Welcome to 2025! I hope you managed to take some time out for yourself over the break, resting and recharging those batteries in preparation for another school year.

We can agree 2024 was a busy year and I am sure you have all captured some “frozen moments”, memories to relive and have celebrated achievements.

For me there were many, including the registration of the Schools General Agreement, great conversations with members while at workplaces and at other events and of course, the march over Matagarup Bridge, rally at Gloucester Park and solidarity across the state.

I have portfolio responsibility for several areas within the union, and this year my goal is to showcase and share the great work that is happening in each of them through my regular Western Teacher column. Let’s kick things off with early childhood education (ECE).

Having worked most of my teaching career across Years 1-3, having senior officer portfolio responsibility for ECE is somewhat of a natural fit.

I thoroughly enjoy visiting schools and seeing the amazing spaces created where children’s curiosity and sense of imagination are welcomed and encouraged.

What does quality practice look like? That is a great question and one that can be answered by flicking through the pages of the National Quality Standard in Action.

This wonderful cross sectorial resource promotes and showcases what it looks like to optimise the learning and development of children in the early learning years. If you have not had a chance to see this publication yet, it can be viewed online here.

Copies were sent out to schools towards the end of last year, so have a hunt around to see if you can locate one at your site.

The importance of the state government’s investment in the early years was demonstrated with the appointment of an ECE minister, Sabine Winton. It has been heartening to see the steps forward, and investment in, this crucial stage of development. I look forward to the continuation of productive meetings with Minister Winton. See also page 22 for an Albanese Government election commitment on ECE.

I also look forward to working with ECE Committee members. Thank you to the dedicated members who served on the committee last year. If you are looking to be more involved and having a voice in ECE, I would encourage you to consider joining with us this year. Look out for the committee nomination forms. We would love to have you on the team.

Keep an eye out also for this year’s SSTUWA ECE Conference. This event is a must for those working in ECE and planning is already underway for another amazing day. Make sure to note the date – Friday 1 August 2025. Further information about this event will be posted on social media and in this magazine.

The International Day of Play will once again be held on 11 June so get your thinking caps on as to how you will celebrate the day. If you are having an event or planning something special, let us know. We would love to hear from you.

Working with, and for, SSTUWA members is a privilege and one that I do not take lightly. I am immensely proud of our achievements. Working together, we can achieve greatness.

Thank you to all for your membership, hard work and dedication to public education. I look forward to meeting with many of you over the course of the year.