Roma chosen for first regional training pilot as ACA Qld eyes wider Queensland rollout 

Australian Childcare Alliance Queensland is bringing nationally recognised early childhood leaders to Roma as part of a new pilot that could see professional development delivered directly into more regional Queensland communities. 

Early childhood educators across Western Queensland will have access to high quality, face-to-face professional development, as Australian Childcare Alliance Queensland (ACA Qld) launches a new regional training model in Roma. 

Learning and Development Day: Roma, to be held on Saturday 12 September at the Roma Bungil Cultural Centre, is the first event of its kind for ACA Qld and will help inform whether similar professional development days are rolled out across regional and remote Queensland. 

The pilot aims to address some of the barriers regional educators face accessing professional development, including travel, accommodation, staffing and backfill costs. 

Research into childcare across the Maranoa and Western Downs has previously identified staffing shortages, high turnover and limited availability of relief educators among the challenges facing local services. 

ACA Qld Executive General Manager Carly Irving Dolan said the organisation wanted to bring high-quality professional learning directly to regional educators. 

“Where an educator lives shouldn’t determine the quality of professional learning they can access,” Ms Irving Dolan said. “Regional educators are doing incredibly important work, but travelling to Brisbane or other major centres for training isn’t always practical.” 

“Roma is our first step. If the model works and there is demand for locally delivered professional development, we see real potential to take it into other regional and remote Queensland communities.” 

Learning and Development Day: Roma will feature three recognised early childhood education and wellbeing specialists: 

● Sandi Phoenix, founder of Phoenix Support for Educators and creator of the Phoenix Cups Framework.

● Christopher “Chris” Phoenix, co-author of The Phoenix Cups, researcher, keynote speaker and educator wellbeing specialist. 

● Caroline Fewster, of Caroline Fewster Consulting, whose career spans teaching, service management, advisory roles and professional development

Sessions will focus on practical strategies for educator and child wellbeing, positive learning environments and teaching practice, alongside current sector and government updates including Queensland’s Free Kindy initiative. 

“We want educators to leave with practical strategies they can take straight back into their services, while also having the opportunity to connect and share experiences with others working across the region,” Ms Irving Dolan said. 

The event is limited to 66 delegates and costs $50 per person, fully catered. ACA Qld will use feedback and learnings from the Roma pilot to help shape future regional professional development opportunities. 

The pilot has been made possible with support from the Fraser Foundation, Origin Energy, Maranoa Regional Council, Rex Airlines and the Queensland Department of Education.

Register here.