About FNECN
The Far North Early Childhood Network (FNECN), established for over 14 years, is an apolitical and impartial group of early childhood professionals working towards building connections and sharing resources and expertise within the early childhood community in Far North Queensland. FNECN is comprised of a collaborative of professionals who act as key stakeholders, sharing research, best practice, current projects, events, advocacy and expertise. To ensure the group's perspectives and ideals are challenged, membership spans many different early childhood-related organisations. Refer to Community Partners page.
Community Partners meet once a term for professional conversations; Early Childhood Community Network (ECCN) updates and group planning.
FNECN, builds connections across Far North Queensland via Early Childhood Community Networks (ECCNs), supporting and mentoring practicing and emerging early childhood professionals and maintaining currency of learning and professional development.
Community Partners meet once a term for professional conversations; Early Childhood Community Network (ECCN) updates and group planning.
FNECN, builds connections across Far North Queensland via Early Childhood Community Networks (ECCNs), supporting and mentoring practicing and emerging early childhood professionals and maintaining currency of learning and professional development.
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FNECN Executive: The 'FNECN executive team is responsible for the administration of the network. This small group of volunteer professionals administer the FNECN network.
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Early Childhood Community Networks (ECCNs): ECCNs are localised groups of practitioners, parents and community members who work with children and families. The groups plan and collaboratively implement activities across schools, early years centres and community services. To extend their outreach and capitalise on achieving their goal of improving the health, education and social/emotional wellbeing of children aged birth to eight years, groups share discoveries and learning via the FNECN community. Each ECCN is co-facilitated by representatives from both schooling and the early years sectors.
Ready Communities and Services + Ready Schools + Ready Families + Ready Children
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Looking Back - History of FNECN
Dorothy McKinnon, Fraser Mustard, Reesa Sorin (2003).
for FNECN
Associate Professor Reesa Sorin came to James Cook University in Cairns in the year 2000. It was during her early years teaching and interacting with various students that she became aware of a recurring concern of students: that they felt a disconnect between what they were learning at university and what was happening in early childhood education services and schools. In an effort to bridge this gap, ‘Megina Kazil’ was born (which means ‘little children’ in Torres Strait pigeon). This was an early childhood pre-service teachers' group, with practicing teachers invited to attend meetings to discuss issues of early childhood teaching.
In 2002, Reesa attended a presentation by Professor Fraser Mustard at a Principals’ Conference in Townsville. Fraser Mustard spoke about the importance of early years learning and experience to brain development in children. He explained that the best way to offer children positive early learning experiences to support brain development was through a communities approach, where parents, educators, health and wellbeing personnel work together to support children and families in the critical first years of life.
This struck a chord with Reesa, and became a further direction for Megina Kazil. Between 2003 to 2011, Reesa visited Fraser Mustard at the Founders Network in Toronto, Canada and met with a variety of his colleagues in Canada. These included: researchers at Healthy Child Manitoba; the Roots of Empathy program; the University of British Columbia’s Human Early Learning Project; and the creator of the Early Development Instrument at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
In 2005, Megina Kazil evolved into the Far North Early Childhood Network (FNECN), It broadened its reach to include a broader representation of the early childhood community in far north Queensland; people who worked for and were committed to the best outcomes for young children and their families. This included caregivers, teachers, representatives of government departments and non-government organisations, community health and social service representatives, and parents of young children. Meetings, open to all community members, were held monthly and forums twice a year. Online, FNECN was the first community site on James Cook University’s LearnJCU platform and has since expanded to its own website (www.fnecn.org) and Facebook page.
From 2017 - 2018, FNECN underwent another change. Early Childhood Community Networks (ECCNs) were established to localise membership and facilitate meeting each community's needs. FNECN, became a smaller group of key representatives from a variety of early childhood services, who meet as professional partners to share information and expertise, and to be informed of the activities of the ECCNS. FNECN is currently members from different areas of early childhood education and care, and meets each term. There is an executive committee who are responsible for administration of the network, including the website, Facebook page, meetings and liaison with the ECCNs.
In 2020, FNECN reopened to key stakeholders, tertiary students and other members of far north Queensland’s early childhood community. Membership is free and can be accessed through the FNECN website. Meetings are held once a term, on a Thursday. Between 9:00 and 11:00, at Far North Queensland TAFE in Cairns. Refer to FNECN Meetings page for further information.
FNECN has an executive committee responsible for administration of the network, including the website, Facebook page, meetings and liaison with the ECCNs.
Associate Professor Reesa Sorin came to James Cook University in Cairns in the year 2000. It was during her early years teaching and interacting with various students that she became aware of a recurring concern of students: that they felt a disconnect between what they were learning at university and what was happening in early childhood education services and schools. In an effort to bridge this gap, ‘Megina Kazil’ was born (which means ‘little children’ in Torres Strait pigeon). This was an early childhood pre-service teachers' group, with practicing teachers invited to attend meetings to discuss issues of early childhood teaching.
In 2002, Reesa attended a presentation by Professor Fraser Mustard at a Principals’ Conference in Townsville. Fraser Mustard spoke about the importance of early years learning and experience to brain development in children. He explained that the best way to offer children positive early learning experiences to support brain development was through a communities approach, where parents, educators, health and wellbeing personnel work together to support children and families in the critical first years of life.
This struck a chord with Reesa, and became a further direction for Megina Kazil. Between 2003 to 2011, Reesa visited Fraser Mustard at the Founders Network in Toronto, Canada and met with a variety of his colleagues in Canada. These included: researchers at Healthy Child Manitoba; the Roots of Empathy program; the University of British Columbia’s Human Early Learning Project; and the creator of the Early Development Instrument at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
In 2005, Megina Kazil evolved into the Far North Early Childhood Network (FNECN), It broadened its reach to include a broader representation of the early childhood community in far north Queensland; people who worked for and were committed to the best outcomes for young children and their families. This included caregivers, teachers, representatives of government departments and non-government organisations, community health and social service representatives, and parents of young children. Meetings, open to all community members, were held monthly and forums twice a year. Online, FNECN was the first community site on James Cook University’s LearnJCU platform and has since expanded to its own website (www.fnecn.org) and Facebook page.
From 2017 - 2018, FNECN underwent another change. Early Childhood Community Networks (ECCNs) were established to localise membership and facilitate meeting each community's needs. FNECN, became a smaller group of key representatives from a variety of early childhood services, who meet as professional partners to share information and expertise, and to be informed of the activities of the ECCNS. FNECN is currently members from different areas of early childhood education and care, and meets each term. There is an executive committee who are responsible for administration of the network, including the website, Facebook page, meetings and liaison with the ECCNs.
In 2020, FNECN reopened to key stakeholders, tertiary students and other members of far north Queensland’s early childhood community. Membership is free and can be accessed through the FNECN website. Meetings are held once a term, on a Thursday. Between 9:00 and 11:00, at Far North Queensland TAFE in Cairns. Refer to FNECN Meetings page for further information.
FNECN has an executive committee responsible for administration of the network, including the website, Facebook page, meetings and liaison with the ECCNs.