The Eureka Community Kindergarten Association (ECKA) is a not-for-profit Early Years Manager, providing Management and Employment Services for 28 early childhood education services (Kindergarten, Long Day Care and Occasional Care) in the Ballarat and surrounding area.
ECKA was established in 2003 by a group of volunteers from seven founding Community Kindergartens.
All parents/guardians with a child attending an early childhood education service managed by ECKA, are members of ECKA Inc. ECKA is licensed by the Department of Education (DE) to operate children’s services, and as such are responsible for ensuring compliance with State Government licensing requirements. All early childhood services managed by ECKA provide a State Government funded kindergarten program for children in the two years before they attend school.
ECKA Management and Administration Staff are responsible for all operational aspects of the early childhood education service, including managing staff, financial management, maintenance and compliance.
ECKA is operated by a Board of Management as required under the ECKA Constitution. The Board consists of 5-11 elected representatives.
Board members are volunteers who are chosen to ensure the Board has a wide range of skills, experience and expertise, such as Business Management, Finance/Accounting, Legal, Education, Governance, HR and Communications.
ECKA employs Administrative Staff to undertake, under the direction of the Board, the day to day running of the organisation. The Board are responsible for the broader issues such as; development of policy direction, ensuring the proper financial operation of ECKA, compliance with legislative requirements, strategic development and direction for the organisation.
When recruiting members to the board, the board must ensure that the provisions in the ECKA constitution with regard to membership, term of office, tenure of members etc. are complied with.
Members of the ECKA Board are responsible for identifying new board members and contacting potential members for the ECKA Board and it sub-committees. Where there is a need to fill a casual vacancy on the ECKA Board, Board members are responsible to identify an appropriate candidate.
There are no positions vacant on the ECKA Board at this time
As a parent or guardian of a child attending an early childhood education service managed by ECKA, you automatically become a member of ECKA.
Participation in your children’s time at early childhood education: ECKA managed early childhood education services still maintain a committee or parent support group in which you may wish to be involved. There are opportunities to assist with Milk and Fruit, Working Bees, Fundraising, Excursion assistance, etc. All such activities can be undertaken without the added pressure of being the employer of the staff or responsible for the legislative compliance issues that face Committees that are not with an early years manager such as ECKA.
Professional Development Network: Your children will be taught by qualified Early Education staff who are additionally supported by two highly qualified mentoring staff and supported to attend professional conferences and training throughout the year.
Consultation & Communication: The ECKA utilises both this website and a Facebook page to share community news, kindergarten information and current events. Services utilise ‘StoryPark’ for direct communication with families currently enrolled in an ECKA program. ‘StoryPark’ is an online based software that allows educators to share children’s learning outcomes, photos, general notifications and information directly to parents via private messages.
Advice & Information: The staff in the ECKA office have many years of experience in early education – as teachers, administration and employment, committee members. They are available to assist with a range of issues from enquiries, complaints, compliments, or referral to other agencies.
To view further details of ECKA membership please follow the link to the; ECKA Constitution or request a copy from the ECKA Administration office.
Early childhood education services may wish to be managed by ECKA. If your kindergarten is considering the possibility of joining ECKA, please contact the ECKA CEO on (03) 5339 5055
ECKA Value all feedback from children, parents, and families using ECKA services. Complaints, compliments or comments assist us to provide high quality early education and care services.
If you wish to make a complaint, comment or compliment, please be assured of the following;-
Complaints/Compliments/Comments can be lodged either verbally or in writing in the following ways:-
ECKA CEO
11 Grandview Grove, Wendouree 3355
Mobile: 0400 089 143
Email: info@ecka.org.au
Or
Department of Education (DE)
Manager Quality Assessment and Regulation Division
109 Armstrong Street
North Ballarat Vic 3350
(03) 4334 0589
email: grampians.qar@education.vic.gov.au