Making the KU Difference
Through innovation
KU Emerald Hill Child Care Centre;
KU Padstow Preschool;
KU Penrith Preschool
There are three recipients of this award this year – KU
Emerald Hill Child Care Centre, KU Padstow Preschool and
KU Penrith Preschool. Each service took on the challenge
of participating in the first and second trials of the draft
National Quality Standards and Rating System.
KU Emerald Hill participated in the first trial and
their feedback and experience helped inform the
documentation of the second trial. Although the service
was familiar with the outgoing Accreditation system, this
trial required staff to throw away past experiences and
participate with open minds.
KU Penrith and KU Padstow Preschools participated in
the second trial. This was a very new process for preschool
services and the staff at both these centres had less than
six weeks, close to the end of the year, to complete their
documentation.
The three directors led their teams on a journey through
the process and we are proud to say that these KU
services were amongst the top 20% of participating
services across Australia who achieved National Quality
Standard or higher in the trials.
This award recognises the invaluable contribution the
services made to help influence the new Quality Standards
and Rating System for the early childhood profession.
Research Projects
During 2011 KU approved 7 new research projects
to be undertaken in KU centres by universities and
research agencies.
KU concluded its partnership in the longitudinal
study ‘What is life like for babies and toddlers in
care’ with Charles Sturt University and National
Family Day Care, and contributed to a final report
for the Australian Research Council. The ‘Social,
Economic and Health Benefits of vaccinating
children in day care centres against influenza’
research project, in which KU partnered with
National Centre for Immunisation for Research
and Surveillance, Children’s Hospital at Westmead,
has been put on indefinite hold.
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KU Children’s Services