Advocacy for Children, Families, Sector and Communities
‘We continued to offer a strong voice by actively representing and advocating for the best outcomes for children, families, workforce and the education and care sector.’
We will advocate for children with influence across governments, sector and the community for the services children and their families need.
Our 2024-25 key projects, achievements, successes to be celebrated under this priority included:
Strong Advocacy
We continued to offer a strong voice by actively representing and advocating for the best outcomes for children, families, workforce and the education and care sector. Advocating our deep experience and expertise with children to state and federal government initiatives is an important part of what we do, how we maintain our positive reputation as a leader and how we influence positive change in our sector. Advocacy work focused on influencing government policies and funding; promoting equal access to high quality, safe and inclusive education and care; raising awareness about the importance of quality early learning; and workforce advocacy for better pay, conditions and professional recognition for educators.
State Representation
EL3 Advisory Group; ECU SRG Stakeholders Reference Group; DECYP/ECEC Partnership Framework Working Group; DECYP B4 Early Years Coalition Member; DECYP RTO Advisory Committee; Vocational Learning Election Commitments Steering Committee; Early Childhood Australia – Tasmania Branch Executive Committee; Community Services Industry Plan – Workforce Coalition; DECYP Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) Reference Committee; AEDC Interagency Working Group; TasCOSS membership; Department of Health Move Well Eat Well Program; advocacy meetings with state government representatives; and media exposure on current issues facing our sector.
National Representation
CEO Member of the Department of Education’s ECEC Reference Group; member of Gowrie Australia’s collective voice which exemplifies and demonstrates high quality practice while advocating for children’s rights and safety; hosted the Gowrie Australia CEO annual face-to-face forum in Hobart; HumanAbility Children’s Education & Care Industry Reference Committee; HumanAbility Children’s Education & Care Technical Committee; and continued input to ACCC & the Productivity Commission Inquiry into ECEC which notably resulted in the sector first federal government funded wage increase that came into effect in December 2024.
Community & Family Connections
DECYP Working Together Program; DECYP Early Childhood Inclusion Service; 54 Reasons/Play2Learn; Baptcare (NDIS); Mission Australia (NDIS); Playgroup Tasmania; sponsored the Tasmanian Children’s Xmas Party for children living with disabilities and complex needs; partnered with the Beacon Foundation to support student work placements and promote working with children as an inspiring career path; refreshed LGT’s Acknowledgement to Country in partnership with SSC Consulting; supported Tassie Mums campaigns to support high risk Tasmanian babies and children, including a community donation of 40 ‘Packs of Love’ backpacks; participated in the DoE ECEC Reference Group Child Safety National Regulatory Impact process; pledged our support to NAPCAN’s National Child Protection Week campaign as a child safe organisation; promoted community awareness of the Strong Families Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line; and provided resources for families related to children’s personal, physical, online, water and sun safety.
Celebrations & Events
LGT was delighted to participate and contribute across our sector and more broadly at a local, state and commonwealth level at numerous celebrations and events; Attended the 2024 Early Childhood Australia Reconciliation Forum; celebrated 2024 National Reconciliation Week across the organisation with children’s play and learning experiences and attendance at the National Reconciliation Week Breakfast; promoted Early Learning Matters Week and the importance of high quality early learning on positive outcomes for children; celebrated the significant contribution of our workforce on Educators’ Day; supported 2024 International Day of Play and play resources to families to highlight the importance of children learning through play; and promoted the inclusion of all children, families and our workforce with recognition of Harmony Week, National Children’s Week, World Autism Day, International Day of People with Disabilities, Holi and Diwali.