The Child Care Tax Rebate for child care costs will increase from 30% to 50%, up to $7,500 per child; and paying the rebate quarterly, rather than annually. It is apparently not means tested. Quarterly payments provide more timely assistance to families with their child care costs, with the first payments due from October 2008.

The Federal Government has a new website for the Office of Early Childhood Education and Child Care - http://www.oececc.gov.au/default.htm  - You can subscribe to an email that will provide you with updates on the latest Government initiatives relating to education and child care. Maxine McKew is responsible for this portfolio.

Kate Sykes
Founder and Director
www.careermums.com.au
P: (02) 6161 0128 | M: 0400 823 914
Email: info@careermums.com.au
Blog: http://familyandworkflexiblity.blogspot.com

Courtesy of www.thefoodcoach.com.au

Low carbohydrate, Low fat
Most cafes during winter sell pumpkin soup and while it’s a real crowd pleaser it’s often made with cream, boosting its saturated fat and energy content. In place of cream I’ve used buttermilk, with infinitely less fat, to give it a creamy taste, and which, unlike yoghurt, won’t separate with heat.

Ingredients:
1 kg Jap pumpkin
½ cup red lentils
1 tbsp grated ginger
1 tbsp orange zest
1 litre vegetable stock
½ cup buttermilk
¼ cup coriander, chopped
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cooking Time: 45 mins
Ready in: 55 mins

Suitable for:
Dinner, Lunch

Preparation:
Cut the pumpkin into large chunks and add to a stockpot. Rinse the lentils and add them to the pumpkin with the ginger and orange zest. Add the stock and over a medium heat bring the soup to the boil.

Method:
Reduce to simmer and cook until the lentils and pumpkin are both cooked (approx 30 minutes). Remove from the heat and transfer the ingredients to a food processor and process until smooth. Stir through the buttermilk top with chopped coriander and serve.

Note:
Pumpkin is a great source of betacarotene and Vitamin A. On paper it has a high GI but because it’s comprised of mainly water, and very little carbohydrate it can be enjoyed by everyone - even those concerned with high blood sugar levels.

Makes 4 servings (serve = 1 bowl)

For more delicious recipes from Judy Davie The Food Coach please visit www.thefoodcoach.com.au

The role of the doula during labour and birth is to enhance the experience for you and your partner.
The doula will be there from the time you call till the time you ask her to leave.

After the birth, the doula is specifically able to help with general baby care, feeding options or just to be those extra hands. It is an important time for both of you and your family to bond with your new baby.

Doula’s work in birth centres, private and public hospitals and at homebirths. They always work in conjunction
with midwives and doctors, never as the sole care giver. Doulas’ work privately with you and are not employed by your midwife/doctor or by the hospital. As a courtesy to your midwife or doctor it is advised that you inform them of your choice to include a doula in your birth team.

Studies have shown that having a doula present during labour can shorten the labour process (Campbell et al, 2006; Langer et al 1998), reduce caesarean section rates (Thomassen et al,2003; Scott et al 1999; Kennell et al, 1991) and has a positive effect on breastfeeding (Langer etal, 1998).
Doula’s enhance the wellbeing of mothers and babies, reduces the need for medical assistance and mothers feel better about themselves, more positive about the labour and bond more easily with their babies (Marshall H Klaus, John H Kennell and Phyllis H Klaus, The Doula Book, Cambridge, Perseus Publishing, 2002)

Continuous support in labour increased the chance of a spontaneous vaginal birth (i.e. give birth with neither caesarean nor vacuum nor forceps), women were less likely to use pain medications, had slightly shorter labours, had no identified adverse effects and women were more satisfied (www.cochrane.org )
Having a doula can improve a mother’s perception of her experience of labour, her ability to cope with labour, herself as a woman and of her body (Gordon, Walton, McAdam, Derman, Gallitero and Garrett 1998)

Doulas help improve a mother’s self-esteem, lowers anxiety and reduces depression at 6 weeks post-partum

When choosing a doula it is important to clarify exactly what each Doula offers and choose the one that suits you and your partner best. Prices will vary depending on the services offered and the Doula’s own level of experience.
For example I can tailor a package that will include a numbers of massages during your pregnancy and can also include the infant massage course along with a number of visits to discuss and plan your birth and pregnancy with your partner.
Specifically, prenatal care may include accompanying you to hospital/caregiver visits, creating a birth plan,
working through fears, relaxation, massage or just being there.

The reason why I chose to become a Doula is it just made sense! I massage pregnant women and I also teach parents how to massage their babies over a four week course so it just made sense to assist women and their partners through the transition stage from pregnancy to parenthood.

Julia Fry
________________________________________________
monsoon massage & infant massage centre owner
president of the IAIM (International Association of Infant Massage)
secretary of Future Families Inc
www.monsoonmassage.com.au

0407724628
2/30 Cleland Ave
Dulwich SA 5065

Hello my name is Julia and this is my first time blogging. A little bit about me first (in no particular order), I’m an actress, massage therapist (specialising in therapeutic and pregnancy massage), I’m a certified infant massage instructor (I teach parents how to massage their baby over a four week course) as well as working for two not for profit organisations; IAIM (International Association Infant massage) www.iaim.com.au and Future Families a proudly SA run initiative by a local mum Heidi Robins and staffed by volunteer parents www.futurefamilies.com.au. I have a ‘get me out the house one day a week’ job and I am studying to become a doula. I am very passionate about what I do.

For those wondering, a doula is a professional and educated person who helps families through pregnancy, labour and beyond. They are a compliment to the medical staff in hospitals or the attendants at a home birth.
A doula enhances your experience of labour and birth regardless of where, how or with whom you choose to labour and birth. They offer professional birth support to you, your partner and family and provide emotional support, relaxation strategies and physical support as well as education and information during pregnancy, labour and sometimes beyond. 

Doula’s also assist in the birth planning and preparation, including the writing of a birth plan and through provision of information and resources, . Doula’s are on call 24/7 for approx 2 weeks before and after your due date, and of course in attendance at your labour and birth. Doula’s also visit post natally to help your new family settle in together.

 Having a doula provides comfort and continuity of care by way of a number of visits through your pregnancy.

In my next post I’ll tell you more about why having a doula can make your birth a better experience for you and your family.

Until next time,

Julia Fry
________________________________________________
monsoon massage & infant massage centre owner
president of the IAIM (International Association of Infant Massage)
secretary of Future Families Inc
www.monsoonmassage.com.au

0407724628
2/30 Cleland Ave
Dulwich SA 5065

Many of us are so busy working inside and outside of the home that we can neglect to take care of ourselves.
Taking care of you can be as simple as giving yourself time to think about what you truly desire in life. The time you need to ask yourself the burning questions about what you want to achieve in your life and where you are going. So take some time out of your day to stop, think and listen. Just 10 minutes is enough to get started.

If you time to stop, think and listen to what you really, really, really want it will enable you to set priorities and significantly reduce your stress levels. Allocate the majority of your time to do the things you love. Have daily, weekly, monthly and year long goals. Being able to focus in on what you want allows you to create a schedule that fits in only those activities that bring you closer to achieving your goals.

“I am my best person when I have less on my plate.” Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love said during a recent interview. How can you be your best person?
Here are my key tips to working out what you want so you have less on your plate.

1) Schedule yourself at least 10 minutes each day to think about what you love
2) Spend most of your time doing or planning to do what you love
3) Brainstorm and write a list of things you love - let your imagination run wild
4) Choose 5 you must complete in the next year - what is important right now?
5) Think about how it will feel to achieve these things you love
6) Write down one action you can take to achieve each of these goals
7) Take that action within the next 24 hours and plan your next step
8) Learn to say no to things that don’t contribute to you achieving your goals
9) Write a list of all the excuses you have for not doing the things you want to do
10) Laugh at all of the excuses you have made and move on

Danielle is a qualified life coach and supports women to achieve their life, business, career and health goals.
She has a ten-week old daughter Hollie.
Visit www.healthyandhappy.com.au or www.danielleferris.com

Hello all!

The Astrological New Year will be ushered in with the New Moon on April 6 and as is the case with any New Year activity its a great time to plan ahead. The particular aspects with this New Moon reinforce the need for you to actually have a plan before moving forward on a whim. An Aries Moon can do that for you! On one hand, it may just be the impetus you need to get off your butt and move forward or you might just act without thinking about the longer term implication of your actions and decisions. Patience is not usually a quality we associate with Aries qualities however if you take the raw energy it provides and combine it with smart application you will be on a winner.

Helen Hartley

consulting astrologer, coach, public speaker, educator, writer, radio presenter

Zodiac Greeting Cards http://www.astrologymatters.com/

Free Monthly Astrological Updates http://www.astrologymatters.com/

Business & Corporate Astrology www.synchronicitymatters.com.au

Email: helen@astrologymatters.com

We harvested our first self seeded watermelon this week; it had grown from the non hybrid seed of an organic watermelon that had probably been eaten there the previous season. It received no fertilizer, special soil or treatment except the occasional bucket of bath water. The harvesting was a family affair as we were all just as excited about the melon that we had been watching grow for months by the shed door. It was surprisingly tasty and full of juice, the main problem was after everyone had had their fill it still wouldn’t fit in the fridge!

I love the cycling process that growing food brings; eat the food, save the seed, plant out nurture and then harvest again. I am still amazed at what can be produced from one small seed.

Last week I planted seeds of peas, silverbeet, coriander, spinach and broccoli. However I am not holding on to their success as we have since had 7 days straight over 35c. I accept it as a cheap loss; a packet of seeds, even organic ones cost no more than $2-3. To make myself feel better I have collecting spent sunflower heads and lettuce heads which I will add to my seed collection once they are dry.I order online all my seeds; even for a few packets it is worthwhile and so easy. It doesn’t involve having to drive or queuing at the shop, or arriving to find something is out of stock. It also opened me to the whole world of different varieties of herbs and vegetables that you cannot buy at the average garden shop. The best part is that they have not been chemically treated nor bred for only one generation like commercially available seeds. For more information on non hybrid seeds or organic seeds; see

www.diggers.com.au
www.edenseeds.com.au
www.selectorganic.com.au
www.greenpatchseeds.com.au

Gardening tip: Growing carrots
Mix carrot seeds with spring onion seeds and sand for good results (onions protect the carrots from pests) and spread out thinly in rows in the garden or deep styrofoam boxes. Sprinkle compost finely over the top, a sieve works well. Keep moist until germination.

Until next time

Rachel Furbank, Sustainable living eco mum

I’m sitting here contemplating the irony. I’ve worked as a Childcare Professional for years and have told many parents desperate for care that the waiting list is long or even full. And here I am, trying to get childcare and I’m being told I’m on the waiting list!

I now understand how difficult and even distressing this can be. It is such a hard situation. The previous government told us that there isn’t a childcare shortage, that there were plenty of places. And apparently there are but just finding a place is not the only thing I’m looking for when it comes to childcare.

I could find a place for my son very easily but it would probably be in a centre that didn’t suit us! I’m looking for quality and a place where my son and my partner and I feel at home. I want my son to feel loved, nurtured and cared for. I want the environment to feel warm and friendly. I want to feel that my partner and my input is valued. I want it to feel a little bit like home. And I don’t think that is too much to ask!

Friends have asked me how you know when you’ve found the right centre for you and your child? What I look for when I first walk in to any centre are these things:

Staff greet you and your child warmly and make you feel welcome. The children in the room are content and if they are not then there is a staff member helping them. You cannot expect that a childcare centre will always be happy and fun but when it isn’t, you want to feel sure that the unsettled children are being responded to with warmth. Is there a range of resources for the children to explore? Do staff follow your home routine when it comes to sleep, food etc. Can I drop in and visit? What qualifications does the staff team have? Is the centre accredited?

And if these answers come up to scratch I go on my gut feeling. If the staff are friendly, the space safe, fun and engaging and if it feels good it may be the centre for my child. And me.

Emma Anderson is a qualified Children’s Services Professional and is currently on the executive of the South Australian Chapter of Early Childhood Australia. She has an eight month old son Jasper.

Courtesy of www.thefoodcoach.com.au 

Dairy free, Low carbohydrate, Low fat, Low GI, Low sugar

Ingredients:
500 grams organic chicken breasts 
½ bunch fresh coriander 
2 cloves garlic, crushed 
2 limes juiced 
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 
½ tsp coriander seeds, roasted and ground 
½ tsp sweet paprika 

Prep Time: 2 hrs

Cooking Time: 10 mins

Preparation:
Prepare the marinade by lighly roasting the coriander seeds. Using a pestle and mortar, grind the seeds into a fine powder. 
Scrape the dirt from three coriander roots and crush with a knife. Wash and roughly chop the leaves from the remaining bunch. 
Add all the marinade ingredients together. 
Trim any fat from the chicken and cut it into strips approx 1cm thick. 
Pour the marinade over the chicken and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Method:
Heat the BBQ plate to hot. Add the chicken pieces and cook for 7 - 10 minutes turning once. Serve with a summer salad.

Makes 4 servings

For more delicious recipes from Judy Davie, The Food Coach please visit her website at www.thefoodcoach.com.au