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Rattler, Issue 101 Autumn 2012

Editorial comment by CEO, Leanne Gibbs
 This issue of Rattler is all about the importance of quality and the ground-breaking changes taking place across the sector.

In talking with practitioners these past months, it has become obvious that people are feeling challenged by the workload that has come with a changing system of assessment and new regulations, but they are also saying that they feel like they have reclaimed the education and care space:

‘Whilst I work it out, my team is implementing a fabulously responsive program with the children. We have happy families and an amazing community. Isn’t that what it’s all about in the end?’ — Preschool Director.

This edition of Rattler celebrates the introduction of the National Quality Framework (NQF), farewells an amazing advocate for quality and showcases research and services that are all about quality! Here you will find real substance to this often quoted word as we ask what the concept quality really means to you?

In Quality: Staff and Parent Insights, Fran Press writes about a four-year research project by Charles Sturt University on what constitutes quality in education and care. The findings around leadership and management are particularly exciting and provide a road map for enabling leadership within the sector.

There are NQF Journeys in which services share their approaches to quality improvement and their efforts in striving for excellence and we showcase a beautiful service in the ACT, Abacus Child Care Centre.

Our NQS Spotlight is on staffing arrangements a critical component in achieving great outcomes for children.

Our Autumn edition of Rattler also farewells Pam Cahir, CEO of Early Childhood Australia. Pam has been a wonderful advocate for quality and has been a great contributor to the outcome we have achieved with the NQF.

Here at Community Child Care, we are very conscious of the incredible effort that is going into the delivery of quality services and trust that this edition will inspire and excite you in your journey.

We also welcome readers from interstate as our readership grows and issues reported take on a national significance.

Leanne Gibbs
CEO Community Child Care Co-operative (NSW)

  • The Lowdown | Your guide to what’s up, who’s where, and how you can get involved.
  • Face2Face | As she passes the baton on, we talk to Pam Cahir, the outgoing CEO of Early Childhood Australia, about the sector’s future.
  • A is for Abacus | We visit our nation’s capital to tour the ACT’s largest community service, Abacus Child Care and Education Centre.
  • Quality: Parent & Staff Insights | Researchers from Charles Sturt University share snippets from their seminal study on quality in ECEC.
  • NQF Journeys | A DEC preschool, community-based service and private LDC share their quality improvement journeys in a series of NQF case studies?
  • NQS Spotlight on… | Dr Frances Press explores why staffing arrangements are fundamental to quality.
  • VOX Pop | What are the most important aspects of quality?
  • Bookworm | Ingrid Maack previews what’s new on the shelves.


Become a member to access all issues of Rattler, or purchase this issue for $15 from our online shop.

About Rattler

Rattler is the quarterly publication of Community Child Care and contains high-quality essays and articles about a wide range of social, economic, educational and political issues that affect the childcare industry, from both industry and human interest perspectives. The magazine publishes a range of opinions and offers a forum to stimulate professional development and discussion.

The Managing Editor is Eddy Jokovich. The members of the editorial committee are Lisa Bryant, Marie Deverill, Leanne Gibbs, Ingrid Maack, Gerard Moon, Wendy Shephard and Eddy Jokovich.

How to receive your copy of Rattler

There are two ways to receive your copy of Rattler:

  1. Become a Member or Associate of Community Child Care Co-operative (NSW) for $200 per year (including GST) – receiving Rattler is a membership benefit. Please go to the Community Child Care Co-operative membership page for further details.
  2. Subscribe to Rattler only. Subscriptions are just $60 per year (including GST). Download the subscription form to subscribe to Rattler.

Advertise in Rattler

To advertise in Rattler, please download the Advertising Rate Card. There are two ways to complete the form:

  1. Print the PDF file, fill in the form and fax it to (02) 9699 6919.
  2. Download the Advertising Rate Card and complete the interactive fields using Adobe Acrobat, and email the saved PDF file to admin@armedia.net.au, or print the completed form and fax it to (02) 9699 6919.

Deadlines (to be used as a guide only)

Future editions of Rattler will be published on:

  • Rattler 102 – Winter | Advertising deadline: June 1 | Publication date: June 23, 2012
  • Rattler 103 – Spring | Advertising deadline: August 24 | Publication date: September 21, 2012
  • Rattler 104 – Summer | Advertising deadline: October 26 | Publication date: December 3, 2012
  • Rattler 105 – Autumn | Advertising deadline: February 22 | Publication date: March 22, 2013

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