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ECLD Conference showcases wide range of professional practice from WA and beyond
Freya Lucas
Apr 03, 2023
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The Early Childhood Learning and Development (ECLD) Conference was recently held at Optus Stadium in Western Australia, with over 700 delegates in attendance, hearing from keynote speakers including Rabia Siddique, Dr Leanne Gibbs, Angus Gorrie and Robbie Fig.
Throughout the event the program flowed seamlessly covering a diverse range of topics including exploring the power of therapeutic relationship to transform trauma behaviour and enable children to thrive, how playwork practice supports loose parts as a resource, and using the Australian Early Development Census to support Quality Improvement Planning with the National Quality and Early Years Learning Frameworks.Feedback from attendees has been positive, describing the event as informative, wonderful, and reflective.
“I appreciated that the conference was themed on meeting the needs of children,” one attendee said.
“Assisting them in their journey of growth from trauma…This was wonderful to learn so many perspectives of meeting the children at their place of need, and better understanding how to provide so many types of opportunities for the children to grow from where they are, as educators we often feel powerless in knowing how to assist children in their times of need.”
For Child Australia CEO Tina Holtom, the ECLD Conference highlighted the commitment and enthusiasm of those in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector.
“The ECLD Conference events and Sector Awards were an overwhelming success,” she said.
“From centre tours to masterclasses spanning several days, there was something for everyone. The highlight for me was to recognise and celebrate our sector's finest at the Awards evening and then come together the following day at the Conference to provide the 700+ strong crowd with inspiring, thought-provoking, and practical learning opportunities."
“With over 1000 people reached throughout various conference events, we know that the energy across the ECEC sector has been positively lifted with so many delegates sharing that they felt truly reinvigorated and ready to add to their professional toolkit, which we know will ultimately improve outcomes for all of the children they work with everyday.”
Ms Holtom sincerely thanked the sponsors, partner organisations, and exhibitors, for their continued support of the ECLD conference.
“These opportunities are simply not possible without their generosity,” she said.
“We are truly grateful that together we can nurture the professional development experience for our sector professionals so that they can continue to grow, change and thrive so that they can be their absolute best for the children in their care."
The conference program combined inspirational keynote speakers, breakout sessions from those working within ECEC and allied fields with exhibitor spaces which allowed providers like Y WA, HESTA, OneMusic Australia and many others to connect and showcase their products and services, along with a number of networking opportunities.
“The opening and closing speakers were very inspirational and had wonderful fresh perspectives,” one delegate shared.
“I also appreciated the stalls that had resources available to view and make some purchases. Also, the catering was lovely and showed great consideration in providing healthy and substantial food options."
“Seeing the amount of people who went, the amount of knowledge I gained from the main presenters and during the break-out sessions and the stalls in the "playroom" were amazing! I have brought so much back into my own educational environment (Family Day Care)” another shared.
To experience an exclusive look into the #ECLD2023 Conference, Child Australia has made webcasts available featuring concurrent and keynote speakers.
The webcast The Power of One (Leadership) which showcases Rabia Saddique’s keynote will be available here until 16 April free of charge.
Other webcasts include A Profession in Crisis and Leading as a Practice with Dr Leanne Gibbs, Robbie Figg on Happiness in the Workplace, Insights in the Pedagogical Practices: Play and Dance and Empowering Children in an Ever Changing World.
To book your webcasts please see here. For images and video from the event please visit the Child Australia facebook page here.
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