MEDIA RELEASE 

Left:  Dr. Reesa Sorin, Coordinator of Early Childhood Education - James Cook University, Cairns, Australia
Right:  Teresa Mayer, Senior Data and Statistical Analyst - Healthy Child Manitoba
 

Bright Beginnings, North Eastman Parent-Child Coalition, recently held its quarterly committee meeting and was honoured with the presence of two prestigious guests!

Dr. Reesa Sorin is the Coordinator for Early Childhood Education with James Cook University in Cairns, Australia.  Reesa is working in collaboration with Statistical Analyst, Teresa Mayer, from Healthy Child Manitoba.  Their research project focuses on the factors in relation to the Early Development Instrument (EDI), comparing similarities between the regions of both Cairns South Communities for Children in Australia and the North Eastman Parent-Child Coalition in Manitoba.  The EDI report is based on Kindergarten children’s readiness for school in relation to five main domains; Physical Health and Well-Being, Social Competency, Emotional Maturity, Language and Thinking Skills and Communication Skills and General Knowledge.  As children’s readiness for school is influenced by their early years in relationship to the family and community factors that shape a young child’s life, EDI results are a reflection of the strengths and needs of the communities these children live in.  

Bright Beginnings welcomes this new partnership with Cairns South Communities for Children at an international level.   We anticipate this collaboration will, undoubtedly, assist in future development of additional early childhood programming in the various communities within North Eastman.