by jo | Jul 3, 2023 | News
Early Connections Kempsey Manager Debbie Fraser recently retired after an amazing 23 years of supporting children and families in the Kempsey region.
Debbie brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role as an Early Childhood Special Educator. Her career in the early childhood sector spanned over 30 years, making her an invaluable asset to the Early Connections Alliance on the Mid North Coast.
Reflecting on Debbie’s leadership, the Kempsey team shared the following messages of thanks:
“Debbie Fraser has been the most supportive, inspiring and empowering manager who has helped me transition into a role I love and the family that is Early Connection Kempsey. I will always be grateful to have worked with such a kind, caring and beautiful person.”
“I could not have asked for a more caring and supportive mentor to have been under the wing of. Debbie has been the most inspiring and kind hearted member of our Early Connections Family. Her passion, commitment, and dedication she showed to not only her role but also our team is at uttermost amazing. We will miss her, but we wish her all the best with her adventures.”
“There are no words to express the impact that Debbie has had on not just Early Connections Kempsey, but the Kempsey Community and families as a whole. Debbie has been an integral part of driving Early Intervention within the Kempsey Macleay shire over the past 23 years. Debbie has made wholesome connections within the community which will last a lifetime.”
“Debbie has been a wonderful manager. The connections she has long established and maintained within our community have been vital in continuing to link therapists to those most vulnerable. The experience, knowledge and advice she has shared have been invaluable to me. I wish Debbie all the best for the future.”
“Debbie has been extremely supportive and a genuinely caring individual during my time at ECK. She always has time for her staff and has been very flexible. She has shown great kindness and patience during her leadership. Her door was never closed to a colleague in need whether it was a professional challenge or a personal setback. Her knowledge of families and the local community has been very helpful. She was very dedicated to the job and did what she could to support our clients and families in the best way possible. Debbie’s genuine compassion and empathy created a supportive atmosphere that extended beyond work matters, making us feel more like a family, which is why we are often referred to as the ECK family. Debbie has been an invaluable part of the ECK team for many years and will be greatly missed. It’s not goodbye but a huge Thanks and all the best!!”
Early Connections Alliance acknowledges and thanks Beth for her leadership, support of the Alliance and commitment to the Early Childhood Intervention Sector (ECI). Everyone at Early Connections extends our thanks to Debbie and wishes her all the best for her retirement.
by jo | May 30, 2023 | Careers, News
COME AND SEE WHY OUR STAFF LOVE WORKING FOR EARLY CONNECTIONS!
- 5 WEEKS leave per year!
- Salary Sacrificing, Meal and Entertainment Card, Novated Leasing all available.
- Staff tell us they feel more supported in our team than they have with other employers – “the Team at EC feels like Family”.
- Relocation costs supported. Come and see what the Great Lakes and Manning regions have to offer!
- New Grad’s welcome and will enjoy quality supervision and generous PD.
We are seeking another motivated Occupational Therapist to join our team!
Part or Full Time Position / New Grads or Experienced OT’s Welcome!
Early Connections- Manning and Great Lakes (formerly Manning and Great Lakes Early Intervention) is seeking a highly motivated Occupational Therapist to join our expanding team. Our staff of 22 includes skilled OT’s who will offer a supportive environment for our new staff member. Our team are skilled in the paediatric field, using a “Team around the Child”, family centred approach across the beautiful Manning and Great Lakes region. The position is available either as a full or part time position and offers a family friendly, flexible workplace.
Early Connections – Manning and Great Lakes is the leading service provider within the region, servicing children 0-12yrs with a diagnosed disability or significantly delayed development. Our mission is to provide a quality early childhood intervention service, which works in partnership with families and the community to improve each child’s participation in inclusive mainstream environments in the Manning and Great Lakes areas. We are a registered NDIS Service Provider and have had success in operating within this system since 2016.
Why work for us:
- Full or Part time roles negotiable.
- Diverse range of clients with a variety of needs and diagnosis.
- Highly experienced team of Early Intervention Teachers, Speech Pathologists, Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists, Psychologist and Allied Health Assistants.
- Be a part of the Early Connections Alliance (from Forster to Coffs Harbour) and benefit from the knowledge and experience of a vast allied health and education team.
- Work along side our experienced senior staff and have access to individual and team supervision and mentoring.
- Access to generous professional development opportunities.
- Access relocation costs where needed.
- Flexible, family-friendly work arrangements
- Flexibility in working hours
- Salary packaging and financial incentives, including significantly above award rates.
- Staff are supported through access to wellbeing and psychology supports through our Employee Assistance Program.
- We are an established NDIS and also offer short term supports such as through Medicare plans.
The role:
- Provide assessments, interventions and therapy to children 0-12yrs with a diverse range of disabilities.
- Service aimed at building the capacity of the child and family in natural, inclusive settings. Early Connections – MGL has extensive existing relationships within the community.
- Opportunity to work within a transdisciplinary model and to provide consultation to Speech Pathologists, Physiotherapist, Psychologists and Early Childhood Teachers and families.
- Support Allied Health Assistants.
- Working between two sites (Taree and Tuncurry).
- Using state of the art technology including the Echidna CRM (client record management) system and Ipads.
The successful candidate will:
- Have relevant qualifications and registered with appropriate Board eg APHRA.
- commitment to Best Practice in Early Childhood Intervention, inclusive practice, family centred approach to service delivery
- Have excellent communication and documentation skills using technology effectively
- Ability to work independently and within a team environment
- Have a minimum 1 year experience in disability or paediatrics (desirable not essential). New grads are welcome to apply and will be provided increased supervision.
- Ability to organise time and set priorities
- A fundamental understanding of child development
- Vaccination against COVID-19 is essential under Public Health Orders.
Travel is required, your own car and a current driver’s license and comprehensive car insurance are a pre-requisite for the position. A current Working with Children Check, Police Check and First Aid Certificate is also required.
Part Time status will be negotiated on employment and may be dependent on applicants’ level of experience. Position will be permanent following 3mth trial period.
Location: Taree and Tuncurry
Send Applications to: Applications must address the selection criteria. Send applications to Sally Gibson: sallyg@earlyconnections-mgl.org.au
Applications close: Wed 28th June 2023
For a confidential discussion call Sally Gibson on (02) 6552 7333.
SEEK AD – https://www.seek.com.au/job/67850492
by jo | Apr 19, 2023 | News
This April Early Connections Port Macquarie Hastings farewells our wonderful Manager Beth Todd. Beth has worked for the organisation for an incredible 18 years. Beth started working for Hastings Early Intervention Program as a speech pathologist and has managed Early Connections Port Macquarie Hastings for over ten years.
With the introduction of the NDIS on the Mid North Coast the Hastings Early Intervention Program joined services in Taree, Coffs Coast and Kempsey to create a connected Alliance to support families across the region.
Reflecting on Beth’s leadership, Senior Occupational Therapist Tenneal captures the collective sentiments of the team:
“Beth was the rarest of people- those special people we are lucky to meet in our lives.
– Beth created a workplace that felt safe and inspiring for her staff. She created a family of staff where every person felt seen, respected and acknowledged. Beth has a way to make every person feel special, both clients and staff alike!
– Beth was inspired and driven to do the best for children and families above all. She never stopped trying to find ways to make the service exceptional. Beth knew every family and took time to know more than just the diagnosis or funding model- she knew about a family and was sensitive to what they needed.
– The culture of care and collaboration and family focus that is central to Early Connections was innate to Beth and that will be her legacy at Early Connections.”
Beth was instrumental in supporting the leadership of the Alliance including the creation of a new brand identity and the ongoing governance of a trusted not for profit organisation. Early Connections Alliance acknowledges and thanks Beth for her leadership, support of the Alliance and commitment to the Early Childhood Intervention Sector (ECI).
Beth was a Board Member for Early Childhood Intervention Australia (ECIA) and has guided the team through many sector changes as well as navigating the challenges during COVID-19.
A huge thank you Beth for making a difference for hundreds of local families and supporting a team of up to twenty allied health professionals making a positive impact every day.
From all of us at Early Connections, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Beth for her years of service, leadership, and dedication. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
by jo | Apr 17, 2023 | Careers, News
COME AND SEE WHY OUR STAFF LOVE WORKING FOR EARLY CONNECTIONS! We are seeking another motivated Physiotherapist to join our team!
- Staff tell us they feel more supported in our team than they have with other employers – “the Team at EC feels like Family”.
- Salary Sacrificing, Meal and Entertainment Card, Novated Leasing all available.
- 5 WEEKS leave per year!
- Relocation costs supported. Come and see what the Great Lakes and Manning regions have to offer!
- New Grad’s welcome and will enjoy quality supervision and generous PD.
Paediatric Physiotherapist
Full or Part-Time Position
Early Connections -Manning and Great Lakes (formerly Manning and Great Lakes Early Intervention) is seeking a highly motivated Paediatric Physiotherapist to join our expanding team. Our staff of 22 includes skilled Early Intervention Teachers, OT’s, SP’s, Psychologists and Allied Health Assistants. Our team are skilled in the paediatric field, using a “team around the child”, family centred approach across the beautiful Manning and Great Lakes Region. If you are looking for flexibility and a supportive workplace with a diverse range of work opportunities, then this role is for you. This position can be either full time or part time.
Early Connections – Manning and Great Lakes is the leading service provider within the region, servicing children 0-12yrs with a diagnosed disability or significantly delayed development. Our mission is to provide a quality early childhood intervention service, which works in partnership with families and the community to improve each child’s participation in inclusive mainstream environments in the Manning and Great Lakes areas. We are a registered NDIS Provider and have had success in operating within this system since 2016.
Why work for us:
- Full or Part time roles negotiable.
- Diverse range of clients with a variety of needs and diagnosis.
- Highly experienced team of Early Intervention Specialist Teachers, Speech Pathologists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists and Allied Health Assistants..
- Be a part of the Early Connections Alliance (from Taree to Coffs Harbour) and benefit from the knowledge and experience of a vast allied health and education team.
- Work along side our experienced senior therapists and teachers who can provide supervision and ongoing mentoring if needed.
- Access to generous professional development opportunities
- Access relocation costs where needed.
- Flexible, family-friendly work arrangements
- Flexibility in working hours
- Salary packaging and financial incentives, including significantly above award rates.
- We are an established NDIS provider and also offer short term supports such as through Medicare plans.
- All IT needs provided and supported through skilled IT company.
The role:
- Provide assessments, interventions and therapy to children 0-12yrs with a diverse range of disabilities.
- Service aimed at building the capacity of the child and family in natural, inclusive settings. Early Connections- MGL has an extensive existing relationship within the community.
- Opportunity to work within a transdisciplinary model and to provide consultation to Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, Early Intervention Teachers and families.
- Support Allied Health Assistants
- Working between two sites (Taree and Tuncurry)
- Using state of the art technology including the Echidna CRM (client record management) system and Ipads.
The successful candidate will:
- Have relevant qualifications and registered membership with Physiotherapy Board of Australia.
- Show commitment to Best Practice in Early Childhood Intervention, inclusive practice, family centred approach to service delivery
- Have excellent communication and documentation skills using technology effectively
- Ability to work independently and within a team environment
- Have a minimum 1 year experience in disability or paediatrics (desirable not essential). New grads are welcome to apply and will be provided increased supervision.
- A fundamental understanding of child development
- Vaccination against COVID-19 is essential as per policy and health recommendations.
Travel is required and your own car and a current driver’s license are a pre-requisite for the position, although work vehicles are available for majority of travel. A current Working with Children Check, Police Check, COVID-19 Vaccination and First Aid Certificate is also required.
Part Time status will be negotiated on employment and may be dependent on applicants’ level of experience. Position will be permanent following 3mth trial period.
Location: Taree and Tuncurry
Send Applications to: Applications must address the selection criteria. Send applications to Sally Gibson: sallyg@earlyconnections-mgl.org.au
Applications close: Wed 17th May 2023.
For a confidential discussion call Sally Gibson on (02) 6552 7333.
by jo | Apr 17, 2023 | Awareness, News, Supporters
My name is Ellen, I am the Treasurer of Early Connections – Coffs Coast Volunteer Management Committee & also Mum to my gorgeous son Billy who is six years old and has a rare genetic condition.
I have been involved as a Client of Early Connections since 2019 and as a member of the Volunteer Management Committee since 2020. I am writing to you because we need more volunteers to sit on the Early Connections Coffs Coast Volunteer Management Committee and my experience has been so wonderful I am asking other parents to consider volunteering.
I know how busy young families are but volunteering with the Management Committee has afforded me so many wonderful opportunities:
- The time contribution is minimal (1 meeting a month, held in the evenings)
- Professional and Personal development opportunities from sitting on a Management Committee
- The opportunity to network and collaborate with like minded individuals
- A sense of personal satisfaction by giving back to the Coffs Harbour community and the wonderful team at Early Connections
- A deeper understanding of how Early Connections operates
If you are interested in joining the Management Committee and would like more information please contact Caryn or Stacey on 66528080
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