 |
 |
| Home | About ECIA | ECIA Conferences & PD Events | Membership | FAQ | Links | Awareness Week | Jobs in Early Childhood Intervention | Publications & Training | Position Statements & Submissions | Members Only |
About ECIA
Our Aims
-Committee of Management (Central Committee)
-Sub-Committees
Administration & Finance Sub-Committee
Conference Sub-Committee
ECI Awareness Sub-Committee
Magazine Sub-Committee
Membership Sub-Committee
Professional Development Sub-Committee
Public Policy & Advocacy 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 ECI
- 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 5-6 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 (mostly by teleconference) and report to Central Management Committee and through the Members' magazine.
- Current groups include those focussing on: Administration & Finance, Conference, Does This Child Need Help?, Early Childhood Intervention Awareness, Magazine, Membership, Professional Development, Public Policy & Advocacy and Website.
- Administration & Finance Sub-committee
- Conference Sub-committee
- ECI Awareness Sub-committee
- Magazine Sub-committee
- Membership Sub-committee
- Professional Development Sub-committee
- Public Policy & Advocacy 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 co-ordinates 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
Back to Top
Professional Development
Sub-committee
Back to Top
- 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
This group strongly promotes and supports national Early Childhood Intervention Awareness Week, with its accompanying Kites for Kids events, as well as other opportunities to showcase the importance of ECI 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.
.
Back to Top
- liaises with the ECIA Office to maintain a membership list
- responds to new membership applications and presents these to Central Management Committee for endorsement
- provides Central Management 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.
Back to Top
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.
-
Back to Top
- Membership Fees
- Income from conferences, training and publications
- A peak body grant from the NSW Department of Human Services, Ageing, Disability and Home Care
- Occasional project-specific, non-recurrent grants.
ECIA is funded through: