fka Children’s Services (fkaCS) advocates for children’s cultural and linguistic rights and provides support to education and care services in the provision of culturally rich environments that support a civil society.
Our vision is for all children to actively participate in quality education and care services that recognise, value, and embed difference and diversity.
fkaCS began as the Free Kindergarten Union (FKU) in 1908. The FKU was at the forefront of the early childhood education movement and had a major role in instigating many significant early childhood initiatives including the establishment of the first Kindergarten Teachers College (now part of Melbourne University), the formation of a national association for early childhood (which evolved to Early Childhood Australia) and were the original trustees for the Lady Gowrie Centre in Victoria in the late 1930s.
Today, in its 114th year, fkaCS continues to advocate for children’s cultural and linguistic rights and provides professional development and support to education and care services in the provision of culturally rich environments that reflect a civil society. The fkaCS board comprises early childhood teachers, academics, benevolent and welfare societies and multicultural advocates.
Board of Management
Governor of Victoria, Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC |
Patron |
Roslyn Cornish | President |
Vanessa Field | Vice President |
Rakhi Khanna | Treasurer |
Julie Brooks | Secretary |
Hodan Abi | Board Member |
Karla Coombes | Board Member |
Melinda Ackerman | Board Member |
Dr Wendy Roberts | Board Member |
Life Members | ||
Dr P. Clarke | Mr G. Kelso | Ms B. Romeril |
Ms. K. Coombes | Dr A. Kennedy | Mr E. Rush |
Mr L. Cox | Mrs P. Montgomery | Ms D. Rundle |
Mr J. Emerson | Miss H. Moorhead | Ms R. Waite |
Mrs G. Johnson | Ms B. Pasqua | |
Mrs G. Kelso | Mr I. Renard | |
Friends of fka Children’s Services | ||
Mrs Gillian Beddington | Mrs Esma Kelso | Ms Gwenda Martin |
Mrs Judith Cutler | Ms Marion Lang | Mrs Joan Waters |
Mrs June Danks | Ms Shirley Lancaster | Mrs Kay Withell |
...and other Friends of fka Children’s Services who wish to remain anonymous. |