SDN Children's Services Inc. Annual Report 2010

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Professional development, SDN scholarships and staff awards ‘ Professional development In a staff survey conducted in October 2009, the opportunity for learning and development was chosen by 93 percent of staff as the number one reason they joined SDN. Providing educational and professional development opportunities to our staff is a priority. At SDN we have put more resources into developing our staff, our community of learners. Our challenge is to keep the momentum going and continuously improve how we support our community, so they can share their valuable skills and experience with our families and children. Rachel Evans, Learning and Development Advisor Throughout the past year SDN staff received more than 4219 internal hours of training and professional development. This corresponds to 33 different programs, with 753 staff attending 142 sessions catering for all staff. This includes a half-day induction training course for all new staff. In addition we invested $143 688 on external professional development for staff through conferences, courses, seminars, professional programs and workshops. The following 11 SDN staff members received financial support of $500 each towards further education. Amanda Preston Megan Turner Lauren Giardini Will Milthorpe Sahra Tohow Maree Friend ‘ Sarah Sheekey Cuijuan Cao Emerena Marsh Deb Gleeson Gerri Beltran SDN scholarships: mentoring and supporting future teachers Since 2004, SDN has awarded the Hilda Antill Leadership Scholarship (worth $3000) to a fourth year student studying at the Institute of Early Childhood at Macquarie University. The scholarship is awarded in honour of Hilda Antill, who worked at SDN for 34 years from 1949 to 1983. Hilda worked in several leadership positions, including on the Executive Committee, as a member of the Nursery School Teachers’ College Council and as President and Vice President of the Woolloomooloo Branch Committee. The 2010 recipient of the Hilda Antill Leadership Scholarship was Kristen Hammond. ‘I see my role as an early childhood teacher to be one that crosses boundaries and advocates for the needs of children and families both distinctly within the early childhood field as well as through collaboration with other professionals in children’s services,’ she said. At the presentation, Kristen thanked SDN and said that she is looking forward to the opportunity to undertake a practical placement at an SDN Children’s Education and Care Centre. Petersham TAFE graduate Thecla Georgiou was presented with the Rhonda Pearce Scholarship: Dedication to Relationships with Infants at the Sydney Institute of TAFE Awards ceremony. The scholarship is dedicated to the memory and commitment to children shown by Rhonda Pearce, former long-term SDN staff member. Lynn Connolly, an Early Childhood Educator at SDN Surry Hills, was awarded the Melia O’Donnell Travelling Scholarship. As part of the scholarship, Lynn received $4000 towards Level 1 training at the Pikler Institute in Budapest. Pikler began as an orphanage more than 60 years ago and has since expanded to include child care and play groups. In June 2010 Lynn travelled to Budapest and spent 14 days at the Pikler Institute learning about the teachings and practice of Emmi Pikler, the founder of the Institute. Michelle Lane, Kristen Hammond, Amanda Preston and Fran Bastion ‘ A highlight for me was learning the true meaning of respectful interactions. The experience I had in Budapest has had a profound effect not only on my practice but on how I see our role as educators. Every aspect of my practice has been influenced by this experience, from how I change a nappy to how I hold and interact with an infant. I will use the experience to help create an environment that emulates the same level of respect that I was privileged to see at Pikler. Lynn Connolly ‘ External awards for SDN staff Amanda Preston, an Early Childhood Educator at SDN Hurstville and a Macquarie University student, was awarded the Institute of Early Childhood Foundation Scholarship for Professional Leadership. The scholarship is awarded to an outstanding student with leadership potential. Amanda will complete her Bachelor of Teaching (Birth to School Age) in 2010 and plans to commence a Postgraduate Diploma in Early Childhood in 2011. 28 28 SDN Annual Report 2010
Congratulations to all of our scholarship and award recipients Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander NSW Training Awards: state finalist We would like to congratulate Kowana Welsh, an Aboriginal Program Support Officer with SDN’s Aboriginal Unit, for her academic success and her journey from Petersham College Student of the Year to State Finalist in the NSW Government Training Awards. Kowana won several awards following the completion of a Certificate III in Community Services (Children’s Services) at Petersham College (NSW TAFE), including Petersham College Student of the Year 2010 and Petersham College Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year 2010. Kowana then went on to win the NSW TAFE Sydney Institute Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award 2010. The award was contested by students from the eight colleges of the Sydney Institute. At the presentation dinner Kowana said that her highlight was completing a traineeship with SDN. ‘My community is very important to me. We need to nurture our children because they are our future. I want to continue my learning and eventually do a university degree in Early Childhood. I want to empower Aboriginal families by working at the grass roots level.’ After winning the NSW Central and Northern Sydney Regional Training Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award, Kowana became one of 10 state finalists in the NSW Government Training Awards. ‘ The judges were extremely impressed with Kowana and the prestigious Student of the Year Award recognised her academic success as well as her important work with children in her community. Jean Burns, Director of Petersham College ‘ ‘ To be considered one of the top 10 Aboriginal students in the state is an incredible achievement. Deb Mann, Director, Aboriginal Unit Rotary supports SDN staff undertaking further study Soukup Memorial Scholarships are sponsored by the Rotary Club of Sydney to support people undertaking further education or training. Each scholarship is worth up to $2500 annually and covers tuition fees, course materials and equipment. Two SDN staff members received a Soukup Memorial Scholarship in 2010: Sarah Chambers of SDN Ngallia and Katerina Athanassiou of SDN Erskineville. Sarah works as a Child Care Assistant and is studying a Diploma in Early Childhood, and Katerina is an Early Childhood Educator and is undertaking a Bachelor of Teaching (Birth to Five Years). Left to Right: Chris Hoban, Managing Director, Surry Office National with Kowana Welsh and Claire O’Conor, Associate Director, Organisational Capability, Sydney Institute ‘ ‘ This semester my subjects are Learning Language and Investigation: Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood. I am using what I am learning in the workplace. It is wonderful to learn that everyday mathematics, science and technology are involved in children’s play. The topics have also prompted discussions amongst colleagues at work and this has led to further developments in our educational programs and sharing of knowledge amongst the team. I am very grateful to the Rotary Club of NSW and thank them for their support. Katerina Athanassiou, Early Childhood Educator, SDN Erskineville Lisa Hoffman (left), Family Educator with Brighter Futures, won The Academic Award for Excellence following her graduation from The Australian College of Applied Psychology. ‘ SDN Annual Report 2010 29
Page 1 and 2: SDN Children’s Services Inc. Annu
Page 3 and 4: SDN SDN Annual Annual Report Report
Page 5 and 6: What we do SDN was established in 1
Page 7 and 8: Our purpose We aim to provide the h
Page 9 and 10: Ginie Udy, Susan Salter, the Hon Ve
Page 11 and 12: Our performance: The year in review
Page 13 and 14: Goal 4 Being financially strong Our
Page 15 and 16: Encouraging a sense of community: H
Page 17 and 18: Early Learning Program is for child
Page 19 and 20: organisation, putting children firs
Page 21 and 22: 1951 Bathurst; Double Bay (closed 1
Page 23 and 24: We are constantly trying to improve
Page 25 and 26: People and Culture Unit Marketing a
Page 27: 2009-10 annual staff survey results
Page 31 and 32: The voices of children and families
Page 33 and 34: Media coverage In 2009-10 we issued
Page 35 and 36: In 2009 -10 SDN awarded Aboriginal
Page 37 and 38: ‘ We’ve been helping families t
Page 39 and 40: The voices of families in our progr
Page 41 and 42: Effie Bland Chair of the History Co
Page 43 and 44: SDN Child and Family Services’ Bo
Page 45 and 46: Our financial performance The conso
Page 47 and 48: We thank everyone who gave permissi

SDN Children's Services Inc. Annual Report 2010

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