

2025 National Reconciliation Week Celebrations

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The NRW 2025 theme, ‘Bridging Now to Next’, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future. ‘Bridging Now to Next’ calls on all Australians to step forward together, to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us.

Special activities and experiences took place across all our services and programs to celebrate National Reconciliation Week. From the many rich and meaningful children’s play and learning experiences; to sharing deeply reflective daily questions; to reading the story of Sky Country in every service; to creating reflective ‘Reconciliation Trees’; to engaging in professional development sessions on Country; to attending reconciliation breakfasts – we certainly embraced and celebrated this important week in LGT’s calendar.

Embedding Indigenous Perspectives at Penna Road

In recognition of the 2025 National Reconciliation Week theme: ‘Bridging Now to Next’.

At Penna Road, we are committed to embedding Indigenous perspectives in meaningful and respectful ways throughout our daily program. In line with this year’s National Reconciliation Week theme, ‘Bridging Now to Next’, we aim to honour First Nations culture in the present, while empowering our children to carry that respect and understanding into the future.

We incorporate practices such as an Acknowledgment to Country during our daily group experiences and ensure that Indigenous resources are always accessible within our learning spaces. These inclusions support children in building cultural awareness, appreciation and connection.

During National Reconciliation Week, the children engaged in several experiences that reflected this ongoing commitment:

During our daily yoga sessions, relaxing Indigenous music played in the background, sparking conversations among the children about the different sounds they could hear, such as the didgeridoo, clapping sticks, bird calls and rainfall. These discussions provided a valuable opportunity to explore the cultural significance of traditional instruments and their connection to Country, storytelling and ceremony.

Children harvested warrigal greens from our garden and used them to make a dip for afternoon tea, giving them an opportunity to explore the flavours of native bush foods. While picking the greens, an educator explained that warrigal greens are a native Australian plant and an Indigenous vegetable commonly used in cooking. The children were excited to learn that these greens would be added to their dip, and the discussion sparked their creativity as they began suggesting other recipe ideas that could include the versatile ingredient.

During a musical experience, Normita invited the children, to sit in a circle and join her in singing the Indigenous Australian children’s song ‘Inanay’. The children responded with enthusiasm, clapping their hands and attempting to follow the melody and rhythm. Some swayed gently to the music, while others sang along with growing confidence.

Creative expression was supported by using natural materials collected from our yard as painting tools. Children explored the textures and shapes of leaves, branches, sticks, seed pods and bark to create their artwork, discovering how each item left a unique mark. By using materials from nature and learning about their cultural significance, children began to develop an appreciation for Indigenous perspectives and the deep relationship First Nations people have with the environment.

Briar created an engaging, hands-on learning experience using Indigenous-themed resources and information, followed by a display to help reinforce and revisit the children’s learning. While exploring the display and scanning QR codes to learn how to say different Aboriginal place names, Annabel asked, ‘What’s White Beach’s name? We always visit there on holidays’. After some research, we discovered that it is called Turrakana. The children then practised the pronunciation together with much enthusiasm.

During another group time, an educator used both QR codes to further explore the information in the display. One video shared the correct pronunciation of places such as Tasmania, Mount Wellington, and other areas across the island in the local Indigenous language. The children showed great interest in practising these names together, deepening their understanding and appreciation of local Indigenous culture.

Using the second QR code, the group watched a short video about the critically endangered Miena Cider Gum, a rare tree species found only in a small region of the Central Highlands in Lutruwita (Tasmania). The children engaged in thoughtful discussion about the different shapes of the trees and described what they could see in the landscape—pointing out the sky, sun, grassy plains and other natural features.

Through both subtle daily practices and intentional learning experiences, the children were given meaningful opportunities to connect with and appreciate Aboriginal culture. These moments help us in ‘Bridging Now to Next’ – laying foundations for a more respectful, inclusive and culturally aware future.

FROM THE TEAM AT PENNA ROAD

Our 2025 National Reconciliation Week Celebrations

Please enjoy this slideshow of Lady Gowrie Tasmania’s 2025 National Reconciliation Week celebrations across our services and programs.

Brighton OSHC
Brighton OSHC
Brighton OSHC
Pedder LDC
Pedder LDC
Pedder LDC
Pedder LDC
West Launceston LDC
West Launceston LDC
West Launceston LDC
West Launceston LDC
West Launceston LDC
West Launceston LDC
Penna LDC
Penna LDC
Penna LDC

NRW25_Web-Banner_2000px-x-500px-1024x256

From Miffy

Miffy Wedd – General Manager Education and Care

Dear Families,

As we welcome the winter season, I am excited to reflect on what has been a busy and successful first half of the year across our education and care services. I am proud to share some of the highlights and achievements that have helped create even more enriching play and learning environments for your children attending Lady Gowrie Tasmania (LGT).

I am delighted to announce the upcoming installation of a new shade sail at our Penna Road Education and Care Service, made possible through a Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) Education and Care Unit (ECU) Grant Program. This additional shade will allow children to enjoy their outdoor play in a safer and more comfortable environment.

Thanks to continued ECU Grant Program support, the playground works at our Pedder and Battery Point Education and Care Services have now been completed. These vibrant and inspiring outdoor play spaces have been designed to spark imagination, encourage movement and support children’s development through play. It is wonderful to see the children and educators making the most of the new outdoor play and learning environments.

Our services recently participated in the 2025 National Simultaneous Storytime event, reading The Truck Cat by Deborah Frankel and Danny Snell. A special moment took place in the Burnett Room at our Campbell Street Education and Care Service, where children not only enjoyed the story, but also learned Auslan (Australian Sign Language) for some of the words, promoting both literacy and inclusion learning outcomes.

I am pleased to welcome Ben Kikkert as the new Regional Manager for our Long Day Care Services in Southern Tasmania. Ben brings extensive knowledge and experience in education and care and is passionate about achieving the best outcomes for children and families. Ben has transitioned seamlessly into this role and has already developed strong connections within our teams to support the operational and strategic direction of our services.

A huge congratulations to the following services for completing their Assessment and Rating process and achieving a rating of Meeting the National Quality Standards: Penna Road LDC, Youngtown OSHC and South Hobart LDC & OSHC (combined). We are incredibly proud of these teams for their dedication to providing high-quality education and care. A heartfelt thank you to our Education and Care Leadership Team, Service Managers, Educational Leaders and educators for their ongoing commitment to creating nurturing and engaging play and learning environments where children can thrive.

On Wednesday 30^th April, our Richmond Education and Care Service had an open evening for all educators in Southern Tasmania. The service shared their journey of transitioning to the new planning model and how they now share children’s voices and ideas within their service. It was delightful to see educators from many of our other services also attend this event. I would like to thank the team at Richmond for opening their doors and sharing their professional learning journey with everyone.

Throughout the months of May and June, we have brought together all Service Managers and Assistant Managers for two days of professional development and training during dedicated Connection Days. These have been a positive change for the leaders across all services, providing the opportunity to connect, learn and share their successes. To align with Lady Gowrie Tasmania’s current strategic direction, there was a focus on child safety, workforce capability, development and wellbeing.

Next Monday 7^th July, LGT will be transitioning to a new Child Care Management System (CCMS) called XAP. This modern platform will make it easier for families to manage enrolments, bookings and communications – all in one place. Training is already underway for our teams, and families will have received an email with a link to update your enrolment details.

Finally, I would like to thank all families for your continued support and partnership in your children’s education and care journey at LGT. We look forward to sharing more exciting updates with you soon.

Take care,
Miffy Wedd
GENERAL MANAGER EDUCATION AND CARE

From Suzie

Dear Families,

Welcome to the 2025 Winter Education and Care Newsletter.

Since the last newsletter, it has been an exciting time at Lady Gowrie Tasmania (LGT) with the ongoing implementation of our new play-based learning planning model in our services and the foundation work undertaken to implement XAP-our new, streamlined education and care management software package.

I take this opportunity to thank our families for their patience and understanding during this time. I would also like to thank our professional and dedicated teams who have worked tirelessly to provide a seamless transition for families and children during the transition phases for these new initiatives.

New National Child Safety Guidelines

At LGT we have a ‘Children First’ philosophy, supporting 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 therefore, we welcome the new Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) safety guidelines that have been released that emphasise child safety and wellbeing, particularly in relation to abuse and neglect and the use of vaping substances.

These new safety guidelines were developed in response to recommendations from the recent National Child Safety Review. From 1^st September 2025, important additional regulatory changes to keep children safe will come into effect including policies and procedures about safe use of digital technologies and online environments and notifying within 24 hours to report incidents or allegations of physical or sexual abuse.

In conjunction with our mandatory state Child Safe Standards, these important new safety guidelines will be carefully implemented across LGT’s education and care services in line with the recently released NQF Child Safe Culture Guide and NQF Online Safety Guide. These useful guides will provide clear direction and support our teams to share, reflect on and improve their child safety practices.

For more information about the new national child safety guidelines please speak with your Service Manager or visit:

https://www.acecqa.gov.au/nqf-child-safety-guides

Fees and Worker Retention Scheme Update

Families recently received a letter outlining the upcoming fee increases for the new financial year and updates about the worker retention scheme. As part of the Federal Government’s Early Childhood Education and Care Worker Retention Scheme announced in late 2024, LGT agreed to passing on a 15% wage increase to our workforce over a two-year period. As LGT is participating in the worker retention scheme, our fee increases for the next two years are capped under the program to 4.4% in 2025 and 4.2% in 2026. Participating in the worker retention scheme not only provides meaningful financial recognition to our valued education and care teams, but it also provides an opportunity for families to benefit from a more stable workforce, stronger communication pathways and reassurance that our services are supported by a cohesive and capable team.

Celebrating Ros Cornish (AM)

Ros Cornish, former CEO at LGT, was recently appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours for her significant service to early childhood education administration. Ros was recognised for her decades-long leadership and advocacy for the early childhood education and care sector, as well as improved wages for early childhood educators. Ros was and continues to be, a passionate advocate for access and equity in early learning. On behalf of the entire LGT community, I would like to congratulate Ros on this well-deserved recognition of all her hard work, advocacy and commitment to Tasmanian children, families, educators and the early childhood sector.

I hope you enjoy reading through this newsletter which includes an overview of our 2025 National Reconciliation Week celebrations across our services and programs; meaningful play and learning stories from our education and care services; winter play ideas for children and families; tips on managing children’s behaviour; winter wellness reminders and much more!

On behalf of our amazing team at LGT, I take this opportunity to thank all our families for working in partnership with us as we guide and support your children on their education and care journey.

Until next time,
Suzie Jones
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Education and Care Newsletter | Winter 2025

Family Reminders

CCS REMINDER

CHRISTMAS CLOSURE

STORYPARK

COMPLIMENTS & COMPLAINTS

Winter Wellness Reminders

PREPARE!

PLAN!

PROTECT!

Winter Play Ideas for Children and Families

Child & Family Wellbeing

What Is Behaviour?

Understanding Challenging Behaviour

Supporting and Guiding Children’s Behaviour Resources

Play and Learning Stories

Learning through Play at Richmond LDC

Exploring Learning Environments at Norwood OSHC

2025 National Reconciliation Week Celebrations

Embedding Indigenous Perspectives at Penna Road

Our 2025 National Reconciliation Week Celebrations

Brighton OSHC

Brighton OSHC

Brighton OSHC

Pedder LDC

Pedder LDC

Pedder LDC

Pedder LDC

West Launceston LDC

West Launceston LDC

West Launceston LDC

West Launceston LDC

West Launceston LDC

West Launceston LDC

Penna LDC

Penna LDC

Penna LDC

From Miffy

From Suzie

New National Child Safety Guidelines

Fees and Worker Retention Scheme Update

Celebrating Ros Cornish (AM)