Crucial Dimensions to host professional development event for ECEC leaders

Educational training company Crucial Dimensions will host an online Q&A, aimed at helping education leaders from school and early childhood contexts to cultivate greater well-being, communication and leadership skills.

Adjudicated by Crucial Dimensions certified trainer, consultant and coach Valerie Lew-Kiedrowski, the session will feature presentations by experienced trainers and education experts Darren Cox (Principal for Marsden Park Anglican College) and Penny Markham (National Lead, Social Inclusion for Goodstart Early Learning – pictured).  

The event will help educational leaders create psychologically safe workplaces for their staff by teaching the skills needed to reconnect educators with their passion for teaching, nurture leadership potential, navigate social and emotional chaos during challenging times, and create an intentional culture of well-being through open and honest conversations.

Australia is currently in the midst of a nationwide teacher crisis, with The Black Dog Institute reporting that more than half of teachers are experiencing moderate to extreme severe depression, anxiety, and stress due to the pressures of the job.

With almost 47 per cent of Australian teachers considering leaving the profession in the next 12 months, Ms Markham says it’s more important than ever for education leaders to create an intentional culture of well-being for their early-learning staff to thrive.

“The poor mental health we’re seeing throughout the early learning sector reflects in part the need for a focus on staff well-being and communication in early-learning centres. As the challenges faced by our educators continue to worsen, leaders must lean in to creating a culture of well-being and resilience in the workplace,” she said.

“Speak Up or Burn Out will demonstrate how leaders can cultivate a platform for their employees to speak up, voice their concerns, and engage in difficult conversations in a way that makes them feel valued and listened to.”

Mr Cox said he is looking forward to empowering educational leaders with the tools they need to guide their teaching staff through the industry’s mounting challenges.

“All great leaders have the ability to actively listen, effectively communicate, and confidently guide their team through challenging times. These skills make a world of difference to teachers who want to feel valued by their leaders and confident that their concerns and needs will be taken seriously,” he said.

“In the past few years, teachers have guided children through floods, bushfires, lockdowns and the confronting realities of the pandemic, all while dealing with their own personal challenges. Now is the time for leaders to understand how they can better support their teachers.”

Ms Lew-Kiedrowski believes the event is a great opportunity for educators to learn from experienced professionals.

“Penny, Darren, and myself have all seen first-hand how transformative these tools can be when used in the workplace, and specifically in the education space,” she said.

“I have no doubt that educators and leaders who attend Speak Up or Burn Out will leave feeling empowered and encouraged to create an intentionally safe culture where having crucial conversations is no longer feared, but looked at as a stepping stone to success.”

Learn more about the event here.