Give your child a head start

1
Give your child a head start

• A bilingual childcare centre for the University
  of Canberra?

Dr Ian Maclean President
24 October 2009
http//alma.anu.edu.au
2
Agenda

• Framework Ian Maclean
• Bilingual education Mandy Scott
• The Chinese-Australian Early Childhood Centre
  Judy Kuzma
• A parents perspective Jane Seaborn
• Alumna perspective Amanda Maclean
• QA
• Data collection assistance in making the centre
  happen
• Conclusion

3
Framework

• Association for Learning Mandarin in Australia
• University of Canberra
• Where are we at?

4
Association for Learning Mandarin in Australia
(ALMA)

• Objects
• To further the use and learning of the Chinese
  language in Australia
• To set up and operate bilingual Chinese and
  English educational and child-care facilities
• To promote awareness and understanding of Chinese
  culture and heritage in Australian society

5
ALMA

• ALMA is
• an incorporated association
• operations, governance and reporting comply with
  ACT law
• Non-profit
• no surplus funds can be paid to members
• managed by volunteers
• UC rejected a proposal from a for-profit business
  to establish a childcare centre on campus

6
ALMA

• Operations
• Mandarin Community Tutoring Project
• Advocacy
• Chinese-Australian Early Childhood Centre
  (CAECC)

7
CAECC

• Commenced in 1984
• 46 place centre, 13 staff
• 0-6 years
• High quality accreditation 3 years
• Budget revenue - 700k surplus - lt1k
• Fees 320 per week

8
CAECC

• CAECC is unique in Canberra and possibly in
  Australia
• many visitors have been surprised by the language
  achievements of the centre
• ALMAs priorities
• CAECC must deliver high quality care to children
  and demonstrate that it does by complying with
  government regulation
• Deliver quality bilingual language education

9
CAECC

• Located in south Canberra suburb of Mawson
• in Mawson Primary School
• Mawson Primary has
• Chinese for all students K-Grade 6
• Optional Mandarin Intensive Program for Grades
  3-6
• 2 days per week instruction in Mandarin

10
ALMA

• the time is right to establish a second centre on
  the north side of Canberra
• considered several approaches - the best is the
  University of Canberra
• teaching/research in Chinese and early childhood
• central location for north Canberra
• Wrote to UC suggesting a bilingual
  Mandarin/English childcare centre

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University of Canberra (UC)

• is interested
• is undertaking strategic change
• a bilingual early childhood centre is consistent
  with and supports that change
• UC has asked ALMA to prepare a business case and
  donated funds towards our costs
• This meeting is a part of the business case

12
Where are we at?

• If UC is satisfied with the business case, we
  jointly seek funds to build the centre we have
  some ideas
• concern is that if UC takes out a loan, and
  builds the centre, it doesnt want to have to pay
  off the loan for an empty centre if ALMA fails
• ALMAs task is to make UC comfortable that we can
  service any loan into the indefinite future
• ALMA wants to see a good business case too!

13
Where are we at?

• Indicative plan
• 70 place centre
• Fees 350 per week
• to service loan and
• provide a premium service
• Nearly full from opening
• 20 staff
• Parent-based management committee with ALMA
  support

14
Where are we at?

• Indicative plan
• Please fill in your contact details and other
  information so we can contact you later
• ALMA needs additional assistance from the north
  Canberra community to make the Centre happen

15
Agenda

• Framework Ian Maclean
• Bilingual education Mandy Scott
• The Chinese-Australian Early Childhood Centre
  Judy Kuzma
• A parents perspective Jane Seaborn
• Alumnus perspective Amanda Maclean
• QA
• Data collection assistance in making the centre
  happen
• Conclusion

16
Give your child a head start

• A bilingual childcare centre for the University
  of Canberra?

http//alma.anu.edu.au