EDUCATIONAL TOURS
(Register for these Tours when you complete your registration for the Congress)

To complement the Congress program, a series of half and full day tours have been arranged prior to and following the Congress to enable you to experience some innovative children’s programs and services first hand. Programs and services have been selected with community, diversity, inclusion and the celebration of indigenous culture in mind.

Bookings are essential and places are limited. You are required to nominate your choice and forward payment with your registration details.

The cost of each tour is $30.00 per person for half-day tours (includes coach transportation and admission and refreshments) and for full-day tours $50.00 per person (includes coach transportation, admission, lunch and refreshments).

All tours will depart promptly from the Congress Venue, at the time nominated for each tour and return to this point.

Please note: For some tours a minimum number of participants must be achieved. If a tour you have booked has to be cancelled, you will be notified in advance and offered an alternative or a refund. The same will apply if tours are over subscribed.

Tour A: Early Childhood Services
Wednesday 21 July 2004 - Time: Full day - 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $50.00

Visit a selection of early childhood centres offering flexible, community driven approaches to program delivery including long day care, preschool/kindergarten, occasional care, after-care and maternal and child health services. You will hear about how playing and the telling and sharing of children’s stories forms the basis of programs at one centre, providing flexible orientation for new children and incorporating families in the running of the service at another and how a mix of programs for families and children are integrated within the one structure.

Enjoy a hearty lunch at the historic Fairfield Boathouse situated on the banks of the Yarra River overlooking native bush and water birds.

Tour B: Community Playgrounds - Indigenous Culture and Art
Wednesday 21 July 2004 - Time: Full day - 9.30 am – 3.30 pm
Cost: $50.00

Visit a range of municipal playgrounds built around individual community inspiration and spirit, including a playground with the needs of families with children with disability as its focus.

Enjoy the delights of the Mia Mia Aboriginal Gallery and Café where visitors will be given the opportunity to discover the meaning, expression and passion of past and present aboriginal artists and experience an insight into indigenous culture. Here you will also have the opportunity to relax and enjoy a meal in the beautiful setting of the Westerfolds Park Manor overlooking the picturesque Yarra River Parklands.

Tour C: All About Books
Wednesday 21 July 2004 - Time: Full day - 9.30 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $50.00

Visit the Lady Gowrie Resource Centre, a specialist bookshop and library established to meet the professional development needs of children’s services personnel. Hear how the resource centre operates and browse through new releases both nationally and internationally.

Then take in the sites of outer metropolitan and the rural countryside as you travel to the Dromkeen Children’s Literature Collection. Here you will be able to view original artwork from children’s picture book’s, wander in the gracious gardens and see bronze sculptures of story book characters, and visit the Bookshop which specializes in children’s literature and the visual arts. You will also be provided with a refreshing lunch to enjoy in this enchanting setting.

Tour D: Bilingual & Bicultural Early Childhood Programs
Wednesday 21 July 2004 - Time: Full day - 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $50.00

You will see innovative and quality developmental bilingual child care programs, learn about an Australian perspective on bilingual early childhood education and understand the philosophy of the importance of a bilingual perspective in the early years.

Lunch will be provided at the Multicultural Resource Centre where you will be able to view a range of resources for use in early childhood settings and hear about the work of the Resource centre in championing the rights of our diverse communities.

Tour E: Outdoor Environments – places for learning
Wednesday 21 July 2004 - Time: Full day - 9.30 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $50.00

Spend the day in the wonderful environment of the Royal Botanic Gardens hearing how this historical venue has developed a number of diverse programs offering enjoyment and learning opportunities for families and children.

During the morning you will explore the themed garden areas, engage ‘hands on’ in the specially designed ‘Early Childhood Program” where you will stimulate the senses of colour, texture, smell, shape and pattern through a sensory approach to learning and understanding.

Lunch will be provided in one of the kiosk areas within the gardens where you can enjoy the delights of others passing through or just bask in the atmosphere.

An afternoon walk will offer an insight into the Australian heritage through a trail highlighting the skills and resourcefulness of the indigenous peoples.

Tour F: Early Learning Centres
Wednesday 21 July 2004 - Time: Half day - 9.00 am – 1.30 pm
Cost: $30.00

Many early learning centres have been established in schools throughout Melbourne. You will have the opportunity to visit some of these recently established centres and hear about their philosophy and programs and how the centres operate as part of a larger school environment. You will also see and hear how the Reggio Emilia philosophy of early childhood learning has been made meaningful within the Australian context and how community and tertiary institutions are contributing to the programs.


Tour G: Royal Children’s Hospital
Wednesday 21 July 2004 - Time: Half day - 9.30 am – 1.30 pm
Cost: $30.00

The Royal Children’s Hospital is a specialist children’s hospital of world renown delivering a range of innovative programs for sick and recuperating children. On this visit you will see the “school in hospital” program, “play therapy” programs for young children, the TV studio and other innovative programs that enhance the health and wellbeing of children while in hospital.

Tour H: Early Childhood Programs at the Museum
Wednesday 21 & Monday 26 July 2004 - Time: Half day – 1.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Cost: $30.00

Visit the Children’s Museum in the new Melbourne Museum Centre. You will hear from an early childhood teacher how the museum operates as an extension program for preschool aged children and view some of the activities offered.

You will also have the opportunity for free entry to the main museum and pause for light refreshments in the vicinity of this exciting new 21st. Century facility.

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Tour I - Koori Open Door Education
Monday 26 July 2004 - Half day Tour 9.30 to 1.00
Cost $30

One of 4 schools in Victoria providing an indigenous education program that focuses on the specific needs of the Koori community. A kindergarten program is also integrated into the school program. The visit will include a tour of the school and discussion about the programs offered together with a glimpse of the art work which forms an integral part of the education program and the links to other programs promoting health and wellbeing in the community.

Tour J - Maternal and Child Health -Community Wellbeing
Monday 26 July 2004 - Half day Tour 9.30 to 1.00
Cost $30

Hear about a new and exciting program that caters for mothers and young children in one of the outer metropolitan suburbs. This Pram Walkers Group meets weekly and walks along the local river track stopping for coffee and generally exchanging experiences and ideas. This session will include morning tea with some of the mothers who will be able to tell you of the benefits of the group. Following this the group will move off to another municipality to learn how a Community Health Centre has developed a program of Vietnamese Health Workers to better meet the needs of the particular community.

Register for these Tours when you complete your registration for the Congress