Tips to engage your educators in the survey

1.  Include the brief summary below in your educator newsletter or other communications:

Following the 2013 federal election and with the change of government, Family Day Care Australia has launched its Mandate 2014 project. Over the coming week Family Day Care Australia (FDCA) members should expect to receive a sector wide survey as part of the Mandate 2014 project.

In addition to information gathered at the 2013 FDCA Visions of Excellence in Family Day Care Symposium, plus a series of focus groups and refinement via the National Members’ Forum, the survey responses will assist in developing ‘Mandate 2014 – the voice of family day care for the next term of government’.

In order for FDCA to develop a broadly representative position on the key issues facing the family day care sector, your thoughts and opinions are vitally important. Without your contribution others will speak on your behalf so we urge you to have your say as part of this important project.

2.  Discuss the survey with your educators during service visits:

Your service visits are an ideal opportunity to discuss the survey and some of the important issues it addresses. This may also be an opportunity to support educators who are having difficulty completing the survey.

3.  Host an information evening for broad discussion about the purpose of Mandate 2014 and the benefits of participation ‘Your chance to have your say”

If you have a scheduled meeting or training session, the Mandate 2014 would be an excellent agenda item or topic of conversation with your educators. The mandate 2014 project could even be the catalyst for such a meeting.

4.  Display or hand out information about Mandate 2014, at play sessions & via educator support groups:

Feel free to print off ‘preview versions’ of the survey and /or the FAQs from the website to share and discuss with educators attending play sessions. Also encourage your more engaged educators to discuss the Mandate 2014 project, and its importance, with their colleagues.

5.    Encourage educators through your service’s social media or other online channels:

You could cut and post the message in Tip 1 onto your service’s facebook page or even just include a brief message for educators to visit the website http://mandate.fdca.com.au for more information.