Professionals from Bangladesh, East Timor, Indonesia and India
Melbourne workshop May 25 to June 2, 2006

Childcare professionals from Bangladesh, East Timor, Indonesia and India, and Australian academics will attend a workshop in Melbourne (May 25 to June 2) to discuss issues and share ideas about early childhood care and development (ECCD).

Early childhood care professionals who manage ECCD programs in Plan-assisted communities in Asia will be available for interview during the nine-day workshop organised by the Australian office of Plan, one of the world’s leading international child centred community development organisations.

Ms Jan Parry – Plan program manger and workshop organiser says participants will present achievements, challenges and future strategies in early childhood care at the University of Melbourne on Thursday, May 25 (from 1:30pm). “In order for a child to benefit from education starting in their very first year of school, they need care and development in their formative years,” Ms Parry says.

Ms Lorna Bacolong – ECCD Advisor, Plan East Timor will be available for interview. Plan East Timor is in its early stages of developing a comprehensive earl childhood care and development program. To date, Plan East Timor has assisted with the establishment and equipping of early childhood care centres and has commenced training for pre-school teachers and volunteers.

Ms Mehta Nirali Kishore – Technical Advisor ECCD with Plan India will be available for interview. Plan India’s ECCD program, which is aligned with the Indian Government, operates in remote tribal areas where government services are minimal. The project aims to build quality services that the government will take on over time. In Delhi, Plan with partner Mobile Creches, provides ECCD services in slum areas and on construction sites for labourer’s children.

Mr Mohammad Mohsin – Learning Advisor with Plan Bangladesh will be available for interview. In Bangladesh, Plan runs home-based ECCD for children under three years and runs parenting education classes. For older children, Plan runs the Community Action Learning Project (CLAP) for pre-school and primary school children in poor urban and rural communities.

Workshop participants will also visit Melbourne childcare centres including the Monash University Community Family Cooperative Childcare Centre on Monday, May 29 (the media are welcome to attend by arrangement). These visits will enable the workshop participants to learn about the Australian early childhood care and development environment.

Plan’s ECCD work in Asia is funded by the Australian Government’s overseas aid program AusAID and donations to Plan from the Australian public.

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Tim Cansfield-Smith - Media & Comms Manager, Plan
0411 642 194

Heather Ellis - Media Officer, Plan.
0425 720 193