End-of-year reflection: Building educator wellbeing through relationships that matter

As the early childhood sector approaches the close of another dynamic year, many educators are reflecting on the challenges, growth and impact of their work. It’s a time marked not only by planning transitions and celebrating children’s achievements but also by recognising the personal and collective toll that working in emotionally responsive environments can take.

In this context, educator mental health and wellbeing remains a central concern for services, leaders, and the broader community. Increasingly, sector leaders and researchers agree: supporting educator wellbeing is not simply an individual responsibility, it is a shared, systemic and relational priority.

To deepen understanding and build service-wide capability in this area, Be You, Australia’s national mental health in education initiative, is hosting a professional learning session that highlights the transformative role of relationships in supporting educator wellbeing.

In this live session, Be You Consultants Nikki Edwards and Paola Mercado will unpack how educator wellbeing is directly supported by the quality of relationships with children and the broader learning environment.

Participants will be guided through key concepts including:

• The reciprocal benefits of emotionally responsive practice – how supporting children’s social and emotional development can simultaneously nourish educator wellbeing
• A holistic, service-wide approach to mental health – reframing wellbeing as a shared responsibility, not a private burden
• The role of Be You Consultants – how tailored support can help services adopt practical, long-term strategies that align with their values, context and needs

This session challenges the traditional emphasis on individualised self-care by spotlighting the relational and organisational dimensions of educator wellbeing. It acknowledges that mental health is shaped not only by personal resilience but also by the strength of professional relationships, the presence of shared goals, and the systems that either support or hinder emotional safety at work.

While self-care has long been promoted as a tool for stress reduction, educators are increasingly asking for more sustainable, systemic strategies. The emotional labour involved in early childhood education, particularly in building secure attachments, supporting behavioural regulation, and responding to complex family needs can be profound.

When educators are supported in their relationships with children, and when those relationships are recognised as a protective factor for both child and educator, the entire learning community benefits. Emotional safety, job satisfaction, and a sense of shared purpose are all strengthened.

This session will explore how learning communities can take practical steps to integrate emotional wellbeing into their everyday practices. Rather than adding new tasks or requirements, Be You’s approach centres on embedding wellbeing into existing routines and reflective practices, making it sustainable, achievable and aligned with each service’s unique culture.

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As the sector reflects on the past year and looks ahead to 2026, this event is an opportunity to reset, reconnect and reimagine what educator wellbeing can look like, grounded in the daily relationships that form the heart of quality early learning.

For more information, or to register, visit: the BeYou website.