2023 REAIE Conference encourages creativity and curiosity to widespread acclaim

The Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange (REAIE) recently held its biannual conference in Naarm (Melbourne) welcoming 800 delegates to hear from international keynote speakers from Reggio Emilia, Tiziana Filippini and Filippo Chieli, along with a number of prestigious Australian early childhood education and care (ECEC) personalities across the three day program. 

 

As one attendee said, the conference is “a professional learning event like no other, the conference inspired robust professional dialogue, deep pedagogical thinking, and celebrated and defended the rights and potentialities of children, families, communities and education.” 

 

Pre conference Educational Encounters and Atelier Experiences gave delegates the opportunity to learn with and from settings inspired by the Reggio Approach  in the greater Melbourne community, with primary and early childhood settings opening their doors to generously share pedagogy and practice, learning environments, research programs and more. 

 

On Thursday 29 June the conference commenced, with delegates from near and far, including across Australia, New Zealand, the USA, India and Sweden registering for the conference and attending the introductory lecture from Tiziana Filippini and Filippo Chieli, supported by Interpreter Jane McCall titled, ‘Creativity? It’s always difficult to notice when it is dressed in everyday clothing.’

 

Gratitude, acknowledgement and exploration

 

Friday 30 June saw the second day commence with a Welcome to Country from Uncle Shane Charles, which was followed by an official conference opening from REAIE Founder, Jan Millikan (OAM), along with Mary Featherston (AM).

 

Following the opening, Ms Filippini read out a letter of thanks and gratitude to Jan on behalf of Reggio Children. Ms Millikan (OAM) was then formally recognised by REAIE Chairperson, Kate Mount and Committee Secretary, Leanne Mits (OAM) for her significant contribution to REAIE and awarded the REAIE Certificate of Founder and Patronship and presented with a Message Stick as a gift to thank her for all that she has shared and continues to share.

 

The first keynote presentation came from Ms Filippini who espoused the value of creativity and curiosity as “indispensable foundations of younger generations’ formative education,” which was followed (after morning tea) by a second keynote from Mr Chieli, with a moving session on music, drawing, and the connection of living beings. 

 

Following the lunch break, a panel discussion, chaired by Catharine Hydon, explored the intersections between the approved learning frameworks, the Australian curriculum and the educational project of Reggio Emilia. 

 

Delegates were treated to a multitude of perspectives in this space, with esteemed speakers including Rhonda Livingstone, Esme Capp, Dr Stefania Giamminuti, Fay Hadley and Leanne Mits (OAM).

 

Ms Mits and Ms Hydon will share some of their knowledge in this space at REAIE’s next professional learning event, Landscapes of Context and Connection which will be held in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne throughout August. 

 

Concurrent sessions held in the afternoon gave delegates the chance to select sessions which suited their needs and contexts, with a range of choices spanning early childhood, school based settings, and research perspectives. 

 

Delegates came together at the end of the day for a question and answer session with Mr Chielli and Ms Filippini, which gave them the opportunity to explore in more depth their learning and wonder. 

 

The importance of an optimistic gaze 

 

The final day of the conference began with a performance from Ngargee Youth Dance, a Contemporary First Nations Youth Dance Company, which was followed by an insight to Reggio inspired settings in  Melbourne and greater Victoria, through a slideshow of photographs. 

 

Ms Filippini and Mr Chielli then took delegates on “A Walk of Thoughts” challenging perceptions about where and how learning and democracy occurs for children, before a second presentation which encouraged listeners to consider the value of liberty and freedom in an educational context. 

 

Concurrent sessions in the afternoon gave Australian based educators and researchers the opportunity to share their work, before the group again came together for the final presentation of the day which asked delegates to consider the importance of an optimistic gaze when working with children, families, and the sector more broadly. 

 

To round out the conference Co-convenors Heather Conroy and Kirsty Liljegren thanked Ms Filippini and Mr Chielli and shared words of gratitude for the strong partnership REAIE has with Reggio Children.

 

REAIE Chairperson, Kate Mount concluded the conference by announcing the location of the next REAIE Conference in 2025, Adelaide. 

 

To learn more about the work of REAIE please visit the website, here. REAIE will present three sessions in August, in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, giving ECEC professionals educators a participatory opportunity to navigate the updated EYLF in direct relationship with the educational principles of Reggio Emilia. To stay across professional development opportunities, or for information about the 2025 event, please see here.