VEYLDF Alignment
Item uses these practice principles: Reflective practice, Partnerships with families, High expectations for every child, Respectful relationships and responsive engagement, Equity and diversity, Assessment for learning and development, Integrated teaching and learning approaches, Partnerships with professionals.
Item responds to these sub-outcomes: Children become strong in their social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
Description
The Resilience Project Early Years Program is a positive mental health program which focuses on The Resilience Project’s key pillars of Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness and Emotional Literacy (GEM). The program aims to build mental resilience and wellbeing amongst educators, children, parents/carers, and the community.
The program includes the following:
- A comprehensive Educator Resource Guide which steps educators through a program of 20 GEM sessions. Session plans include play-based provocations, GEM TV episodes for children, resources, EYLF and VEYLDF curriculum mapping.
- A five-part digital professional development series which consists of short videos focusing on positive mental health and wellbeing strategies. Each video is accompanied by reflection activities that educators can complete as a team or individually.
- Each child involved in the program receives an Early Years Journal, which is designed to link the GEM practices for each session and document their journal through the program
- To support the implementation of the program The Resilience Project Early Years Program includes live online webinars for educators and families participating in the program. Attendance is optional and recordings of webinars are provided.
- Access to The Resilience Project online Educator Resource Hub. The Resource Hub contains everything that is needed to implement the program, as well as information to build educator capacity and understanding. The Resource Hub also contains information specifically aimed at educator self-care.
Early childhood services will have access to these resources for a year. The Early Years Children's Journal is hard copy, and the remaining resources are online.
Detailed Costs
The Resilience Project Early Years Program: $1350 per early childhood service per year (excl. GST) plus $20 (excl. GST) per child enrolled in the program.
For example, for a service with 33 children enrolled in the program, the total cost will be $1350 + ($20 x 33) =$2010 (excl. GST).
Implementation Considerations
Target Population: Educators.
Program/practice descriptions and details: The Resilience Project Early Years Program is designed to be implemented within the existing educational program of the service. Session activities should be integrated with general planning and not as an added extra. The concepts of GEM should be used throughout the service not just when completing the TRP session activities. The program is best implemented over two terms to allow for continued and repeated use of GEM language, skills and practise over an extended period of time. The Early Years Journal is included as part of the student enrolment fee and is integral piece of the program that allows children's experiences at the early childhood setting to be documented, and invites families to share experiences from home and practise GEM at home.
Program adaptability: The program is accessible online. Educators can adapt the resources to suit the needs of their service. They can implement the entire program or choose the activities and experiences that work well with their existing program.
Staffing: The program has been designed to require minimal planning time. Some planning time is required to set up activities and experiences and to reflect on implementation and approaches to best suit the needs to their services. Services should also consider the cost of backfill to complete the optional support webinars.
Factors to consider: to allow for educators to complete the professional development sessions and become familiar with the program it is recommended commencing the program with children in Term 2. This is when delivery of the Journals will occur to centres.
Supervision/coaching: Program support is available via ongoing email and phone support, and through complementary webinars.
Training requirements: All early years educators are able to access the program. All participating educators should consider attending the Leading TRP webinar (1 hour) to ensure they are ready to implement the program.
Tools and systems: The materials are provided in a combination of hard copy and online resources. All resources required to implement the program are included except basic art and craft supplies. Services will need access to a PC with reliable internet access, and somewhere to show the videos embedded in the program to children.
Priority Area
Wellbeing (social and emotional)
Strength of Evidence
Level 5 – Foundational research evidence