7.30am-8.30am

Saturday 7 June 2014 Registrations & arrival refreshments

8.30am-10.00am

Welcome to country Conference welcome Keynote: Mark McCrindle

Mark McCrindle

The Future of Australian Children, Families & Educators “Australia’s household landscape is rapidly changing.” – Mark McCrindle For the first time in Australia's history, the nuclear family will no longer be the most common household type in Australia. What will families of the future look like? How will they behave? Where will they live? What work will they do? How often will they do it? And how will that influence the future of children’s education and care? In this keynote session demographer and futurist Mark McCrindle will outline Australia’s changing household landscape and give a snapshot of the emerging characteristics of Australia’s future families and ways to engage them.

Mark McCrindle BSc (Psychology), MA, is an award winning social researcher with an international renown for tracking emerging issues and researching social trends. He is also a bestselling author, and influential thought leader, and is regularly commissioned to deliver strategy and advice to the boards and executive committees of some of Australia's leading organisations. This places him in high demand in the press, on radio and on television shows such as Sunrise, Today, ABC News 24, A Current Affair and Today Tonight. Mark is also the author of three books on emerging trends and social change. The ABC of XYZ: Understanding the Global Generations, Word Up: A Lexicon and Guide to Communication in the 21st Century and The Power of Good.

10.00am-10.30am Morning tea

10.30am-11.45am Concurrent session 1

John Joseph

Wake up to the impact of sleep: The good, the bad, the ugly “Never before have so many young people been so engaged by technology that it suppresses their natural desire to sleep.” – John Joseph

In this workshop, participants will examine the fundamental role of sleep in a child’s physical, intellectual, emotional, behavioural and performance development. We’ll draw on research to show how sleep is closely connected to learning and memory. We’ll explain why children get less sleep today than previous generations and we’ll show how to help parents create Personal Sleep Plans for their children.

John Joseph is a former teacher with teaching experience spanning all school year levels. He was a university teacher-educator for seven years. He is also a qualified tradesperson, a businessman and a trainer. John holds a Masters Degree in Mathematics and Science Education from the University of South Australia and is considered a leading authority on education. He has worked face-to-face with more than 350,000 delegates from more than 4,000 education sites across 27 countries. John has published 6 books and many articles as well as a range of programs classroom teachers. His focus is on learning: how it happens; how to maximize it; how to inspire it in students; and practical strategies to enhance it. John is a parent of two young adults.

Nadine McAllister & Carrolyn Ireland

Exploring collaborative documentation: What is significant about this learning? Documenting children's experiences and their responses to the environment makes learning visible to children, educators, families and other professionals. But how do we represent learning collaboratively with children? This presentation will outline how a new planning tool has supported a shift in ideas and pedagogical practice in some early childhood settings. Through the Collaborative Planning Journal educators and children can together articulate and document emerging interests, ongoing learning and plans. A review of the use of the Journal has indicated that both educators and children have found this approach mutually beneficial and highly enjoyable.

Nadine McAllister is a C&K Early Childhood Advisor who works in the Brisbane region. Nadine has over 10 years’ experience in teaching and directing in community based kindergartens and long day care services. Carrolyn Ireland is a C&K Early Childhood Advisor currently based in the Sunshine Coast region. Carrolyn has extensive experience teaching and directing in New Zealand in kindergartens, long day care and primary school

Anthony Semann

Educational Leadership – A myth or a reality: Complexities, contradictions and opportunities The National Quality Standards (DEEWR, 2011) and other international studies, Effective Pre-School and Primary Education (EPPE, 2012) identify the importance of educational leadership as a driver in improving the quality of educational programs and outcomes for children. Interestingly, whilst much of the current Australian quality reforms have focused on the ways in which early and middle childhood programs can progress towards meeting and/or exceeding the approved standards, little time, research and professional learning has been invested in exploring the ways in which educational leadership can be maximised. This master class creates a space where both research and practice can meet. We will explore the following:

How might educational leadership be understood?

What is the role of the educational leader?

How can educational leadership be maximised?

What are skills required to lead education?

What can we learn from the experiences to date?

Anthony Semann is a Director at Semann & Slattery, a national consulting and research company. Anthony has a degree in Education, a Masters qualification in Sociology and is currently completing a PhD investigating the relationship between courage and leadership. He is a self labelled 'leader-holic' and is intrigued in the ways in which individuals understand and enact personal and educational leadership. Anthony’s work has seen him research, present and consult in New York, France and New Zealand. Anthony has co-authored a number of books on management and leadership; authored and co-authored books chapters, including a recent chapter on race and identity, and has been an editor and reviewer for education and cultural studies journals. More recently Anthony has been a lead researcher on a number of research projects exploring the role of educational leadership.

Cate Morgan, Kate Rowe, Robyn Mercer & Carley Clark-Carran

Curriculum in Practice: ICT What does information communication technology look like in contemporary early childhood education settings? The answer, of course, depends upon many factors, including location, cultural influences and the experiences, prevailing interests and explorations of children. This workshop, presented by members of the C&K Early Childhood Advisory team, will explore the work of children and educators across a variety of C&K settings and identify the common threads that underpin effective and responsive teaching and learning.

The C&K Early Childhood Advisory team members each spend a significant amount of their time providing pedagogical leadership along with expert guidance and advice to C&K educators in a variety of settings across Queensland. They are privileged to work alongside educators who are innovative and passionate and as a result are empowered to share their own growing knowledge.

Melissa Kidd & Rebecca Hand

Great start, great futures: A lead model for transition in the Darling Downs South West region Unrelenting focus on improvement across education sectors has generated momentum in developing relationships between schools, early childhood education and care providers and community-based services to enhance transition experiences for families and children at the commencement of school education. However sometimes the agendas driving initiatives, and the beliefs underlying partnerships and practices, are creating barriers between education sectors. This dilemma poses the question – Do primary schools have a place in leadership in early childhood education prior to school? In this session the Great Start, great futures project will be discussed in relation to the experiences of St George State School and Newtown State School in the Darling Downs South West Region. The Great Start, great futures project takes on the challenge of leading school communities through relational, procedural, cultural and pedagogical change to influence futures oriented outcomes, focused on the child and their family within the local community, in the crucial early years of education. These schools will share their community’s journey and evolving practices.

Melissa Kidd is the Principal Project Officer for Great Start, Great Futures: Early Years Transition Project, initiated by the Early Childhood Education and Care team, Darling Downs South West region, Department of Education Training and Employment, Queensland. Melissa is also a qualified Speech Pathologist. Through her role as a rural practitioner in school age education, she developed a passion for inclusive education and innovative service delivery that balances the needs of schools, students and families, which later translated to management roles in student services. Rebecca Hand is the Regional Early Childhood Manager for the Darling Downs South West region, Department of Education Training and Employment, Queensland. In this position, Rebecca is particularly passionate about continuity of learning for children as they transition from kindergarten to school and is seeking to influence policy makers, educators, and school and community leaders to develop models of best practice.

Marilyn Hyneman

Communicating teaching and learning to families How effective are the methods we use to communicate teaching and learning to families? Do our families really know what is happening in the programme? The outcomes from this self-review action research have highlighted some interesting points to consider in regard to our methods of communicating with our families, in particular the power of technology and how innovative we can be in using it to our advantage. This presentation will discuss how we became more effective making the teaching and learning more visible to our families and the wider community. We believed the more informed our families were of how children learn in a play based curriculum, the more valued their play experiences would be.

Marilyn Hyneman is a Kindergarten teacher at Wakari Kindergarten, Dunedin, New Zealand. She has been teaching in early childhood for 20 years and in Kindergarten for 13 years. She presented for C&K in 2008 on Narrative Assessment at the Sunshine Coast Conference, then at the Brisbane Conference in the same year. Marilyn has always been passionate about quality early childhood education, continually reflecting on her practice to ensure best outcomes for children’s learning.

Katherine Bussey

Care as curriculum In this interactive session, we will discuss infants, toddlers, and young children, the notion of ‘Care as Curriculum’, and the importance of relationships through the influence of Magda Gerber’s Educaring Approach, and the Pikler Approach. This workshop will shed new light on the role of the educator in care.

Katherine Bussey is an infant and toddler specialist living, working, and studying in Melbourne and a proud Kiwi. She is most inspired by the work of Magda Gerber and Emmi Pikler and learned a great deal when training at the Pikler Institute in 2004 and 2006, with Resources for Infant Educators in 2008, and through Program for Infant/Toddler Care Training with Ron Lally in 2010. Katherine previously worked in a childcare centre in a pedagogical and senior teacher role and is currently working full time on her PhD at the Melbourne Campus of Australian Catholic University.

11.55am-1.10pm Concurrent Session 2

Prudence Murphy

Boys with guns In this presentation Prudence will discuss the creation of her nationally acclaimed recent body of work, Boys with guns, which depicts children’s spontaneous weapon play. Of course, children’s weapon play can be contentious and this photographic series may prompt exploration of these themes and the wider phenomena of violence and censorship in our society. These images of children at play, however, are simply an attempt to depict something of the mystery of children's imaginings, which may perhaps resonate with and elucidate our adult experience.

Prudence Murphy is an Australian artist specialising in photo-media. Prudence completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts with First Class Honours in 1999 and a Masters of Fine Arts (Research) at the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales in 2002. Prudence’s work examines the details of our daily existence, with an emphasis on the domestic, familiar and private. Prudence is drawn to what comes before, after, or in between decisive actions.

Robyn Dolby

Using attachment theory and the Circle of Security roadmap in your setting Attachment theory offers a way of thinking about emotion and behaviour that enables early childhood educators and carers to look beyond a child’s immediate behaviour and think about how to meet their genuine relationship needs. This workshop introduces educators and professionals supporting young children and families to the Circle of Security roadmap. Through video examples participants will see how to use the Circle of Security map within a group setting to create secure learning opportunities for children. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to discuss and consider how they can use attachment thinking to structure transitions (e.g. morning separations; afternoon reunions) and plan support for children who have difficulty settling into a group environment or who struggle to play with peers.

Dr Robyn Dolby is a psychologist who has worked in the field of Infant Mental Health for thirty-five years. Between 2000 – 2011 she co-ordinated the project called “Attachment Matters – from relationships to learning”, an attachment-based intervention in a preschool. From this project Robyn has written the booklets, “The Circle of Security: Roadmap to Building Supportive Relationships”; “About Bullying” and “Promoting Positive Behaviour” and “Secure transitions: supporting children to feel secure, confident and included” (in press) published by Early Childhood Australia. Annually since 1999 she has run a six-monthly child observation course within an early childhood setting, as part of the required training for child psychiatrists in NSW.

Sarah Thomas

Leading change management: iPads in the early childhood setting Come and hear about the exciting possibilities iPad technology holds, and how you can implement a Change Management approach to lead your team through this progression. Find out how to build the skills educators require to effectively use this digital technology. Sarah will discuss a range of research models for iPad implementation including TPACK, SAMR and Blooms Taxonomy. Hear about how to lead your team to personalise the delivery of the curriculum through integrating iPad use into all areas of learning. Preparing our children for their future is essential, with the exponential growth of technology use in our lives educators require a pedagogical shift to ensure they are working with current knowledge and skills. Leading a Change Management process allows all educators to take ownership in the move forward, ensuring a sustainable practice. Practical ideas will be shared on the steps to take to lead changes in programming, integrating, assessing and reporting using the iPad.

Sarah Thomas is qualified to work in Early Childhood and Educational Support settings and has a Graduate Certificate in Inclusive Education. She is an experienced Early Childhood Lecturer for Curtin University and Open Universities Australia and also provides individualised educational consultancy services and resource development.

Denise Proud & Anne Tietzel

Reconciliation, early childhood education and transformative leadership This workshop explores the role of early childhood educators and education and care environments in enacting the goals of reconciliation. Educators will critically reflect on their role in generating change, ensuring our education and care environments are culturally safe, welcoming and promoting reconciliation at local and global levels.

Aunty Denise Proud is an Aboriginal woman born and raised in Cherbourg and is a respected Elder, teacher and facilitator. Aunty Denise is a strong social justice advocate, tirelessly promoting the rights of her people and community and working in partnership with a wide variety of organisations on any projects or initiatives aimed at improving awareness and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Aunty Denise has over 40 years of experience working in early childhood education, prisons and implementing programs to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and promote reconciliation. Anne Tietzel has extensive experience and roles within early childhood education and education policy in Western Australia and Queensland. Anne’s teaching experience in kindergartens includes six years teaching in culturally immersed programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. Anne delivers in-service professional development in the areas of social justice, sustainability (social and environmental ecology) and policy to practice.

Meg Jones, Jo Goodrick, Carrolyn Ireland & Tess Simpson

Curriculum in practice: The arts What does arts practice look like in contemporary early childhood education settings? The answer, of course, depends upon many factors, including location, cultural influences and the experiences, prevailing interests and explorations of children. This workshop, presented by members of the C&K Early Childhood Advisory team, will explore the work of children and educators across a variety of C&K settings and identify the common threads that underpin effective and responsive teaching and learning.

The C&K Early Childhood Advisory team members each spend a significant amount of their time providing pedagogical leadership along with expert guidance and advice to C&K educators in a variety of settings across Queensland. They are privileged to work alongside educators who are innovative and passionate and as a result are empowered to share their own growing knowledge.

Desley Jones

Self regulation: the what, the why and the how – understandings and strategies. Self regulation is an essential component of social and emotional development (Infants and Early Childhood Social and Emotional Wellbeing Conference 2013), and plays a significant role in children’s mental health. Supporting a young child’s mental health has ramifications for his or her later living and learning. How do we understand self regulation? Why is it important to children's social and emotional wellbeing and subsequent mental health? How can self regulation be enhanced in early childhood settings? This workshop will assert that assisting children to develop self regulation is a positive, and practical, alternative to behaviour management. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on their understanding of self regulation, and to share, and build upon, their practical strategies.

Desley Jones has over 25 years experience in early childhood education and is Director of Ballymore Kindergarten. She has qualifications in education and psychology. Desley is a recipient of an Inspirational Teaching Award, being nominated by parents in recognition of her emphasis on social and emotional wellbeing in her educational program.

Vanessa Johnston & Karina Johnston

Music and movement for children This fun and informative workshop will leave you with many useful and practical ways to teach music and movement to children. Activities will be presented through visual aids, percussion instruments, songs, dances and children’s stories and will include singing, moving, listening and playing. The ideas presented will provide an avenue for children to express themselves and to explore what their voice, body and mind can achieve through music.

Vanessa Johnston completed music studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and is an accredited piano teacher. In 1993, she founded ‘Kids Music Madness’ and taught music and movement classes to 2 to 8 year olds throughout Sydney for a period of ten years. She also taught in the ‘Junior Training Program’ at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and as a music specialist in long day care and preschool centre’s. Vanessa now focuses her time on developing Jingle Jam music resources, presenting professional development workshops for teachers throughout Australia and music and movement workshops for children throughout Sydney. Karina Johnston has a Diploma of Teaching from ACU National and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Macquarie University, Sydney. She is an experienced piano teacher, dance teacher and primary school teacher. Karina presents Jingle Jam music and movement workshops to teachers and consults to organisations about music and movement for children. Karina has three young children of her own and is inspired daily by them!

1.10pm-2.10pm Lunch

2.10pm-3.10pm Keynote: Marilyn Fleer

Marilyn Fleer Imagination and creativity for increased outcomes across different platforms of play in the early years It is argued in this presentation that imagination in play and abstraction in learning are dialectically related. The term conceptual play is introduced to name this particular dimension of play, where shared sustained imaginary situations (SIS) and collective imaginary situations for learning (CIS) are engineered by educators. Conceptual play is distinct from free play, role-play generally, and fantasy play specifically. These traditional views of play are thought to be biologically determined. In contrast, this presentation, in drawing upon cultural-historical theory, argues that culture and community determine how play is or is not taken up. In this presentation, examples of video clips of children using animation software on iPads, the dramatization of fairy tales through role-play, and the explicit representation of scientific concepts during conceptual play are shared in relation to what kinds of learning and development are afforded through these platforms of play. It will be argued that the different platforms of play allow for different kinds of SIS and CIS to emerge. Some examples of SIS and CIS will be illustrated in order to show the changes in learning conditions for children and the resultant psychological development of the child.

Professor Marilyn Fleer holds the Foundation Chair and is a Professor of Early Childhood Education at Monash University. Currently she is the Research Director, Faculty of Education, Peninsula Campus, Monash University. She is also the Research Leader for the Early Childhood Faculty Research Group. Marilyn has worked in education for 25 years beginning her career as an early childhood teacher in a childcare centre, preschool and kindergarten. She was then seconded to the Department of Education, Aboriginal Education Branch, as an advisor, later as a Curriculum Officer and finally as a Research Officer. In 1988 Marilyn took up an appointment as lecturer at the University of Canberra, remaining there until 2001 as Professor of Education. In 2002 she commenced her new position at Monash University as Professor of Early Childhood Education. Marilyn has a diverse range of research interests including: cross-cultural research, family studies, early childhood science education, technology education, and the building of new theoretical tools to support early childhood development and education.

3.20pm-4.05pm Concurrent Session 3

Cherie Lamb

The EMBRACE – Culture in kindergarten programs: Strengthening cultural understandings and a sense of belonging The benefits of universal access to quality early childhood programs are well established, but many Australian children are not reaping the benefits. The EMBRACE program aims to increase participation in Kindergarten for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander, migrant and refugee families by creating cultural change within Queensland kindergartens and promoting community understanding of their importance. This presentation will outline initial approaches to building collaborative partnerships and community capacity.

Cherie Lamb is leading the new EMBRACE – Culture in Kindy Program which operates as a partnership between the Queensland Council of Social Services (QCOSS) and the Multicultural Development Association (MDA). Cherie has worked in the not-for profit sector for over two decades, running early intervention and prevention programs which facilitated access for families from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and diverse cultural backgrounds to schools and early childhood settings.

Ray Bloxham

Early childhood education (and care) – it’s every primary Principal’s business At Jinibara State School – it’s never ‘business as usual’ in our professional learning community! Imagine...... a school that promotes children's learning and wellness through preventive medical services, mental health services, and improved nutrition before the formal years of schooling......a school that holds the view that the first 5 years of a child’s life shapes their future, forming the foundations of their learning capacity and social behaviour....a school that promotes participation and prevention pathways for personal, social and economic success. ... a primary school of the 21st Century.

Dr Ray Bloxham is a primary school principal with Education Queensland. He is currently the principal of Jinibara State School and is focused on ‘premium value-adding’ through innovative early childhood education offerings on the school site. His other areas of research and interest include education systems’ leadership and management, schools’ leadership and management and mentoring for leadership and management.

Lynne Moore & Denise Cedric

Indigenous educators making a difference in the lives of young children Across Queensland and the Northern Territory, over 300 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early childhood educators are realising the benefits of professional development that embeds culture and language to support understanding of the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). This presentation, will tell the story of the Remote Indigenous Professional Development (RIPD) Project and how Indigenous Pedagogical Leaders (PLs) are emerging as an important and powerful voice in supporting quality early learning programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander children. Participating Indigenous educators from C&K services will also share their experiences of a Mentoring Project that was an extension of RIPD in Queensland, to trial the use of iPads to support and sustain the use of the EYLF in their own services.

Lynne Moore is Manager of the Remote Indigenous Professional Development project with the Department of Education, Training and Employment. As a member of the Indigenous Projects and Evaluation team Lynne is involved in strength based projects that contribute to the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families in culturally secure early education programs. Denise Cedric is a pedagogical leader for the Remote Indigenous Professional Development project. In this role Denise has been travelling to remote and isolated communities throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory to share her expertise and experience in guiding and supporting Indigenous educators build skills and understanding to implement the Early Years Learning Framework.

Petrina Rossner

Aligning evidence from an early childhood setting to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers – a workshop for provisionally registered teachers To transition to full registration, a range of annotated and verified evidence must be used to demonstrate achievement of the Australian Professional Standards. This workshop will assist provisionally registered teachers and directors to select from a range of evidence from their context to best illustrate each descriptor within the Standards. A brief explanation of how to apply for full registration will also be provided. The workshop is also suitable for the mentors of provisionally registered teachers.

Petrina Rossner works in Professional Standards at the Queensland College of Teachers. A registered teacher, Petrina provides policy advice and liaison in relation to the implementation of professional standards for teachers and the accreditation of initial teacher education (ITE) programs.

Danielle Cassidy

EATSIPEC – Our journey Weaving an Aboriginal perspective and Torres Strait Islander perspective throughout a kindergarten program can greatly enhance the learning experiences of all children and families within any early childcare centre. Creating a sense of belonging for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families starts by forming an environment that is respectful, fair, that recognising diversity and is built upon trust. The terms Belonging, Being and Becoming are not new concepts for Australia’s First People. These terms are the essence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identities. Belonging is intertwined with culture and identity. The development of a strong sense of identity is critical in the very earliest years of life and culture is a fundamental building block. This enables children to know who they are and where they belong (Educators EYLF, p22). This sense of belonging cannot be underestimated. Particularly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, creating and maintaining a sense of belonging can be the vital element needed to encourage Aboriginal families and Torres Strait Islander families to enrol and attend a service.

Danielle Cassidy is the Principle Project Developer for the EATSIPEC initiative. Having previously managed the Early Years Programs in DETE’s North Coast Regional Indigenous Education Unit, Danielle is passionate about working in Indigenous Education. She understands the importance of working with Elders and community, and the role of parents as the first teachers of their children.

Sue Lewin

Come on and move your body Very young children respond physically to music by feeling the beat and moving in time. This workshop gives repertoire, ideas and resources for moving creatively and constructively with young children. We will look at the value of rocking songs, bouncing on knee songs, group dances, individual dances and use of props and recorded music for movement. Participants will go away with new material to use with the children in their care immediately.

Sue Lewin is an early childhood teacher, singer and songwriter who has produced 7 music CDs for young children which include traditional songs and dances from around the world as well as original pieces. The most popular CD is ‘Heave ho and over we go’ which is on the ‘listening list’ for TAFE’s throughout Queensland. Sue has presented music workshops for teachers at across the state and overseas, including The Warsaw University Conference of Early Childhood in Poland. In 2010 she was commissioned by a London primary school to co-write (with the children) a new school song based on the school’s philosophy. In the same year her children’s musical ‘The Little Pirate’s Adventures’ (co-written with UK musician Roz Adamson) was performed at The Rose Theatre in London with a cast of 200 children .

Alison Evans & C&K Educators

Collaborative partnerships – Working together to improve outcomes for children, families and communities This session will highlight partnership programs including the role of C&K educators who work within the Early Years Centres in Browns Plains and Cairns, operated by the Benevolent Society. Sharing their own stories of practice, this session offers insights into different ways of family engagement and working in partnership within integrated service delivery models.

Alison (Ali) Evans has worked in the early childhood education and care profession for 25 years in a variety of roles from teaching in a kindergarten, as an Early Childhood Advisor and working with TAFE’s and Universities. Ali relocated to Brisbane to lead the C&K Early Childhood Advisory team, Equity and Diversity team and most recently as Acting Education Manager. Ali is passionate about children’s rights, educational leadership and making a difference in the lives of children

Bus Tour Visit 3 exceptional early childhood services, each offering something unique (afternoon tea provided – concludes at 6.00pm)

C&K QUT Kelvin Grove Community Childcare

C&K Arana Hills Community Kindergarten

C&K Rosalie Community Kindergarten

4.05pm-4.30pm Afternoon Tea

4.30pm-5.15pm Concurrent Session 4

Lynne Moore & Denise Cedric

Through Indigenous eyes – bringing the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) to life with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander educators in Queensland are taking the lead in implementing early learning experiences that embed culture and language. This session shares their insights and explores how a curriculum framework developed through a process of consultation with Indigenous communities, experts and educators of Indigenous children can provide additional guidance on ensuring cultural security for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. First released in 2008, Foundations for Success – guideline for extending and enriching learning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in their kindergarten year has been reviewed to align with the Early Years Learning Framework. This presentation will reveal how to make the most of the guideline and reinforce the cultural identity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children through the delivery of a high quality early learning program. While it specifically targets all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the kindergarten year it will also be of interest to educators who would like to embed Indigenous perspectives in their program for the all children.

Lynne Moore is Manager of the Remote Indigenous Professional Development project with the Department of Education, Training and Employment. As a member of the Indigenous Projects and Evaluation team Lynne is involved in strength based projects that contribute to the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families in culturally secure early education programs. Denise Cedric is a pedagogical leader for the Remote Indigenous Professional Development project. In this role Denise has been travelling to remote and isolated communities throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory to share her expertise and experience in guiding and supporting Indigenous educators build skills and understanding to implement the Early Years Learning Framework.

Petrina Rossner

Unpacking the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers in an early childhood context This workshop will explore the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers and consider alignment between the Standards and the role of teachers delivering approved or accredited kindergarten programs. The registration requirements of both teachers and directors currently holding teacher registration will also be discussed.

Petrina Rossner works in Professional Standards at the Queensland College of Teachers. A registered teacher, Petrina provides policy advice and liaison in relation to the implementation of professional standards for teachers and the accreditation of initial teacher education (ITE) programs.

Robyn Mercer & Carley Clark-Carran

The teacher in the 21st century – engaging with social media The use of social networking has grown with an ever increasing number of sites and possibilities. Use of social media is an opportunity to stay connected with like minded people, be informed and to also be challenged with your thinking. This session will look at the most frequently used digital tools and consider the implications and responsibilities of a presence in the online environment.

Robyn Mercer is a C&K Early Childhood Advisor. She supports centres in Logan and has also supported centres in more regional areas – Townsville, central Queensland and south west. Robyn has worked for over 30 years in the Logan community. From 2008, she began to explore and investigate how technology could be used with young children. In 2012, Robyn was part of the C&K Research Team, investigating how newer technologies could be introduced into programs for kindergarten aged children. She remains a passionate educator who continually encourages others to critically reflect on their pedagogy. Carley Clark-Carran is focused on research and innovation within early childhood education across multiple age ranges and educational approaches. Carley has visited, observed and interviewed early childhood services in Germany and New Zealand, and has had the opportunity to engage in professional discourse with early childhood specialists from Italy, Canada, Sweden and England. One of Carley’s passions includes the integration of information and communication technologies within settings practising different approaches to early childhood education.

Dan Georgeson & Sue Hamilton-Smith

Read4Life: Creating local sustainable solutions through facilitative consultation. To address faltering literacy rates at the earliest intervention points – a facilitative community consultation program called Read4Life has been crafted to create and support an awareness of the importance of oral language development and reading to children in the 0-4 age group. As part of this project, Language to literacy: Professional development for the early learning sector 0-5 years is a professional development resource focussed on building the capacity of education, learning support and care workers in the early childhood sector, whom all have an important role in supporting the oral language and beginning reading skills of children aged 0-5 years. ‘Language to Literacy’ provides resources, knowledge and skills development for those supporting the very young and their families/carers, as well as providing practical strategies that can be easily applied in their unique contexts. Participants of this workshop will have the opportunity to engage in some practical ‘Storytelling’ activities and will take away copies of the ‘Language to Literacy’ resources that are helping to build strong minds, places and futures in schools, kindergartens, day care centres, libraries and playgroups across Queensland.

Dan Georgeson is the Executive Manager, Literacy and Young Peoples Service, State Library of Queensland. Through this role, Dan supports and promotes projects that help to improve the literacy and language development of young people across metropolitan and regional Queensland. Dan and his team are currently working in partnership with The Australian Literacy Educator’s Association (ALEA) Queensland to provide literacy professional development and resources to educators working with children aged 0-5 years. Sue Hamilton-Smith is the ALEA Queensland State Director and committee member of the ALEA Mackay and Whitsundays Local Council. Sue has been an organiser and regular contributor to ALEA regional, state and national professional development. She has led literacy curriculum across the DETE Central Queensland Region and is currently Head of Curriculum at Fitzgerald State School, Mackay.

Tara Tucker & Linda Nathan

Drum up big Drumming and rhythm play are accessible at entry level musical activities for all ages. Experience a different level of ‘presence’ and the mind-body response associated with being engaged in layers of rhythm. Advice on instrument choice and ideas for easy rhythm games for children will also be given.

Tara Tucker is the founder and director of Drum Up Big, a mobile drumming school that specialises in drumming and rhythm programs for people of all ages and abilities. Linda Nathan and Tara have both extensively studied traditional drumming in West Africa and are experienced educators and performers.

Rhonda Livingstone

Bring back the joy: Documenting in early childhood education and care In this session the requirements for documenting children’s programs and learning will be unpacked. We will revisit the planning cycle and the reasons for documenting, look at examples and dispel myths relating to documentation. The session will explore what educators might show and discuss when demonstrating how the service meets the standards.

Rhonda Livingstone is the National Education Leader for ACECQA. Rhonda provides national leadership, policy advice and recommendations on pedagogy and educational program and practice to enhance learning and development of children attending education and care services across Australia. Rhonda has more than 20 years’ experience in the early childhood sector, including working as a centre director, sessional academic and training coordinator, in government contributing to the development of national policy and legislation, and was a part of working groups to develop standards and resources for the National Quality Framework.

Jacqui Du Payne and Alison Evans

My project rules! (No cooking required) Looking for a session that expands your management skills? Educators bravely take on many projects each year such as redesigning learning spaces, community projects, grant implementation and undertaking an action research projects. Join us for an interactive session where you can share your project ideas and learn from others. Your project will rule, no cooking required.

Jacqui Du Payne, a self-proclaimed project nerd and mother of three, Jacqui will share the lessons she has learned through more than 20 years of project experience. Jacqui has travelled to New Zealand, Japan and America to deliver projects for some of the world’s leading organisations. In 2008, Jacqui joined C&K. She is passionate about early childhood education, nature based play and building confidence and resilience skills in children as early as possible. Alison (Ali) Evans has worked in the early childhood education and care profession for 25 years in a variety of roles from teaching in a kindergarten, as an Early Childhood Advisor and working with TAFE’s and Universities. Ali relocated to Brisbane to lead the C&K Early Childhood Advisory team, Equity and Diversity team and most recently as Acting Education Manager. Ali is passionate about children’s rights, educational leadership and making a difference in the lives of children