BUSHkids Annual Report | 2023-24

Annual Report • 2023–24

At the core of our service delivery model is a capacity building approach, aiming to increase the capabilities of all who support the healthy development of children, including families and carers, our own staff, and those who serve children in our host communities; we also contribute to research that will have a positive impact. BUILDING CAPACITY UPLIFT, ENVISAGE AND EMPOWER!

Kindy Uplift — BUSHkids’ experience is educating the educators Kindy is of course a fun place where everyone belongs. But it also lays

Building capacity is a joint effort When a Mount Isa child exhibited a need to fidget and move during tasks at school and home, our Occupational Therapist (OT) gave valuable insights regarding sensory processing, to both parents and classroom teacher. This helped see how movement aids the child in processing sensory information, regulating emotions, and maintaining task focus. Armed with this knowledge, parents and teacher incorporated movement into the child’s learning that also helped overall wellbeing. This type of strong therapeutic working relationship with families is guided by the principles of early intervention best practice, under our service delivery model. Our therapies are designed to nurture and enhance the skills and confidence of families, equipping them to effectively support their child in everyday routines. First, we ask families to set specific goals for their child. Our therapists then provide tailored strategies to help families achieve these goals, while monitoring progress and development. Then, by seeking regular feedback from families to refine and improve our approach, we also give parents a greater sense of empowerment, confidence and wellbeing.

In 2024, BUSHkids delivered 37 Kindy Uplift workshops across Queensland. These evidence- informed workshops strengthen the capacity of Early Childhood Teachers to better understand the learning and developmental differences in their classrooms, so they can respond to specific needs. The aim of Kindy Uplift is to create culturally safe, inclusive, and responsive kindergartens. These workshops have been very well received!

the foundations for learning and growth that makes ‘capable kids’, setting them up for positive educational outcomes in later life. With a focus on giving children the best possible transition through kindy to the start of school, BUSHkids identifies and prioritises opportunities to build the skills of early educators.

And in Beth’s own words … view at ► https://t.ly/2pA9t Hear about Kindy Uplift first-hand and check out the selection of participants’ feedback below: digital readers may click to watch the video and print edition readers can type the short link above into a browser or scan the QR code on page 15 to see BUSHkids 2024 videos.

This is amazing! Thank you so much for spending the time to invest in us as professionals. We are very inspired, and it has opened our thinking some more … The in-service was appropriate to our needs with children here at Cambooya. … Great presentation, very informative.

Received with so much gratitude! We are still talking about the workshop and realisations! Thoroughly enjoyed it … the session was very beneficial and the advice you have provided was very useful.

The information I have gathered will help me support the children in my classroom and those in the future by having a better understanding of sensory processing and co/self-regulation.

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