Trumpet: Content Creator

19/06/2025

While ensuring universal access to quality, play-based early learning is vital, addressing developmental vulnerability before school requires broader systemic support—particularly around timely access to paediatricians, psychologists, and early intervention services.

Recent Australian research underscores this concern:

AEDC 2024 data shows that 1 in 5 children are developmentally vulnerable when they start school—this is higher for children from low socioeconomic backgrounds and culturally and linguistically diverse families.

The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (2023) and Royal Australasian College of Physicians (2022) have reported increasing wait times (often 12–18 months) for paediatric assessments in the public system.

Early intervention is most effective before age 5, yet many children are either diagnosed late or not at all due to long waits and service shortages, especially in regional and disadvantaged areas.

This means that even with quality early learning, the absence of medical and allied health support risks children entering school without their needs identified or supported. The solution requires integrated models—where health and education work together—with:

💜Universal developmental screening (e.g. at 18 months, 3 years)
💛 Increased funding for community-based early intervention
💜Embedded allied health in early learning settings

So yes, “making it law” to ensure early learning access is crucial—but it must be paired with reforms in child health services to truly shift the dial on developmental vulnerability.

Thoughts?!! 💭

It’s a shocking statistic - something you wouldn’t expect from one of the richest countries in the world.

But the good news is, we know how to fix it: by giving children access to high quality, play-based early learning before they start school, so they have lots of learning opportunities!

That’s why we’re calling on the Prime Minister to “Make it law” - so every child and every family has the right to access quality, affordable early learning.

16/06/2025

The 2024 AEDC data shows a significant and growing vulnerability in children’s developmental readiness for school across all five AEDC domains (physical health and wellbeing, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive skills, and communication skills and general knowledge). This upward trend — a greater percentage of children vulnerable on at least one or two domains — signals a growing equity gap that can undermine children’s future learning and wellbeing (Brinkman et al., 2015; Goldfeld et al., 2019).

Implications for Early Identification and Support:
This data underscores the necessity for timely, universal, and comprehensive identification of children’s vulnerabilities before school entry (Guthridge et al., 2021). The AEDC’s population-wide view can aid schools, health services, and policy makers in identifying children at greatest risk, guiding them toward appropriate, tailored interventions.

Support for Families’ Access to Interventions:
Evidence shows early intervention is most effective when supported by strong family engagement and accessible services (Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University, 2021; Goldfeld et al., 2020). Providing clear information to families about their children’s vulnerabilities, simplifying access to multidisciplinary supports (such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and psychology), and reducing barriers related to cost, wait lists, or geographic isolation can collectively foster better developmental outcomes.

Summary:
The AEDC data highlights growing vulnerability in children’s readiness for school across all developmental domains. Proactive identification and equitable, family-centric intervention is key to strengthening children’s developmental trajectories and closing opportunity gaps.

12/06/2025

Just as I snapped this rainbow, the speed sign lit up: SLOW DOWN in a road work zone (note I wasn’t driving 🤭).

A little reminder to pause, breathe, and not miss the beauty in the rush.

Sometimes the signs are literal. 💛

11/06/2025

A Seussy Salute to Annie and Sharon!
(Happy School Officer Day!)

In a school not too far, on a regular day,
Two stars shine so brightly in every which way.
They’re not in the spotlight, they don’t seek the fame—
But oh, how our school wouldn’t be quite the same!

There’s Annie, who smiles with warmth in her tone,
Helping our families, never alone.
She juggles the phone, the forms, and the rest—
With kindness and care, she gives it her best!

And then there’s Sharon, cool, calm, and wise,
With welcoming words and helpful replies.
Though based on another bright campus or two,
She pops in and helps like it’s nothing to do!

So on this fine day, we just want to shout,
To Annie and Sharon—we couldn’t do without!
Thanks for your help, your laughs, and your light,
For making our school days sunny and bright! 🌟

10/06/2025

The weight of menopause: You’re NOT alone!

This photo captures so much for me right now. I’m wearing a weighted vest because I’ve been reading about how important weight-bearing exercises are during menopause. The irony isn’t lost on me—carrying this physical weight feels a lot like the invisible weight I’ve been trying to navigate lately.

After reacting to the adhesive on HRT patches, I switched to the gel, but it’s been a bit of a challenge - it’s not quite cutting it. Like so much of this phase of life, it’s about trial and error, patience, and perseverance. 💪🏾😏

As an educator/ administrator and a mum of three girls, I’m used to showing up and giving my all. But the truth is, this time in my life is feeling really heavy. The moods, the fatigue—it’s a lot.

I need to be clear that I’m not sharing this for sympathy, but because I think it’s important we talk about it. Women should NEVER feel as though they are alone in this.

I exercise because it helps, even when it’s the last thing I feel like doing!! And I remind myself daily that it’s okay to struggle, to take it one step at a time.

We’re in this together, and there’s strength in sharing.

06/06/2025

🪄 Wombat Stew… but make it Year 1 magic! 🪄

For today’s assembly, our awesome Year 1s took on the classic Wombat Stew—but gave it a wild, wacky twist! With stinky socks, TNT, way too much salt, strawberries, grumpy bears… and the surprise ingredient of the year: angry teachers! 👩‍🏫💥🍓🧦🐻

This narrative innovation wasn’t just fun—it was explicitly taught and carefully scaffolded to support our students with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). By breaking down the story structure, using visuals, story maps and oral rehearsals, students were empowered so every child could contribute creatively and confidently.

Innovating familiar stories builds vocabulary, sentence structure, and comprehension—core skills for our learners with DLD. 💬📖🧠

Let’s just say… we won’t be trying their stew recipe anytime soon, but their storytelling skills? ⭐️ Chef’s kiss! 👨‍🍳✨

05/06/2025

June is Men’s Mental Health Month.

Too many of us have been impacted by the silence that surrounds men’s mental health. The truth is—talking saves lives.

We need to keep the conversations going. We need to normalise checking in, speaking up, and creating spaces where men feel safe to say, “I’m not okay.”

The stats remind us we still have a long way to go—but every conversation matters. Every time a man chooses vulnerability over silence, we move closer to breaking the stigma.

Let’s keep showing up—for each other, our mates, our brothers, our fathers, our uncles, our sons. 💙

04/06/2025

How fantastic is this?!! 🫶🏾💪🏾

31/05/2025

It’s Global Parents Day! 🌍💛💜

A huge shoutout to all the incredible parents, carers, and guardians out there—this is hands down the toughest, most important gig going… and you show up with love, grit, and heart every single day.

Thank you for everything you do—seen and unseen. The early mornings, the late nights, the quiet sacrifices, and the fierce love.

Whether you’re in the thick of it or supporting from the sidelines—you are making a difference. I am so grateful I get to do this!

Here’s to the village it takes—and to the joy, chaos, and beauty of raising little & big humans. You are amazing. 👏🏾

26/05/2025

Today, May 26th, marks National Sorry Day, a profoundly significant day for Australia. It's a day to acknowledge the immense grief, suffering, and loss inflicted upon Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by the forced removal of children from their families, a period tragically known as the Stolen Generations.

The relevance of Sorry Day today, 28 years after the release of the "Bringing Them Home" report, is as urgent as ever. The "Bringing Them Home" inquiry was a landmark truth-telling process, bringing to light the extent of Australia's Stolen Generations history, and sharing this with the nation. It exposed the devastating impact of government policies that systematically tore Indigenous children from their families, cultures, and communities.

Now, a generation on, we have already lost many Stolen Generations survivors. Those who are left are ageing. The urgency of acting now, to support elderly survivors in their last years and decades, cannot be overstated.

The Healing Foundation is at the forefront of this crucial call to action. They emphasise that while we cannot change the past, we can and must commit to ensuring that the remaining Stolen Generations survivors receive the support, recognition, and healing they so rightly deserve. Their work is vital in addressing the intergenerational trauma that continues to affect Indigenous communities.

National Sorry Day is not just about looking back; it's about understanding the ongoing impact of these historical injustices and committing to genuine reconciliation. It's a day to reflect on the past, acknowledge the pain, and renew our commitment to a more just and equitable future for all Australians.
Learn more about The Healing Foundation’s recommendations and how you can support their vital work at www.healingfoundation.org.au.

25/05/2025

“Every year on the 26th of May, National Sorry Day remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as ‘The Stolen Generations'.

National Sorry Day is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how we can all play a part in the healing process for our people and nation. While this date carries great significance for the Stolen Generations and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, it is also commemorated by Australians right around the country.

The first National Sorry Day was held on 26th of May 1998, one year after the Bringing Them Home report was tabled in Parliament. The Bringing Them Home report is a result of a Government Inquiry into the past policies which caused children to be removed from their families and communities in the 20th century.

Following this, in 2000, there was one issue that was high on the agenda at the Sydney Harbour Bridge walk for reconciliation – an apology to the Stolen Generations.

It was also high in the sky, when a group of people – independent to the organisation of the walk – had the word ‘sorry’ written in the clear blue skies above the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Such was the intensity of feeling and support for Stolen Generations members – many of whom were among the huge crowd that day.

Findings from the Family Matters Report 2024 highlight:

22,908 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are in out-of-home care, which represents 41% of all children in out-of-home care, despite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children making up only 6% of the total child population in Australia.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are 10.8 times more likely to be in out-of-home care than non-Indigenous children.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are 11.5 times more likely to be removed into out-of-home care as infants.

Only 15% of government funding is spent on prevention, such as Family Support Services, the rest is spent on child protection and out-of-home care services.

Only 6% of child protection funding is directed towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations.

We cannot begin to fix the problems of the present without accepting the truth of our history. Sorry Day asks us to acknowledge the Stolen Generations, and in doing so, reminds us that historical injustice is still an ongoing source of intergenerational trauma for Aboriginal and Torres Islander families, communities, and peoples.” - source: The Koori Curriculum

On this day, and every other day, Milliyaan Aboriginal Services honours our Elders who were impacted by the Stolen Generations and our people who continue to be impacted in cycles of generational trauma.