The NSW Department of Education has hit the road to listen and learn from early childhood education services across the state.

ECE Connect is a revitalised approach to engaging with the sector to discuss key issues, provide information on programs and regulatory matters and hear from the early childhood education and care workforce.

Registrations are now open for nine free On the Road sessions across Sydney and regional NSW, with sessions filling quickly:

• Dubbo - 12 September
  
• Bourke - 13 September
• Moree – 14 September
• Tamworth – 10 October
• Port Macquarie – 11 October
• Lismore – 12 October
• Nowra – 16 October
• Cessnock – 18 October
• Fairfield – 19 October

Department Secretary, Murat Dizdar, said ECE Connect was a great opportunity to connect with the sector.

“Our return to face-to-face engagement this year has been long awaited and demonstrates our commitment to listening and learning from teachers and educators,” he said.

The On the Road sessions follow ECE Connect Online in June, which involved more than 10,000 early childhood education and care professionals attending webinar sessions.

The sessions included wellbeing in the workforce, self-assessment, allergen management, safe sleep procedures and safe transportation of children.

Additional webinars will run in November 2023 to ensure the events are accessible for all teachers and educators.

More face-to-face visits across the state are planned for 2024.

Acting Deputy Secretary for Early Childhood Outcomes, Mark Barraket, said the early childhood education and care sector made important contributions to the lifelong learning journey of children.

“ECE Connect is an opportunity to build on the success of the sector to ensure every child gets the best start in life by working together as a community dedicated to early learning,” he said.

“We are grateful for the work teachers and educators do every day to support children as they make their start in life and learning and are committed to uplifting the sector and driving meaningful change.”