About FNECN
The Far North Early Childhood Network (FNECN), established in 2005, is an apolitical and impartial group of early childhood professionals in far north Queensland. We prioritise building and maintaining connections within the early childhood community, from a variety of professional fields. Members share expertise and evidence-based knowledge in their fields along with best practice, current projects, trends and events.
Our goal is to ensure that all children enter school healthy and ready to engage in learning. We believe that together, as a community, we can make a difference.
FNECN members come from the overall early childhood community and meet four times a year (once a term) in an online or face to face forum to highlight various early childhood community initiatives. Meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month, between 9:00 and 10:30, and are facilitated by FNECN Executive.
From the general FNECN members, there are a limited number of Community Partners, who are representatives of key stakeholders in far north Queensland, who keep the early childhood community connected. Community Partners meet twice a year for professional conversations, and information is then passed on to the general membership. Refer to the list of Community Partners.
FNECN currently hosts a number of Early Childhood Community Networks (ECCNs) , who are small community groups of prior to school and early school years professionals. Their priority is to address local issues, such as transition to school. Refer to the Early Childhood Community Networks.
Our goal is to ensure that all children enter school healthy and ready to engage in learning. We believe that together, as a community, we can make a difference.
FNECN members come from the overall early childhood community and meet four times a year (once a term) in an online or face to face forum to highlight various early childhood community initiatives. Meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month, between 9:00 and 10:30, and are facilitated by FNECN Executive.
From the general FNECN members, there are a limited number of Community Partners, who are representatives of key stakeholders in far north Queensland, who keep the early childhood community connected. Community Partners meet twice a year for professional conversations, and information is then passed on to the general membership. Refer to the list of Community Partners.
FNECN currently hosts a number of Early Childhood Community Networks (ECCNs) , who are small community groups of prior to school and early school years professionals. Their priority is to address local issues, such as transition to school. Refer to the Early Childhood Community Networks.
FNECN Executive: The 'FNECN executive team is responsible for the administration of the network. This small group of volunteer professionals administer the FNECN network.
- Associate Professor Reesa Sorin - Art Therapy/ Early Childhood Consultant
- Donna McCulloch - Smith Family Area Manager
- Irene Goodrich - Partnerships Facilitator (Early Years) Department of Education Early Childhood Education and Care
- Moniek de Kievith - Early Childhood Educator
- Andrew McLean - Early Childhood Education Consultant C&K
Looking Back - History of FNECN
Dorothy McKinnon, Fraser Mustard, Reesa Sorin (2003).
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 FNECN became a smaller group of key representatives from key early childhood stakeholders, who met to share information and expertise,and to be informed of the activities of the ECCNS.
The catalyst for change and need to remain connected came in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Meetings were held online and were more accessible to the general early childhood community.
Plans for 2021 are to hold 4 general meetings a year, 2 Community Partner meetings and individual ECCN meetings.
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 FNECN became a smaller group of key representatives from key early childhood stakeholders, who met to share information and expertise,and to be informed of the activities of the ECCNS.
The catalyst for change and need to remain connected came in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Meetings were held online and were more accessible to the general early childhood community.
Plans for 2021 are to hold 4 general meetings a year, 2 Community Partner meetings and individual ECCN meetings.