Making the KU Difference
For children
The annual KU Difference Awards are designed to recognise and celebrate KU staff that have worked over and
beyond their normal duties, and have made a significant contribution to KU. The awards are peer nominated
and are open to any KU staff member or team that has made the KU Difference in one of the award categories.
Victoria Stuart, Marion Batchelor,
Gudren Turner and
Priyanthi Kulasingham they have with the children in the service, who have a diverse
range of learning needs. This highly supportive team are
skilful in their practices and responses to the high needs of
the children who attend the service.
Throughout KU services, additional support staff work in
collaboration with centre staff to promote the inclusion of
children with additional needs and to provide additional
support to these children to assist them to benefit from the
early childhood educational program. Between preschool terms, and in their own time, the team
source and attend professional development and learning
opportunities as well as attending staff meetings to further
develop their skills and knowledge. They do this in order to
support the children through best and current practice, this
knowing their employment contract may not be extended
the following term due to funding constraints. Along with
working within the daily program, the team is actively
involved in ongoing research through the KU Early Learning
and Literacy Initiative (ELLI) program and effectively support
the primary care giving staff to implement the inclusive
learning philosophy of the program.
Support Staff, KU Briar Cottage Preschool
and KU Macarthur Learning Together
At KU Briar Cottage and KU Macarthur Learning Together
the four recipients of this award work exceptionally well as
a team and bring their individual qualities to the interactions
KU’s commitment to inclusion
In 2012 KU very proudly continued to deliver on our commitment to the inclusion of all children through
a variety of inclusive settings and programs. KU’s Education Support Team supported thousands of children
throughout the year, including:
• The Speech Pathology Program carried out 69 assessments of children, and
• KU Indigenous Programs supported 111 children and families.
In addition:
• KU Family Programs supported 705 children from 561 families, and
• KU’s Early Language and Literacy Initiative (ELLI) provided support for 119 children and their families,
as well as 36 staff, to promote language and literacy in the home and centre environments.
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KU Children’s Services