learning

I find great benefit in considering pedagogy in a social constructivist way, as inspired for me and so many others in early learning by the preschools and infant toddler centres of Reggio Emilia, Italy and increasingly, as translated and transformed into progressive early learning environments (including child care) throughout the world.

To me, this thinking goes to the very heart of how we envision childcare and what image we have of the child. In particular, the child constructing meaning or “learning” in relation to others.

The Reggio experiences have profound implications for thinking, wisdom, knowledge and, indeed, the evolution of human consciousness.

It really is no wonder, then, that when asked to host the 12th International Conference on Thinking, Australia invited Reggio pedagogista Carlina Rinadi to present alongside futurists, philosophers and educators like Peter Senge, David Perkins, Richard Slaughter, Edward de Bono, Art Costa, Guy Claxton, Susan Greenfield and others.

The conference is seen to break through the normal academic barriers to thought.

Melbourne in July anyone?

There is also a smaller 2-day event being co-ordinated by the Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange with Carlina and Eujlalia Bosch, among others. Both their biogs are on the conference website.

Conference convenors Karin Morrison and Jane Stewart both come from senior roles in education, so that will be a key theme/sector.

9th and 10th July
Hilton on the Park, Melbourne
Carlina Rinaldi and Eujlalia Bosch will speak on both days.

We also have three other confirmed speakers

1. A Doctor of Chinese medicine who will speak about
“Listening to Ourselves: mind and body
2. Boori Pryor an Aboriginal performer and speaker - Listening to the Past and the future can we hear peace.
3. The impact of listening to stories in understanding ourselves and others.

These titles are only the gist and still to be worked out.

We have also invited Li Cunxin (Mao’s Last Dancer” Listening to the movementt of the body. this has still not been confirmed.

$440.00 including GST

These are both unique and powerful opportunities.

It would be great to see debate about the advancement of these notions in a childcare context as Dr Pat Patrie did at the National Child Care conference held in Perth earlier this year.

We need to start removing the artificial barriers between care and education.

As far as ongoing WA opportunities go, the conversations being facilitated by Anna Alderson and Marie Martin are open to all.

Jan Phillips (ex-Penrhos ELC) is the WA convener for the Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange and has been generous enough to share her thoughts and resources over the last couple of years. She is now working fulltime on her PhD in Early Learning (with a Reggio emphasis). Really quite an amazing woman.

My undergraduate studies were in communications and cultural theory, looking at Berger, Sartre, Barthe, de Bouviour, Said etc and whilst I do find much of this material dense, I choose to have an image of child care teachers/workers/educators as capable of engaging with the heart of these ideas if presented in the right way.

I can imagine an enrichment programme (including study scholarships for conferences, study tours etc) to be a very achievable outcome.

I can imagine a vision of childcare that embraces the idea of children learning in relationship with each other, with their parents, with their teachers, with their environment, with their local community.

It’s about the journey.

Here are my musings after returning from an advanced study tour to Reggio Emilia in 2003. Printable version here.

This article appeared in “The Challenge” - the national journal of the Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange. These are the people to talk to if you are interested in study tours or direct dialogue with the Reggio project.

Reggio & Buddhism

Has it ever occurred to you there are strong parallels between the Reggio experience and Buddhist philosophy? This confluence came back to me again and again during a deeply affective week in Reggio this October 2003.

It seemed we were being invited to:

See the immense potential of questions, and

Question everything - within our OWN context - before accepting, then to keep questioning.

Listen…listen…listen.

Enter into ongoing dialogue.

See loving relationship as a key. See the interconnectedness of life. Of children and families and teachers and their environments, their culture/s.

Look deeply into the present (the eternal moment), with respect for the past and thought for the future.

Respect thinking as a process, and as a discipline.

Embark on an inner journey.

All of this rings true for the invitations Buddhism presents. At least that’s how I’m seeing it. I wonder what others think?

One of the last times I gave myself the chance to sit - thinking and listening - for days on end was during His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Australia in 2002. This wise and gentle man spoke of such elements coming into play if we are to develop wisdom and compassion.

In the spirit of all this, a question or two (out of hundreds) that remained with me. How can I continue this journey of awe and thoughtfulness whether I am in Reggio Emilia or not? How can I understand and respect my own context better, my own Australian culture, values and community?

One thing’s for sure, I’m preregistering for the 12th International Conference on Thinking in Melbourne, July 2005 where Carlini Rinaldi is presenting, along with Edward de Bono, Richard Slaughter and other leading thinkers and philosophers. (See www.thinkingconference.com for information.) I’ll also be dreaming of the possibility of returning to Reggio Emilia in the next year or two to continue learning within that very fruitful community.

Thank you to Jan Millikin, Marie Martin, Jan Phillips, Sarah Lovegrove (nee Giambazi) and everyone in Reggio Emilia who help create such rich soil for our own gardens to grow.

Libby Davy

Libby is working on a Reggio-inspired project in Fremantle, Western Australia - to set up a progressive childcare centre for children 0-6 years. She is the mother of Beatrice (three in January) and has a background in cultural studies and communication theory, ethical business and stakeholder relations. Libby was a co-founder of the Sustainable Business Network (Aust.) in 1998.

There is much being discussed and thought about the profound implications of the work being done in the infant toddler centres and preschools of Reggio Emilia, Italy.

For an introduction to this educational project, which is an essential point of reference for anyone looking at early learning, start by going direct to the source.

If you ever have the chance when travelling near or far to experience The One Hundred Languages of Childhood exhibition, do. It can change your life and ideas about what children are capable of.

“This exhibit
opposes any prophetic pedagogy
which knows everything before it happens,
which teaches children
that every day is the same,
that there are no surprises,
and teaches adults
that all they have to do is repeat
that which they were not able to learn.”

Loris Malaguzzi

“Children have a hundred languages, and they want to use them all. They learn very soon how difficult it is for this right to be recognized and above all respected. This is why children ask us to be their allies in resisting hostile pressures and defending spaces for creative freedom which, in the end, are also spaces of joy, trust, and solidarity.” (from Reggio Children website).

The WA State Government are looking very seriously at improving child care in this State and contributing to the national agenda.

When Hon Sheila McHale opened the National Child Care Conference in WA in October 2004, she announced the context, mandate and membership of the new WA Child Care Advisory Committee and said:

“FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS STATE HAS A COMPREHENSIVE CHILDREN’S STRATEGY. THE CHILDREN FIRST STRATEGY OUTLINES THE COMMUNITY’S SHARED VISION FOR OUR CHILDREN.

IT PROVIDES THE DIRECTION AND SUPPORT REQUIRED TO ENABLE GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES TO WORK TOGETHER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL OUR CHILDREN.

…

BEFORE I CLOSE I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHILD CARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

THIS INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE WILL PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE, NOT ONLY IN PROVIDING ME WITH ADVICE AND INFLUENCING POLICY DEVELOPMENT RELATED CHILD CARE IN THE DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, BUT WILL BE A VOICE THROUGH WHICH THE VIEWS OF CHILDREN, PARENTS AND CHILD CARE WORKERS CAN BE HEARD.

THE RESPONSE TO THE CALLS FOR NOMINATION WAS IMPRESSIVE AND THE COMMITTEE INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF SKILLS, EXPERIENCES AND INTERESTS.

I WAS KEEN TO INCLUDE MEMBERS WHO COULD BRING FRESH IDEAS TO THE TABLE AND CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO WHILE AT THE SAME TIME INCLUDE OTHERS WHO HOLD A VALUABLE COLLECTIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE CHILD CARE SECTOR IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

IT THEREFORE GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE: • MS LIBBY DAVY • MRS PAMELA ELLIS-KANE • MS ODETTE HALEY • MRS GAYLE HERON • MS TERESA HUTCHINS • MS CHRISTINE I’ANSON • MRS KATHLEEEN PINKERTON • MR GRAEME WINTERS • MS JEAN RICE AND DR JANN MARSHALL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH • MS CORA-ANN WILSON AND MS SUE OZICH FROM THE DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND • MR TIM MUIRHEAD AS CHAIR.

THE COMMITTEE IS TO COMMENCE ITS WORK WITH A TWO DAY STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP EARLY IN NOVEMBER. THEY WILL BE INCLUSIVE AND CONSULTATIVE IN THEIR APPROACH AND THEIR FOCUS WILL BE ON IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF CHILD CARE IN THIS STATE. PLEASE WELCOME AND WORK WITH THEM TO ACHIEVE THIS FOR OUR CHILDREN. ON THAT POSITIVE NOTE, I DECLARE THIS CONFERENCE OPEN AND WISH YOU WELL. “

(emphasis added)

A full copy of Minister McHale’s speech is available here.

The relevant section of the Children First policy is the Early Years Strategy. It makes plain that the path has being laid for an agenda of positive reform and progress.

I am a member of the Committee. Throughout my recent submissions to Fremantle Council, the media and others, I make clear that my comments are as a community member and NOT as a member of the CCAC.

And I do look forward to bringing in fresh ideas to the table and challenging the status quo.

To find out what the WA Child Care Advisory Committee are working on or to make a submission (and I do hope we soon start to hear directly from parents) contact:

Rhonda King
rhondak@dcd.wa.gov.au
Project Officer, Child Care Advisory Committee
Department for Community Development
9222 2561 (Tuesdays & Thursdays)

It is intended that the Committee will have their own website soon.

And thumbs up to Independent Chairperson Tim Muirhead for inviting a ‘progressive reformer’ like me to be on this Committee in the first place.

Hearing about Tim and his work was the reason I took the plunge and nominated. He’s a very cool guy doing great work that has the potential to gently change the way communities develop - in positive and connected ways.

Tim’s appointment gives me faith in the State Government’s ethos around community development and child care in particular.

My application or credentials (current as at 11 August 2004), if you want to call them that, can be viewed online. They are out of date, but then.. that’s the learning journey.

I’m looking forward to being able to make a contribution to the advancement of high quality child care for ALL from “within the system” - as well as from within the community.

Hon Lynn Maclaren MLC had only been in her South Metro seat for a short while when she picked up this issue and ran with it. Paul Murray on 6PR was also keen to give the issue some mainstream (hot) airtime with Lynn’s help.

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday 16th March 2005

Greens call for urgent action over pollution at Childcare Centres

The Greens are calling for tough new rules to limit pollution at childcare centres. Recent controversy over a proposal to establish a childcare centre on a major road in a light industrial area in Fremantle has raised broader concerns over soil and air pollution levels at childcare centres.

In Western Australia there is increasing evidence that childcare centres are being established along main roads and on contaminated sites that have been subject to some level of clean up. As a result babies and toddlers are potentially being subjected to dangerous levels of pollutants at the most vulnerable stage in their development.

“It is not acceptable that children are spending long hours being exposed to vehicle emissions,” said Lynn MacLaren, MLC, Greens spokesperson for Pollution and Air Quality.

Vehicle emissions are an array of chemicals including carcinogens such as benzene, diesel fumes and fine particulates, which cause respiratory diseases.

“We need new rules that prevent childcare facilities from being established in locations with poor air quality such as industrial estates, main roads and contaminated sites,” Ms MacLaren stated.

Development approvals for childcare facilities have traditionally been left to local government authorities who lack the resources and expertise to investigate soil and air quality concerns.

“This matter must be addressed without delay,” said Ms MacLaren. “We will be calling on the Minister for Community Development, who is responsible for the Early Years Strategy announced in December, to investigate the extent of the problem and assess air quality at current risk sites.“

“The Government’s Children First Agenda should include introducing strict new rules to ensure children are not placed in this situation again through poor planning decisions,” she added.

Contact:
Lynn MacLaren: 9336 1991 / 0403 721 921

For those of you who don’t know our background on this issue, we must mention that we have indeed been working very hard over the last two years to open a progressive, holistic childcare centre in South Fremantle.

That’s another story, which will make it up onto this BLOG in the fullness of time. Still putting the archives together… Suffice to say, trying to open a child care centre in a residential/mixed use area is much harder than in an industrial one.

Do you wonder why?

Unless, perhaps, you happen to have Graham Burkett on your payroll.

One of the local journo’s suggested our stand on the toxic child care issue was motivated by competition. Here’s our response to that.

Yes - we confess. One day we do aim to help establish a centre of excellence in early learning in the wider Fremantle area - or possibly further afield.

Will it be in competition with the one proposed at the intersection of Hampton /Douro Roads? Definitely not.

Beyond the essential requirements of child care licensing, we obviously have different ideas about what constitutes a high quality child care environment and indeed, on closer examination - vastly different educational, spiritual and community development frameworks.

Wherever and whenever our centre emerges, it will be far removed from the type of centre we have opposed in this industrial area. It will be in a healthy, safe environment where possibly our own children, our community’s and our friend’s children will flourish peacefully within the kind of harmonious, quiet, beautiful space they deserve.

That’s what we believe in. That’s what we’re working towards, along with the City of Fremantle, WA State Government and other key stakeholders - who are now also thinking progressively and strategically about these vital social capital, economic and health issues.

In in reality, the “toxic child care” proposal in Fremantle - albiet 86 places and well outside of minimum standards let alone best practice - is really just one centre. There are more systemic issues at stake. Let’s focus on them.

For the cynics, it might be worth looking at my application for a position on the WA Child Care Advisory Committee (see other post re: this) and remembering that sincerity can still exist in this day and age - and is not mutually exclusive of critical thinking. My professional and personal journey has led to a very conscious decision to promote the advancement of high quality child care and yes, I confess, I am truly passionate and single minded about this.

Consider the implications of not being vigilant and aware. Total corporatisation of child hood with Burkett style deals being done to open and run child care centres wherever and however it is most cost effective. That’s our current trajectory. Yes, these are indeed dark days for ‘progressives’. Anyone that has seen “The Corporation” or “Super Size Me” for example, will know just what I mean.

It is crucial that the diverse needs of the community are catered for through a variety of child care models. It’s not just about demographics and basic planning models and in many ways, market forces can deliver diversity.

In the absence of better Government funding for community services, the work of the church is to be commended. We will continue to offer our support to Christian City Church Fremantle to help them find a safe, healthy location for their proposed Centre.

It is also essential that corporate conglomerates like the recently merged ABC/Peppercorn Childcare behemoth (a Land Alliance client) do not get to take over childhood entirely. We would never allow 20% or more schools to be listed on the stock market - so why are we allowing children from 0-6 years to be auctioned to the highest bidder? Read about this vital issue here at Rattler magazine - the Australian child care sector’s leading journal.

We need business, community and government to work together for the best outcomes. We need legislation to control how and where child care is located.

Most of all, we need to debate and examine child care issues fully on a local, national and international basis.

Yes I confess, I do want parents and children in Western Australia to have access to the best child care and education the world has to offer. Infact I demand it - and, if you listened to the hopeful, sincere voice inside you - so would you.

I’m prepared to keep doing what I can to help achieve this, in whatever ways I can.

I hope you will too.

I sent this letter to Fremantle City Councillors today. It references the Lead Advisory Service Australia website which in turn now references our original media release regarding toxic child care in WA.

………..

From the Lead Advisory Service Australia

http://www.lead.org.au/lanv3n1/lanv3n1-6.html

“There are no specific rules to assist authorities assess the lead or other toxin contamination of a site.

“Sutherland Shire Council recently adopted a resolution (an interim measure until a formal policy can be adopted) saying it would no longer approve child care centres on heavily trafficked roads until a full risk analysis of lead and other airborne contaminants has been completed. We hope they won’t be missing soil and dust lead. If the lead is already there, the airborne lead is just adding to the contamination. Lead is just one reason not to have child-care centres on busy roads.”

These decisions must be specific to safe levels for children, not the general population.

See the comments on my website posted re: acceptable levels by a senior town planning lawyer who is following this issue closely, eg. “Measurable limits can be described as a worst case scenario. Above that science says that the limits are intolerable. That is merely for the average person - ie an adult. Where are the studies for such impacts on children of tender years??? I wonder if they even exist.”

Not to mention noise… see previous research forwarded from a contact in Child Care Licensing re: noise and learning. When we were on site for a photo with the Gazette the other day, the children there with me spontaneously put their hands over their ears. That was for only 10 minutes at 3pm. Not 5pm when traffic will be even worse and children will still be outside.

Please remember the Education Department’s practice of, when in doubt, use “Prudent Avoidance”.

If you were to simply spend an hour at this site during peak traffic, Monday - Friday, the answer would be clear.. let alone 10, 20 or 30 hours a week.

Regards

Libby Davy

Gotta love this Word Press BLOG software thingy for being such an easy way to add content to the web.

Lee Loo (Bea’s God Mother) is awesome and we want to shout it to the roof tops. So when she is an (even more) famous we can say.. yeaahh, we knew her before all that.

Heee heeee.

And just incase you are on the East Coast of Australia and are looking for a truly “wick)ed” Circus Teacher or stunt woman for that matter - without further ado, we present… Lee Loo

It’s been quite an exciting ride knowing this bird… (like the time she got me to jump 14,000 feet out of a plane maybe)

And just incase you have come here through early learning links, might I say that every ELC needs circus “curriculum”. It’s the best.

………..

4 March 2005

To whom it may concern

LEE O’SHAUGHNESSY
CIRCUS TEACHER EXTRAORDINAIRE

From the first moment we entered her ‘classroom’, we felt blessed. My daughter Bea was only 2 years old.

Lee created a safe, nurturing and exciting environment in which the children could challenge themselves physically, emotionally and socially. Indeed, so could the parents!

Her unique, loving nature helped create an environment where new relationships and capabilities flourished.

Technically, Lee is very competent. The children could learn solid circus and gymnastic skills from her. They were thrilled and delighted by the some of the more advanced and daring tricks she could pull off. But it was not just that that set her apart.

The thought and creativity that Lee shared with us meant we were all expanded by the fun and joy of what we experienced. Whether it was the books she made herself and brought in, or the animal yoga warm up exercises – Lee was always looking for new ways to engage and inspire us.

During the two-and-a-half years we watched Lee build up the WA Circus School’s preschool class from scratch to three sessions a week at its peak, we witnessed love in action. She’s a natural. And anyone that has a chance to learn with her is very lucky indeed.

Anyone that has the chance to employ her is also very lucky indeed. Lee gave so much to the Circus through community events, performances, fundraisers, planning and management.

She will be missed by all of us, greatly.

We wish her all the best.

Sincerely

Libby Davy

Parent Representative, WA Circus School Board

(From a Senior Town Planning Lawyer)

Your email (media release) raises a deeper issue than merely one of “pollution” in a directly measurable or hazardous sense.

Measurable limits can be described as a worst case scenario. Above that science says that the limits are intolerable.

That is merely for the average person - ie an adult.

Where are the studies for such impacts on children of tender years??? I wonder if they even exist.

Children should not be reduced to an “average” - they are our living future.

A greater care must extend to children than the adult population. Every child must be given the best opporiunuty for a healthy, satisfying and rewarding life.

Any risks associated with the development of a young child’s life and mind must not be greater than what the adult population is exposed to.

An adult can assess that risk and work in such an environment. A child cannot.

The pressure of the inadequacy of child care places should not drive parents who are struggling with the financial difficulties of raising a young family to take risks with the future well being of their children.

This is not a market driven issue or one of choice.

The level of risk is such as to make this kind of choice unacceptable and unavailable to young parents.

We would not allow a hotel next to a primary school.

It says something about our society that young children and child care centres are being relegated to the risks asociated with light industrial areas and major roads, particulary in locations where heavy haulage vehicles frequently use such roads.

We would not allow the development of a new residential complex in a light industrial area. Why should a child care centre even be capable of considseration in such an area? This makes no sense at a fundamental level and must be addressed.

Have we become so insensitive to the sound of joy and laughter of children that they must be drowned out by the jarring sounds of traffic noise. Surely this Is not the start to life and learning we want for our children.

PS: BENZENE & SPRAY PAINTING ISSUES

The benzine issue/toxic hazard can be VERY VERY serious and with a bit of web searching you would get a clear picture, but I don’t know enough about it. I don’t know what the proportion of diesel driven vehicles on major roads in WA is to determine the severity of this issue in our local environment. But benzene can be very harmful to human health.

I also think that the DEP has guildelines for keeping certain industrial uses such as spray painting away from sensitive land uses. (DEP = Dept for Environmental Protection.) Must be on the Web. Talk to an officer of the DEP is probably the best. You could also refer the proposed child care centre to the DEP for formal environmental assessment. This could have the effect of suspending the local government decision making.

The general principle or “shortcoming” with planning law (depending on your point of view) is that who comes onto land first (say spray painting), can’t be controlled by the later use (say child care) because the spray painting was on the land first.

This is also the general principle of the law of Nuisance.

So, the most important thing is to make sure that the “later” land uses are right in the first place. Otherwise, they are too difficult to fix up later and may have in that time already caused irreperable harm.

My first post. Finally I’m blogging. Hi Gra! Thanks for getting me going. I will probably now start to understand a whole heap more about you and blogging and all sorts of stuff. Good to have the words flowing anyway… now on to putting up that media release, and inserting links and stuff. Wow. It’s happening. The birth of another elephant in the back room demanding to be fed.

This site is called “learning” for a few reasons.

1. I’m passionate about the importance and implications of early learning.

If we give kids and parents a good start, then we can really hope to see human society evolve in healthy, happy ways.

One day we might even start measuring Gross Domestic Happiness, like the King of Bhutan. Heck, even the scientists and economists are starting to talk about that revolution.

The preschools and infant toddler centres in Reggio Emilia are a major inspiration. We will be going there again soon to see them at work. In the meantime, you can catch Carlina Rinaldi, Reggio Pedagogista Extraordinaire at the 12th Conference on Thinking in Australia with Ed de Bono, Richard Slaughter and Co.

2. I’m passionate about my own learning.

It’s a Saggitarian thing.

Okay, so it’s day one and I’ve already learnt a few things about blogging:

1) You could do it all day!

Wandering from your site to someone else’s, heading off on their tangents as well as your own. It’s personalised ’surfing’ I suppose (if that’s not now too uncool to say). There are threads and connections. It’s more meaningful and social than surfing outside bloggersville.

2) It’s hard to know who you are talking to

I suppose I will always be talking to myself most of all, and Gra in case he drops in. Perhaps I will end up hearing from others from time to time, but I can’t imagine having “regulars” or a structured idea of an audience. So I guess I’ll just do my thing and think of it as a way to add content to the Net for random access to search expressions… and enjoy clarifying my ideas and feelings as I prattle on.

Blessings (to me? you? whoever is out there)

Libby

For those of you out there who care a bit or a lot about children’s rights… here’s what we’ve been battling away on lately. Hope it gets some coverage and stirs up some debate.. we shall see. A positive local decision at any rate.

We live just around the corner from this and walk/drive past all the time, taking our Bea to Kindy at a much healthier place.

Thank goodness we’re not going to have to drive past the land in question and inwardly grimace at not having done anything to stop it.

.

MEDIA RELEASE 16 March 2005
.
“No” Vote For Toxic Child Care

.
The City of Fremantle Council said “No” this week to a proposal for a major child care centre that would have set a dangerous benchmark for children’s health.

Despite political pressure to approve the 86-place centre, Fremantle’s largest, the Council stood its ground and made a decision that reflected commonsense and caution.

“In the absence of controls to stop this kind of thing happening, it was a frustrating and risky process. But in the end, good reason, good ethics and good planning prevailed,” said quality child care campaigner and local mother Ms Libby Davy. “Now we have to ensure this result carries over into safe, healthy child care for all children,” she said.

Bizarrely, the proposed centre was in an industrial area next to spray painters, boat builders, the Coffin Cheaters clubhouse and at one of Fremantle’s worst crash sites – the busy intersection of Hampton and Douro Roads. It was also well outside EPA guidelines for separation distances between industrial and sensitive uses.

This controversial proposal became a test case for child care and the decision has set a positive benchmark for other Councils to take the lead from.

“But sadly, right now there are child care centres throughout Australia on major roads, disused petrol stations and other places of poor environmental health and safety. Busy parents often have little choice due to a lack of quality places,” Ms Davy said.

Councillor Helen Hewitt led the charge to protect young children in this instance from exposure to high levels of constant noise and air pollution during their key developmental years.

“The facts were clear, but common sense alone should tell us we fail our duty of care if we approve child care in such inappropriate places,” said Cr Hewitt. “We must work as a community to find the best, healthiest places for children to play and develop,” she said.

It is expected the applicants will attempt to win approval at a later date, armed with new research and consultant’s reports, despite the first environmental consultant they hired going public to oppose the site.

The applicants, Christian City Church, planned to turn the children’s only outside play area, alongside intersection traffic lights, into a 24-bay car park on Sundays.

Hon Barbara Scott MLC, WA Shadow Spokesperson for Children and Member for South Metro, made a compelling submission to Council on the rights of the child and their developmental need for safe, high quality outdoor play spaces.

Hon Lynn MacLaren, WA Greens MLC for South Metro, submitted a referral to the EPA to assess the site on environmental grounds.

“Child care is the most sensitive of land uses and EPA guidelines state that centres should be well removed from industrial uses and the associated risks. But local government says it’s not their job to apply them and in this case, that’s what initially happened,” said Ms MacLaren.

“The council have made a sensible decision,” said Ms MacLaren. “However this case highlights the need for strong guidelines being used regarding the siting of child care centres. These types of guidelines exist for the siting of schools, why not child care facilities, where children are younger and more vulnerable?”

– ENDS –

For more information or comment contact

Ms Libby Davy - Advocate for high quality child care. Community Representative, WA Child Care Advisory Committee (commenting as a private community member): 0419 943 989

Hon Lynn MacLaren MLC – Greens MLC for South Metro: 0403 721 951

Cr Helen Hewitt - Chairperson, Development Assessments Committee,
City of Fremantle: 0405 307 153