FAR NORTH EARLY CHILDHOOD NETWORK
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History of FNECN
PictureDorothy 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. 

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  • Home
  • About FNECN
    • FNECN Ways of Working
    • History of FNECN
    • Membership & Partners
    • Community Partners
    • MEETINGS (r.s.v.p) FNECN >
      • FNECN meeting minutes
    • FNECN meeting Feedback 2020
  • About ECCNs
    • Early Childhood Community Networks
    • ECCN - Ways of Working
    • ECCN Membership
    • ECCN meeting Feedback 2020
    • Cairns Central >
      • MEETINGS (r.s.v.p) Cairns Central
    • Cairns North >
      • MEETINGS (r.s.v.p) Cairns North
    • Cairns South >
      • MEETINGS (r.s.v.p) Cairns South
      • Strong Start
    • Cooktown >
      • MEETINGS (r.s.v.p) Cooktown
    • Douglas >
      • MEETINGS (r.s.v.p) Douglas
    • Gordonvale >
      • MEETINGS (r.s.v.p) Gordonvale
    • Hope Vale >
      • MEETINGS (r.s.v.p) Hopevale
    • Mareeba >
      • MEETINGS (r.s.v.p) Mareeba
    • Northern Peninsula Area >
      • MEETINGS (r.s.v.p) NPA
    • Tablelands >
      • MEETINGS (r.s.v.p) Tablelands
    • Tablelands REMOTE >
      • MEETINGS (r.s.v.p) Tablelands REMOTE
    • Torres >
      • MEETINGS (r.s.v.p) Torres
  • Information and Links
    • Of Special Interest >
      • COVID 19 Support Services and Links
    • Child Development and Research
    • Health, Safety and Well-being
    • Indigenous and Multicultural Perspectives
    • Legislation and Governance
    • Pedagogy, Frameworks and Curriculum >
      • Pedagogy, Frameworks and Curriculum VIDEO
    • Supporting Families and Children with Special Rights
    • Orientation 2020
    • Professional Development Opportunities