Network Conference

2011 Network Conference

The next Network Conference will be held May 20 - 22, 2011 at the International College of Hospitality and Management in Manly.

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Travel Subsidy and Scholarships

Network has successfully applied for funding from DEEWR to provide travel subsidies for ALL regional, rural and remote participants attending the conference including ACT participants.

The amount of subsidy will be based on the regional isolation areas classification. Participants from regional areas and from rural and remote areas will be eligible for the subsidy. Services will be eligible for a maximum $200 grant per person depending on level of isolation. To ensure equity a maximum of 2 staff members per service sponsor will be eligible for the grants. Travel subsidy will be reimbursed to eligible participants following the conference based on the information provided in their registration form. Eligible services must have their participants attend a minimum two days of the conference and signed in to all their workshops.

In addition, Network will also be offering again Scholarships for committed OOSH educators in NSW and ACT.

Network is committed to developing and rewarding the professionalism in the Out of School Hours Sector and we believe these scholarships provide some recognition of the work and commitment that those working in the field provide to the community.

Scholarships will provide full conference registration and costs. Rural and remote scholarships also provide financial reimbursement for transport and accommodation costs plus a contribution to staff replacement costs.

Applicants, currently working in an Out of School Hours Service are invited to apply for a scholarship in one of the following categories (see below).

To be eligible applicants must be Australian Residents, currently employed in an Out of School Hours Service in NSW, and have worked in the sector for a minimum of 12 months. Scholarship applications will be judged by a panel of 3 appointed by the Network Management Committee.

Scholarship Applications close on 29 April 2011.

Scholarship winners will be announced on 2 May 2011.

The scholarships on offer are:

The June Jeremy Founder's Scholarship
June Jeremy founded the Network of Community Activities 35 years ago and it is in her honour that Network awards this scholarship to a professional working in a community based not for profit member service in a metropolitan area working with disadvantaged communities.

The DEEWR Rural and Remote OSHC Educator Scholarship
Awarded to an Out of School Hours Professional currently working and residing in an OOSH service (including stand alone vacation care) in a rural or remote location more than 75km from a regional centre. Awarded by DEEWR.

The Julie Whitton Indigenous OSHC Educator Scholarship
Julie Whitton was a remarkable Indigenous woman who was regarded by Network as ‘an elder’ of the organization. Julie passed away in 2004. This scholarship is awarded by Network in her memory to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Out of School Hours professional.

The ‘New Service’ scholarship
This scholarship is for an OSHC Educator currently employed in an approved OOSH Service established within the last 18 months. An approved service must be in receipt of Child Care Benefit. Awarded by DEEWR.

The Inclusion in OOSH Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to a Children’s Services professional currently specialising in assisting children with a disability in an OOSH service or services. Awarded by DEEWR.

Download Scholarship Application Form>>

OOSHCA Nominations

The Biannual awards recognising achievement in the school age care sector in NSW and ACT have now opened!

Please consider who you might nominate for their contributions.

Winners will be presented their awards at the Network of Community Activities Gala Dinner on Saturday May 21st 2011.

Download a Nomination Form >>

Past Conferences

2009 Network Conference

Reclaiming Childhood in the 21st Century
Networks Biannual Conference - May 15-17 2009
International College of Hospitality and Management, Manly

More details are available on our Conference 2009 Website (click on the button on left).

Keynote Speaker 2009

Our keynote speaker in 2009 was Dr Sharna Olfman.

Sharna is a clinical psychologist and an Associate Professor of Psychology in the Department of Humanities and Human Sciences at Point Park College, Pittsburgh, where she specializes in Child Development. 

She is also Founding Director of the annual Childhood and Society Symposium held at the university. Sharna is the author or editor of six books, including All Work and No Play (2003), Childhood Lost (2005), No Child Left Different, (2006), and Bipolar Children (2007).

2007 Network Conference

Network held the bi-annual State Conference from Friday May 18 - Sunday May 20, 2007 at the International College of Management, Manly.

The theme was: “Today’s Children, Tomorrow's Community” which encouraged debate on some key questions:

• How do childhood experiences impact on the development of communities in the future?
• What is the role of the OOSH service in community development?
• How do OOSH services encourage children to participate in and learn about community?
• What can OOSH practitioners do to ensure that their role in children’s development?
  

Keynote Speaker

Our Keynote Speaker in 2007 was Theresa Casey. Theresa is an independent writer and play consultant, and mother of two small children, based in Edinburgh, Scotland. She has special interests in play, inclusion and environments for play.

She began her play career in an adventure playground supporting children with disabilities and/or additional support needs in a family and community context. Since then, her experience comes both from the UK and overseas, notably Thailand where she spent three years with the Foundation for Child Development (FCD) developing play projects for children in disadvantaged circumstances. While with FCD a playground designed and developed with staff and children in a Bangkok slum community was joint winner of the IPA International Playground Design Competition.

Photos from the 2007 conference can be found in the past events gallery>>

2005 Conference

The 2005 conference was held at the International College of Tourism and Hotel Management in Manly on Friday 13th - Sunday 15th May 2005

The theme was Middle Childhood - Passions, Frustrations, Inspirations!

Our keynote speaker was Andrew Fuller - A clinical psychologist and family therapist who works to create resillience in families, communities and schools.

Photos from the 2005 conference can be found in the past events gallery>>