Professional development

Beaconhills College conference aims to ignite the flame of educators in August

Freya Lucas

Aug 04, 2021

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Beaconhills College, with campuses in Victoria’s Pakenham and Berwick, will host a major education conference on 20 and 21 August, known as Ignite the Flame.

Ignite the Flame 2021 aims to inspire educators from early childhood to senior high school to “step beyond just delivering curriculum and spark their passion for professional learning and innovation”.

The conference is open to educators across all education ages, including pre-service, early years, family day care, primary and secondary, outside of school hours care and school support staff.

The conference features a host of high-profile keynote and guest speakers, including Robyn Moore and Dan Haesler with a focus on engagement, staff and child wellbeing and Indigenous education.

Conference organiser and Head of Beaconhills College’s Little Beacons Learning Centres Vicki Reid said Ignite the Flame 2021 would encourage teachers to think beyond their current practice.

Mrs Reid said the conference presented “a really exciting opportunity to support professional development and maintain engagement and enhance professional conversation and connections,” with opportunities to trade displays and to showcase partnerships with key stakeholders.

Topics at the conference will include:

Embedding Woi Wurrung Language
Supporting Anxious Children
Boosting the Mental Health and Happiness of Staff
Flexible Learning Spaces for the Future
Teaching EAL students
The United Nations and Sustainability Goals for the future.

Wellbeing will be a key focus of the conference, given the critical role wellbeing plays in building quality education and care across all age groups.

“When educators and teachers feel connected and collaborate we see improved outcomes for the individual, higher levels of engagement and better outcomes for children,” Mrs Reid said.

“It also leads to greater levels of retention and reduction in sick leave absences. Building platforms for collaboration is a key initiative of the conference.”

Ignite the Flame 2021 will be held on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 August at the Beaconhills College Pakenham Campus, 30-34 Toomuc Valley Rd, Pakenham.

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