b'Family communication This portfolio approach also applies to the services SDN regularly conducts surveys of families using ourwe offer within particular service streams. For example, services, and surveys in our centres in past years havewhile we aim for consistent quality across all of our consistently told us were not communicating withcentres, we know that each centre serves very different families effectively about what goes on in the day tocommunities, and we need to be responsive to the needs day life of a centre, and how their child is learning andof those communities. Also, were lucky enough to own developing. Enhancing how we communicate withsome of the centres that we operate, while the balance families so we can work in partnership with them for theiris a mix of commercial and community leases. All of childs wellbeing is vital for our role as trusted advisers.these factors impact how we invest in those services, and Listening, connecting up and checking in are corewill determine our decisions about future investment in elements of our Pathways approach, which underpins ournew services. work with children, families, and each other.ImpactfulWere taking a customer experience approach to working with families, identifying when and how weOur strategic plan commits us to advocating for connect with them, and determining the level and typechildrens rights, and for environments, interactions, of interaction and service we want to deliver at thoseand relationships that promote and enhance childrens touch points. This is a long term project to impact notwellbeing, learning and development. This means we just the way we work with families on a day to day basis,also need to advocate more widely for policies, programs but our whole approach to thinking about what servicesand services and collaborate with others to help address families want, and how to improve the systems andservice gaps. processes that deliver those services. Ultimately, this willWe actively participate in sector lobbying and mean that SDN provides services that are valued by andadvocacy activities. We have been part of two campaigns therefore desirable for families. by the early childhood sector lobbying politicians in the lead up to the NSW state and federal elections. These Sustainability include the Launch into Learning campaign coordinated As a not-for-profit, were conscious that we need to useby ELACCA (the Early Learning and Care Council of our resources carefully and for the best overall outcomesAustralia, of which were a member), and the Early for children. Across the portfolio of services that we offer,Learning Everyone Benefits Campaign coordinated by we balance our services so some are designed to reachEarly Childhood Australia (ECA, of which were also a many children while some deliver intense services to amember). We hosted politicians at several SDN centres, few children. This not only responds to the continuumand visited parliament houses in NSW and Canberra. of need that children and families encounter acrossWe continue to make submissions to government their lives, it also ensures we have revenue from acrossenquiries, particularly where we can share our experience a mix of service streams, so were not reliant on oneand knowledge gained from working directly with revenue source. This is particularly important in an age ofchildren and families. changing government policies and priorities. 24'