10th Anniversary Expert Panel the showpiece of Little People, Big Dreams Conference

A 10th anniversary panel discussion featuring specialists from the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector is the centrepiece of a stellar conference program for the upcoming Little People, Big Dreams conference, being held in the Northern Territory on Saturday 12 October 2024 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Esplanade, Darwin. 

To celebrate this special milestone, delegates can now book tickets with a 10 per cent discount!

Simply enter the discount code CELEBRATE10 when purchasing tickets. 

Topics to be shared at the conference focus on the themes of:

• Social and emotional wellbeing
• Cultural connection
• Strengthening pedagogy
• Social, environmental and economic sustainability
• Environments

Each year Little People, Big Dreams brings together educators, academics, policy makers and communities to network, learn with and from one another and work collaboratively to improve children’s learning and development. 

The 2024 conference is a special occasion, marking the tenth anniversary of the popular professional development event. In honour of the milestone year, conference organisers Child Australia and major sponsor The Northern Territory Government have convened some of the brightest minds in the ECEC sector to discuss recommendations from the Productivity Commission’s recommendations. 

In a session which promises to be thought provoking and to offer new insights, perspectives, and a deeper understanding of the ECEC sector both nationally and at state and territory level, panelists Professor Deb Brennan AM, Karen Weston (Chief Executive Officer, NT DoE Education), Sarah Rheinberger, and others will explore the ways in which the Commission’s recommendations may shape ECEC in years to come. 

The panelists will invite listeners to ‘Reimagine the Early Years’ through a participatory discussion and session which is bound to provoke new thinking in this space. 

Complementing the panel discussion is a jam packed program which caters for delegates from all aspects of the ECEC sector including outside school hours care, family day care, long day care and preschools. 

Keynote speakers Dr Katey De Gioia and Sally Cooper will present a session on Culturally Responsive Assessment for Learning, inviting those listening to think more deeply about how they engage with conversations with themselves and others to improve children’s learning and development. 

Accomplished speaker Jennifer Jefferies will lead the second keynote, inviting delegates to consider and explore how they can “break the stress loop,” improve their mental health, and flourish in their personal and professional lives. 

Professor Deborah Brennan will lead a concurrent session titled “A Path to Universal Early Childhood Education and Care,” while Dr. Katey De Gioia and Sally Cooper will conduct two additional sessions following their keynote address. 

Sasha Beirne and Connie Borg from Child Australia will explore the concept of healing spaces in an OSHC environment. Additionally, well-known speakers Sarah Forgan, Nicole Talarico (who is also the Conference MC) will also be presenting plus many more.

From plenary sessions in the morning to a great afternoon of concurrent sessions and networking breaks throughout, Little People, Big Dreams offers delegates multiple opportunities  to connect with peers, sponsors like Hesta, Territory Child Care Group and Berry street Education and other exhibitors and find out all the latest news, research and best practice in children’s learning and development from birth to 12 years of age.

For a full overview of the program, please see here. 

Limited tickets to this event, which is an annual sell out, remain. Access tickets here. For a comprehensive overview of the conference please visit the dedicated website, here.