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The B4 Strategic Plan 2024-2029
The B4 Early Years Coalition invites you take a look at our brand new Strategic Plan for 2024-2029. These aspirational plans and goals speak to the heart of the work undertaken day in and day out but the B4 Support team, Leadership and members to ensure Tasmanian children get the best possible start in life: no matter what!
B4’s approach is to continue to ensure Lutruwita/Tasmania’s early years systems acknowledge “thriving children live in thriving systems”. The It takes a Tasmanian Village: Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy (the Strategy) also acknowledges that for all Tasmanian children and their families to thrive it will take the collective efforts of everyone that make up the “village” surrounding children and families. By ensuring children have:
- Loving and secure relationships
- A sense of belonging
- Access to services and supports
- Healthy food and environments
- Opportunities for play and discovery and
- Positive and inclusive communities
B4, its members, leaders, partners and friends help to promote that same thriving community, through a collective impact that is true to the unique nature of our island home.
Click or tap here to access the Strategic Plan here (PDF will open in new tab)
September 2024 Calendar of celebrations, awareness and memorial.
September is a busy month but don’t forget to take time to remember the past, reflect on the future and be present in the moment as you revitalise your workplace practices, classrooms and play spaces. Here’s a list of inspiring days to help you reimagine your programs.
13 September – Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is the most comprehensive international instrument on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. It establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity and welling-being of the Indigenous Peoples of the world and it elaborates on existing human rights standards and fundamental freedoms as they apply to the specific situation of Indigenous Peoples. It was drafted and formally debated for over twenty years prior to being adopted by the General Assembly on 13 September 2007.
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted by the General Assembly on Thursday, 13 September 2007, by a majority of 144 states in favour, four votes against (Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States) and 11 abstentions (Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burundi, Colombia, Georgia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Samoa and Ukraine). Years later the four countries that voted against have reversed their position and now support the UN Declaration.
Nine years have passed since the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Many of the rights in the Declaration require new approaches to global issues such as development, decentralisation and multicultural democracy. In order to achieve full respect for diversity, countries will need to adopt participatory approaches to Indigenous issues, which will require effective consultations and the building of partnerships with Indigenous peoples.
Information on, and a copy of the Declaration can be found on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples website
- 1st September – First Day of Spring
Spring celebrations in Tasmania celebrate our unique townships, pristine wilderness and creative expression. On Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula, Nubeena Bee Festival (5 October) celebrates our champion pollinators and their sweet honey. See fields of intense colour at Table Cape Tulip Farm on the state’s north-west coast (late September, for a month). To coincide, the local council runs the Tulip Festival Wynyard (12 October), with food, music, art and vibrant entertainment. Launceston’s Junction Arts Festival (19–22 September) is about extraordinary arts events in unusual places. Artists gather in Sheffield’s Mural Park to compete in the annual Mural Fest (3 –9 November), with the artworks remaining on display for the following year – worth a look regardless of when you visit. And unique contemporary art thrives in the most unordinary of places at the Unconformity – an inventive, biennial festival on the rugged west coast (October 2025). Lastly, The Tasmanian Craft Fair (1–3 November) and The Tasmanian Chamber Music Festival (8–10 November) is also here to liven things up. Want a copy of our September Calendar to write all your favourite days into? Click the image below.
- 1st September – Wattle Day
- 1st September – Father’s Day
- 1st – 30th September – Social September
- 1st – 30th September – Footy Colours Day
- 1st – 30th September – Foster Care Month
- 1st – 30th September – Biodiversity Month
- 1st – 30th September – Save the Koala Month
- 2nd – 6th September – Australian Teacher Aide Appreciation Week
- 3rd – 11th September – History Week (NSW)
- 3rd – 9th September – National Child Protection Week NAPCAN
- 4th September – National Health and Physical Education Day
- 4th September – Early Childhood Educator’s Day
- 4th September – Indigenous Literacy Day
- 5th September – International Day of Charity
- 7th September – Threatened Species Day
- 8th September – International Literacy Day
- 8th September – National Bilby Day
- 13th September – Roald Dahl Day
- 13th September – World First Aid Day
- 14th September – R U OK? Day
- 15th September – International Day of Democracy
- 17th September – Australian Citizenship Day
- 19th September – Talk Like A Pirate Day
- 20th – 26th September – International Deaf
- 21st September – Clean up the World Day
- 21st September – World Gratitude Day
- 21st September – International Day of Peace
- 23rd September – International Day of Sign Language
Bullying? No way! A national week of action, 2024.
Myth: There’s no such thing as bullying in the early years!
Fact: Even children as young as 3* can participate in bullying behaviour.
As we raise awareness around the Bullying No Way week of action, it’s important to distinguish the difference between bullying and other social interactions that are common in the early years. Children have the right to choose who they do and don’t engage with, they are still learning about the feelings of others and discovering their sympathy and empathy towards others when it comes to things like sharing, refusals and bouts of unregulated frustration – but! Bullying is different, and the key difference that the behaviour becomes:
- Targeted
- Repetitive
- Intentionally hurtful
- and it involves an imbalance of power.
I wonder if you can guess, based on the above, which scenario depicts bullying behaviours:
“Percy asks Bennet the Wallaby if he can play with her and the rest of his pals. Bennet says, “No, go away.” which hurts Percy’s feelings. Percy tries again later and eventually finds a way to enter the game. Bennet isn’t actively encouraging Percy to play but she’s also no telling him to leave the game. Percy and Bennet have the same interaction again the next day, but this time Bennet sees Percy become upset and changes her mind, “Ok ok …” she huffs and Percy joins in.”
-Or-
“Percy asks Bennet the Wallaby if he can play with her and the rest of his pals. Bennet says, “No, go away.” which hurts Percy’s feelings. Bennet laughs at this and calls Percy a big baby. The next day Bennet sees Percy in the sandpit and asks him, “are you going to cry again, big baby?” this hurts Percy’s feelings again, he’s also left feeling very confused, “Did I do something wrong?” For the rest of the week, every time Bennet sees Percy at Bush Creche, she calls him a baby and laughs. Now every time Percy sees her, he becomes anxious and hides instead of playing. Poor Percy.
This second scenario depicts bullying in the playground, the first (though not ideal) is fairly typical behaviour that is both age and developmentally appropriate for a 3-5 year old. Both scenarios are excellent opportunities for supporting the emotional development, resilience and sense of self in the children at this ‘care setting’. raisingchildren.net.au has some amazing tips, resources and guides on their website for parents, educators, teachers and children. You can find them here: https://raisingchildren.net.au/…/preschool-bullying…
*[Source of evidence for bullying behaviour shown in children as young as 3 years old: Vlachou, M., Andreou, E., Botsoglou, K., & Didakalou, E., (2011). Bully/victim problems among preschool children: a review of current research evidence Educational Psychology Review. 23(3). 329.]
Meet the artist behind B4 Mascot Percy, the Tasmanian Pygmy Possum.
We’re often asked about the artist behind Percy, our playful and kind B4 mascot. Percy was designed by Leanne Bock, who also happens to be very playful and marvellously kind. There’s a lot to love about Leanne’s body of work, her joyful mark making, and fearless exploration of form and function showcase the secret and beautiful lives of often, mundane objects and places that may not ordinarily garner a second look as we pass them by day after day, after day …
Percy’s look and design are often key in engaging people for the first time with the B4
story. Recently when attending a HealthLit Expo at Bowen Road Primary School, we kept being told that folks wanted to come to our table in particular because it was so colourful and engaging.
Percy was also a wonderful conversation starter, his image adorning our books and brochures caught the eye of adults and children alike, “But where (is) he now? Is him sleeping?” asked one child, looking under our table for the Pygmy Possum in case perhaps he was napping on the crates of pamphlets.
He wasn’t the only child to stop at our table, one by one as parents paraded past, little hands would reach out towards the images of Percy, adorning the table and alerting families to the resources on offer, and in doing so they formed a human bridge between the B4 story and a brand new audience.
“Leanne Bock is an independent Naarm/Melbourne-based graphic designer and illustrator offering boutique services across print and digital. With a career spanning over two decades in Australia, the UK and France, Leanne’s specialised skillset comprises illustration, publication design, and high-end retouching.
Having worked on a wide range of communication projects in the fields of the arts, publishing, manufacturing, sustainable agriculture, health, education, housing and community development, she carefully crafts customised visual solutions by combining a comprehensive awareness of client needs and contemporary culture with a sensitivity for detail and a commitment to professional, personalised service.
Recent and current clients include Laurence King Publishing, Thames & Hudson, Soane Britain, Frasers Property Australia, Epworth HealthCare, Tasmanian Department of Education and Kids in Harmony.”
Percy the Pygmy Possum — Leanne Bock // Art Design Illustration
For more information about resources or inviting Percy to attend your community event, please reach out via b4@decyp.tas.gov.au