Skip to main content

Management

Early Years Management

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.

Early Years Management

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.

Board of Management

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.

Board Recruitment Procedure

  •  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.

Current Board Positions Vacant

There are currently no ECKA Board positions available.

Please contact the ECKA CEO on 0400 089 143 if you have any enquiries.

Further training for Educators

Educators looking to take the next step in their career can now apply for a place in one of the Early Childhood Innovative Initial Teacher Education (IITE) programs or in The Front Project’s Upskill Program.

The Front Project’s Upskill Program

The Upskill Individual Program has been designed specifically for early childhood educators who want to take the next step in their career by undertaking a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education.

The Upskill Individual Program provides simple tools, peer-to-peer support, mentoring, and online resources to help you move confidently through your early childhood teaching degree and into your first years as a qualified teacher.

The Upskill Individual Program will:

  • support you to make the transition to university study.
  • help you gain confidence in your practice.
  • provide you with access to exclusive leadership and professional development opportunities.
  • connect you with a network of fellow early childhood educators and teachers.

For more information visit Upskill program (thefrontproject.org.au)

Early Childhood IITE Programs

The Victorian Government is partnering with the following universities to support eligible Victorian educators to upskill to become qualified early childhood teachers:

  • Australian Catholic University
  • Deakin University
  • Victoria University

These programs can be completed in a compressed timeframe of between 18 months and two years. Courses are delivered via a combination of online, face to face and intensive study options, and recognition of prior study and professional experience.

Students (educators) can stay in the workforce while they learn.

For more information visit Innovative early childhood teaching courses | Victorian Government (www.vic.gov.au)

Employment

ECKA is the employer of the Educators (teachers and assistants) at all ECKA managed services. ECKA employs a CEO, Administration staff and Early Education Advisory Teachers to assist all services. Teaching Staff at all early childhood education services are required, and supported by ECKA, to have a continuing professional development plan, and access to quality professional support and training. This is of great benefit to staff children and families who attend the early childhood education service.

ECKA are always looking for highly skilled passionate Educators to join our team, to view essential criteria and position objectives please click on the relevant positions below.

Current Teacher/Educator Positions Vacant

Applications are invited from Cert III, Diploma and Bachelor Trained Early Childhood Educators for casual positions.

Expressions of interest are invited from Certificate III Early Childhood Educators who would like to undertake a workplace traineeship whilst studying for your Diploma in Early Childhood Education.

To apply for a Relief Staff position, please download the Relief Staff Application Form

Early Childhood Teachers

Essential Criteria

  • Qualifications; Early Childhood Teacher or Equivalent
  • VIT ECT Registration
  • First Aid HLTAID004

Key Selection Criteria

  • Excellent knowledge of and ability to implement the NQF
  • Thorough knowledge of Early Years Learning Frameworks and ability to apply
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
  • Demonstrated ability to work as a team member

Position objective

  • Develop and provide a high quality developmentally appropriate educational program for the children in consultation with ECKA and the parents of children attending.
  • Provide educational leadership while working as a member of a collaborative service team, to provide a developmentally appropriate educational program
  • Operate in a professional manner at all times, complying with the requirements of the National Quality Framework, including the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 and Regulation, National Quality Standard and current Learning Frameworks; Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and all ECKA policies and Procedures

Kindergarten or Child care Educators

Essential criteria

  • Certificate III in Children’s services
  • Working with Children’s Check
  • First Aid HLTAID004

Key Selection Criteria

  •  Excellent knowledge of and ability to implement the NQF
  • Thorough knowledge of Early Years Learning Frameworks and ability to apply
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
  • Demonstrated ability to work as a team member

 

Position Objective

  • Work cooperatively and professionally as a member of a team to assist in the provision of a high quality developmentally appropriate educational program
  • Operate in a professional manner at all times, complying with the requirements of the National Quality Framework, including the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and all ECKA Policies and Procedures

Scholarships and Incentives

Financial support from The Victorian Government is available for people looking for a rewarding career in the early childhood sector.

Register your interest with The Department of Education to learn more about opportunities and incentives for early childhood professionals.

You can also view and apply for a scholarship or incentive.

Scholarships

Early Childhood Scholarships are available to help people build their careers in early childhood education, without an additional financial burden.

The Early Childhood Scholarships and the Early Childhood Aboriginal pathway scholarship initiatives are part of the Victorian Government’s $370 million investment to bolster our kindergarten workforce.

Scholarships can be used to pay for course fees, living costs while you study, or other costs associated with your education.

To view or apply for scholarships via the early childhood scholarships and incentives application portal.

Teacher Incentives

Under the Victorian Early Childhood Teacher Incentives program, there are two types of financial incentives available for qualified early childhood teachers from July 2023 to June 2024:

  • Individual incentives of $9,000 (before tax) are available for eligible early childhood teachers working outside the Victorian early childhood sector to take up a teaching role at any service delivering, or planning to deliver, funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten in 2024.
  • Location incentives of between $9,000 to $50,000 (before tax) are available for eligible early childhood teachers who take up a teaching role at selected services.

Eligible applicants who meet the criteria for both types of incentives will be able to receive both payments.

relocation supplement of between $1,000 to $8,000 will also be available for incentive recipients who relocate more than 100km from their current place of residence to take up a role.

Click Here to view the Victorian Government guidelines for Teacher Incentives.

Educator Incentives

Under the Targeted Educator Incentives program, there are two types of educator incentives available for qualified early childhood educators from July 2023 to June 2024:

  • Individual incentives of $9,000 (before tax) for eligible educators working outside funded kindergarten in the Victorian early childhood education sector, to take up a role in a kindergarten program at any service delivering funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten in 2024.
  • Location incentives of $9,000 (before tax) for eligible educators to take up a role in a kindergarten program at selected services.

Eligible applicants who meet the criteria for both types of incentives will be able to receive both payments.

A relocation supplement of between $1,000 to $8,000 will also be available for incentive recipients who relocate more than 100km from their current place of residence to take up a role.

Click Here to view the Victorian Government Educator Incentive Guidelines.

Membership

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

Complaints/Compliments/Comments

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;-

  • You have the right to make a complaint, comment or compliment about any aspect of our service to you
  • All complaints or will be taken seriously and will be confidential
  • All complaints will be dealt with promptly and we will do our best to resolve any concern you have in relation to our services to you
  • You will not be discriminated against in any way if you make a complaint and you can still attend normal services while any complaint is being investigated.
  • All comments and compliments will also be reviewed by ECKA management teams to assist in ECKA’s continuous quality improvement processes to assist in the development of high quality services

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

Board Reports

2022 Annual Report
24/5/23 | 4126.175 MB
2021 Annual Report
20/5/22 | 3159.472 MB
ECKA Strategic Plan 2021 – 2024
4/10/21 | 1609.711 MB
2020 Annual Report
27/5/21 | 3397.955 MB
2019 Annual Report
5/8/20 | 6345.292 MB
2013 Annual Report
3/10/19 | 9780.359 MB
2014 Annual Report
3/10/19 | 7270.382 MB
2015 Annual Report
3/10/19 | 6852.512 MB
2016 Annual Report 2
3/10/19 | 1652.731 MB
2016 Annual Report
3/10/19 | 1643.283 MB
2017 Annual Report
3/10/19 | 3545.214 MB
2018 Annual Report
3/10/19 | 11515.245 MB
error: Content is protected !!