The Albanese Labor Government is helping Australian kids stay fit and healthy this winter by releasing a new, best practice resource for kindergartens, early education centres, schools, and other care services to help limit the spread of infectious disease.
Infections are common in children and often lead to illness. At home, kids don't encounter many people and so are reasonably well protected from infectious diseases. This changes when kids start attending early childhood education and care services, kindergarten, or school.
Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney MP was in Northcote today at the Annie Dennis Children's Centre to launch the newest edition of the Staying Healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services - (Staying Healthy).
Developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Staying Healthy is a best-practice resource that provides simple ways for early childhood educators, teachers and other care workers to help limit the spread of infectious diseases. It uses the most up to date evidence to assist staff, children, visitors and families to practise good hygiene and health and safety practices.
Specific real-life scenarios have also been added and updated to align with new advice and to help implement the guidance. Fact sheets on symptoms and diseases have also been added to the new guideline following community comments and enquiries received by NHMRC.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney:
"Whether it's a tummy bug, the flu or COVID-19, it's easy for our kids to catch something at childcare. This guide will help keep young ones clean, healthy, and happy.
"Early childhood educators are so important in giving our kids the best start in life. Staying Healthy equips our early childhood educators with evidence backed advice and practical tips to keep our kids healthy.
"Staying Healthy is one example of how the Albanese Labor Government is prioritising childhood health, supporting early childhood workers, and targeting our investments to deliver better health outcomes for young Australians and their families.
"This announcement joins the momentous 15 per cent wage increase for Early Childhood Education and Care workers showing just where Labor's priorities are."
Quotes attributable to NHMRC CEO, Professor Steve Wesselingh:
"There is no single solution for preventing infection in early childcare education and care settings - it requires a collaborative approach.
"Staying Healthy equips childcare providers, families and children with evidence-based advice to help limit the spread of infectious diseases and keep children healthy.
"I am proud of NHMRC's long history in developing this vital resource, and I am so pleased to welcome the launch of Staying Healthy- 6th edition today."
Quotes attributable to Chair of the Staying Healthy Advisory Committee, Professor Christopher Blyth:
"Staying Healthy has been the key resource for the sector for 30 years, providing guidance about infection and infection prevention in early childhood education and care services.
"The advice [in Staying Healthy] has been specifically tailored for use in Australian early childhood education and care centres, providing clear guidance for managers, staff and parents using these essential services.
"We have developed this resource so that we can reduce the risks of infection in the sector, ensuring children, parents and staff are well, happy and able to benefit from the learning and socialisation inherently associated with the early childhood education and care environment."
