More than 60 Goodstarters from across the country joined in Brisbane for the ECA National conference for an incredible few days of insights and Inspiration.
Hosted from 17- 20 September, the conference brought together early learning professionals from across the country, offering opportunities to connect, gain new skills, learn, and share knowledge.
Goodstart was proud to be a Silver Sponsor e and International Keynote Sponsor for Professor Iram Siraj’s keynote address at the ECA National Conference on ‘the Who, What and Why of Pedagogical Leadership’.
In introducing the keynote, Goodstart CEO Dr Ros Baxter said Professor Siraj is a “continuing source of inspiration and expert advice to our teams as we continue to support our people as they aspire to the highest possible quality.”
Drawing on her decades of expertise as an internationally renowned researcher and academic, Professor Siraj provided insights on the importance of pedagogical leadership in running a high quality centre, explaining that every Centre Director, Educational Leader and Room Leader share the responsibility to create a community of leaders.
Over the conference, a number of sessions were delivered by Goodstarters, presenting best practice ideas and inspiration across a broad range topics.
On day one Dr Vee Sullivan, Goodstart Social Inclusion Project Manager, spoke about supporting centre leaders through the provision of professional supervision and Dr Michele Peden, Lead Practice Partner – NSW North, Rosanne Pugh, Practice Partner – Quality Rating Scale, and Lana Bradfield, Centre Director at Goodstart Byron Bay presented ‘Slow the flow: Exploring EYLF v2.0 influences on learning environments and transitions’.
On day two Goodstart was represented by Marie Stuart, Safeguarding Children Coordinator and Social Inclusion Coordinator QLD, and Sara Evans, National Lead - Safeguarding Children, who presented on embedding protective strategies into everyday teaching and learning; Charmaine Greenwood, Assistant Director, and Renee Mitchell, Centre Director, from Goodstart Red Hill presented ‘Celebrating slow pedagogy’ and to wrap up the day, Marie Stuart and Shannon Kaye ,Centre Director – Goodstart Richlands, presented on Increasing access and participation in the early years.
While the conference has come to an end for another year, Goodstarters from across the country have taken away incredible insights and inspiration.
Read below to learn more about the how the conference has inspired the pedagogy and practice of some of our Goodstarters in attendance this year:
Michele Peden - Lead Practice Partner - NSW North - Practice Operations: The ECA conference is always inspiring as you are afforded the opportunity to listen to various pedagogical perspectives that further enhances your thinking into how the information can be further deiminated within state among services, and how this information can be used to critically reflect on current practices to support the uplift and stretch of services. The professional learning gains from the conference can be achieved via attending the sessions, the professional dialogue shared with colleagues, and the valuable networking among wider sectoral; community.
Charmaine Greenwood - Assistant Director - Goodstart Red Hill: The conference has inspired my pedagogy and practice by connecting me to various perspectives and priorities. I’m grateful for the learning and opportunity to connect safeguarding, safety, slow pedagogy, technology and children’s voice.
Andrea Hay - Senior Educator - Ed Leader - Goodstart Tallai: The conference has inspired me to embrace a more intentional and unhurried approach in my practice, particularly influenced by Allison Clark's session on Slow Knowledge and the Unhurried Child. This perspective has helped me recognize how the rush of daily activities can affect children's learning and well-being, encouraging me to prioritize quality interactions over a packed schedule.
Leanne Mcdonnell - Floating Teacher - Ed Leader - Goodstart Capalaba - Greenup Street: We have a wealth of knowledge via the different platforms and people within Goodstart. It was great listening to various perspectives, research and first-hand experiences that gave deeper meaning, insight and understanding to what I know to be ‘quality teaching and learning’.
Renee Meredith – Teacher - Goodstart Pimpama: The conference has inspired me to continue to grow and reflect on my own practices and how I can consistently connect and support children, families and the communities in this ever-changing fast paced society we live in.
Maria Leudo - Teacher - Ed Leader - Goodstart Morningside - Wynnum Road: The ECA conference has deeply inspired my pedagogy and practice, particularly in fostering an inclusive environment where all children feel welcome and valued and their agency is promoted and respected. I believe that empowering children to take an active role in their learning and allowing them to make choices that reflect their interests and abilities fosters independence, enhances their confidence, and nurtures a deeper sense of belonging and engagement. By embracing this approach, I will continue to create environments where every child feels confident to explore, express themselves, and develop at their own pace. Additionally, the discussions on sustainability practices have inspired me to integrate more eco-conscious experiences into my program, supporting children to understand and appreciate their role in caring for the environment. I also found the discussions on digital technology particularly impactful, offering ways and ideas to incorporate technology in a balanced, developmentally appropriate manner. By introducing digital tools such as GoPros thoughtfully, I can introduce the use of technology while maintaining the importance of hands-on, exploratory play.
Learn more about the ECA National Conference here.