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Nutrition Australia WA Childcare Advisory Services

Regulation and accreditation for childcare services within Australia is undergoing a change. The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has partnered with Commonwealth, State and Territory governments to develop a new National Quality Framework to ensure national consistency in early childhood care in terms of licensing and accreditation.

The new National Quality Standard (NQS) aims to ensure that early childhood education and care are consistent and of a high quality nationwide. Seven quality areas are included within this framework, including Quality Area 2 which states:
  • that health eating and physical activity are embedded in the program for children;
  • that healthy eating is promoted; and
  • that food and drink provided by the service are nutritious, varied, adequate in quantity and appropriate for the age of the child.
Nutrition Australia WA Division Inc. has developed the Western Australian Childcare Advisory Service (WACAS) to assist your childcare center in meeting the new guidelines regarding food and nutrient intakes for children as set out in the new National Quality Standards, Quality Area 2. This will be achieved by connecting the currently developed “Get Up and Grow” resources and literature with three interactive, practical workshops for your childcare staff and managers. 
 
These practical workshops (as outlined below) are specifically designed to demonstrate how your facility may attain the revised NQS accreditation standards.

Workshop One: Health Eating, Healthy Kids

This workshop, together with designed activities, aims to:

  • address issues around feeding (breast, bottle and bowl);
  • clarify and simplify dietary guidelines, e.g. how much is a serve;
  • roles and responsibilities of the carer in establishing healthy behaviours;
  • creating positive environments for children’s meals;
  • discuss and develop successful techniques in handling fussy eaters; and
  • provide tips for writing a nutrition policy.

Workshop Two: Food Allergies/Intolerances and Cultural Considerations

Using interactive learning skills and techniques, this workshop aims to:
  • discuss and identify food allergies and intolerances;
  • educate staff about the differences, e.g. signs, symptoms and ;
  • identify high risk foods and identify potential hidden risks;
  • demystify food labelling;
  • examine and suggest food substitutes and alternatives; and
  • modify and renovate favourite recipes.

Workshop Three: Economise, Vitalise and Maximise

Using the extremely popular medium of an interactive cooking demonstration, this workshop is putting theory into practice. The aim of this workshop is to:
  • review different types of menus;
  • adapt menu planning to suit the specific needs of the childcare centre;
  • use effective budgeting skills to economise;
  • develop efficient techniques to cost compare; and
  • inspire creativity, innovation and provide an element of fun.

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