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About ECIA
Our Aims
-Committee of Management (Central Committee)
-Sub-Committees
Administration & Finance Sub-Committee
Public Policy & Advocacy Sub-Committee
Professional Development Sub-Committee
Conference Sub-Committee
Magazine Sub-Committee
ECIA Awareness Week Sub-Committee
Membership Sub-Committee
Website Sub-Committee
ECIA NSW aims to help young children with disabilities and their families be part of their community by:
- providing information about early childhood intervention (ECI) to families, professionals and the community
- fostering the understanding and development of best practices in ECI
- improving access to quality, comprehensive ECI services
- raising awareness of the importance of ECI
- providing leadership and support to those in the field of early childhood intervention
- evaluating and commenting on social policy and strategic directions that affect ECI
- advocating for the rights of children with disabilities and their families
ECIA (NSW Chapter) is a volunteer-run association, with support provided by a part-time Executive Officer and a part-time Administrative Officer. It encourages active member participation on all its committees, working parties, and as Association representatives.
Activities are managed by a member-elected
- Executive (President, two Vice-Presidents, Treasurer & Secretary)
- Public Officer
- Committee of Management (Central Committee)
Elections take place annually, with Executive positions having a maximum term of 3 years. A list of office bearers, committee & sub-committee members is included in the Members' magazine, Early Edition, and all can be contacted by letter, phone, fax and e-mail, through the ECIA Office.
Committee of Management (Central Committee)
- includes a wide representation of the membership, professionally, geographically and with regard to employment/service type.
- meets 5 times a year.
- performs a wide range of administrative and decision-making functions on all matters of interest to the Association. Much of this involves considering issues and recommendations presented by the various Sub-committees & Working Parties.
Any member is welcome to attend Central Management Committee meetings as an observer.
- are convened at the AGM (or as needed at other times), but may be joined by any ECIA member throughout the year.
- generally meet 1-2 monthly (face-to-face or by phone) and report to Central Committee and through the Members' magazine.
- Current groups include those focussing on: Administration & Finance, Conference, Does This Child Need Help?, Early Childhood Intervention Awareness Week, Magazine, Membership, Professional Development, Public Policy & Advocacy and Website.
- Administration & Finance Sub-committee
- Public Policy & Advocacy Sub-committee
- Professional Development Sub-committee
- Conference Sub-committee
- Magazine Sub-committee
- ECI Awareness Week Sub-committee
- Membership Sub-committee
- Website Sub-committee
Back to TopAdministration & Finance Sub-committee
- Comprises the Executive, plus any other interested members.
- Has as its main concern the day-to-day management of the Association, including
- fulfilling all internal and external accountability requirements.
- employment issues (supporting the part-time Administrative Officer and Executive Officer).
- responding to correspondence and other enquiries. Members’ issues are dealt with in conjunction with the Membership Secretary.
- monitors legislative changes and all matters that may impact on,
or are of concern to, early childhood intervention.
- addresses political issues as they arise (individually and in
collaboration with like-minded organisations).
- makes direct contact with state politicians and bureaucrats, as
appropriate.
- initiates and/or coordinates the Association's participation in
lobbying campaigns.
- solicits representation on relevant Government and non-government
working parties and advisory groups.
- organises written responses to draft Policy Papers and Public
Inquiries.
- is always keen to hear of any issues from members which they feel
need to be addressed.
- focusses on
education and training for professional, parent and student members.
- has regularly secured funding to auspice family education opportunities.
- encourages mentoring links between members.
- keeps members informed of external education & training opportunities.
- supports the development of educational and support materials, such as presentations, tip sheets and information items for the Members’ magazine.
- assumes the task of staging the annual conference, one of the major activities of ECIA (NSW Chapter)
- is newly convened 18 months to 2 years before each conference. Volunteers are always keenly sought to assist in the organization and management of this large but time-limited activity. Being part of it is very satisfying, a lot of fun and a great addition to anyone's cv!
- is responsible for producing Early Edition, one of the important ways of providing information and support to the wider membership. This magazine
- tasks for each issue include planning, soliciting contributions, editing the material received and preparing it all for printing.
Public Policy &
Advocacy Sub-committee
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Professional Development
Sub-committee
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- includes information, practical suggestions & ideas, and up-to-date news from the field
- has a broad range of articles by professionals, parents and researchers
- aims to communicate ideas, stimulate discussion, encourage enquiry and self-evaluation
- keeps people abreast of current issues and new developments
- provides the opportunity for peer support and mentoring, and is an additional medium for professional and family education
ECI Awareness Week
Sub-committee
This group trongly promotes and supports national Early Childhood Intervention Awareness Week and the accompanying Kites for Kids events via:
- encouragement and support of groups throughout the state to stage local activities that highlight the benefits of early childhood intervention for young children, their families and the broader community
- development of centralised funding submissions for statewide Awareness Week activities and support of local groups to identify and make applications for funding
- development of resources/products
- organisation of, or participation in the organisation of, selected events
- promotion of early childhood intervention and Kites for Kids events in the media.
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- liaises with the ECIA Office to maintain a membership list
- responds to new membership applications and presents these to Central Committee for endorsement
- provides Central Committee meetings with membership updates
- works with Administration & Finance, Professional Development and Conference Sub-committees on membership initiatives
- supports individual interests and needs as identified by members through introduction to other sub-committees or mentoring opportunities.
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In managing the ECIA NSW website, this group:
- works to extend the range of early childhood intervention information accessible both to ECIA members and the wider community
- promotes ECIA within the sector and the community
- constantly seeks ideas, suggestions and submissions of new material to include on the site
- welcomes input from anyone interested in and/or with skills and knowledge of website design.
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- Membership Fees
- Income from conferences, training and publications
- A peak body grant from Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care
- Occasional project-specific, non-recurrent grants.
ECIA is funded through: