Early childhood sector resources

Digital documentation in early childhood education and care

Associate Professor Kate Highfield, Academic Lead, Early Childhood Education, University of Canberra
October 2024 Early Childhood and Care sector meeting
Listen to the podcast Digital Documentation: What do we know and what SHOULD we know? by ACT Education Directorate
Read the presentation October 2024 Early Childhood and Care sector meeting [PDF 1.4 MB]

Becoming child safe, child friendly and child aware

Jodie Griffiths-Cook, ACT Public Advocate and Children and Young People Commissioner, ACT Human Rights Commission
June 2024 Disability and Inclusion Symposium
Listen to the podcast Becoming Child Safe, Child friendly & Child Aware by ACT Education Directorate
Read the presentation Becoming child safe, child friendly & child aware [PDF 1.9 MB]

Review of Child Safety Arrangements under the National Quality Framework

Lisa McCoy, General Manager, National Projects, ACECQA
April 2024 Early Childhood Education and Care sector meeting
Listen to the podcast April 2024 Early Childhood Education and Care sector meeting (1:16:33 – 2:06:03)
Read the presentation Review of Child Safety Arrangements under the NQF [PDF 814 KB]

Creating a Child Safe Environment in ECEC Settings

Michael Pecic, Chief Executive Officer, In Safe Hands
April 2024 Early Childhood Education and Care sector meeting
Listen to the podcast April 2024 Early Childhood Education and Care sector meeting (2:06:04 – 2:48:11)
Read the presentation Creating a Child Safe Environment in ECEC Settings [PDF 3.2 MB]

Gender equality in the early years

Dr Red Ruby Scarlet, activist, early childhood teacher-researcher, consultant, artist and academic and Holly Edney Assistant Director, Gender Equality Initiative in Schools, ACT Education Directorate
October 2024 Early Childhood Education and Care sector meeting
Listen to the podcast Gender Equity for Early Years Education by ACT Education Directorate
Read the presentation October 2024 Early Childhood Education and Care sector meeting [PDF 1.4 MB]

Inclusion in early childhood – neurodiversity

Christina Keeble, Chief Executive Officer, Christina Keeble Consulting
June 2024 Disability and Inclusion Symposium
Listen to the podcast Inclusion in Early Childhood - Neurodiversity by ACT Education Directorate (spotify.com)
Read the presentation Inclusion in Early Childhood – Neurodiversity [PDF 1.8 MB]

From autistic preschooler to autistic preschool educator

Rhi Sugars, Director, Atypical Educator
June 2024 Disability and Inclusion Symposium
Listen to the podcast From Autistic Preschooler to Autistic Preschool Educator by ACT Education Directorate
Read the presentation From Autistic Preschooler to Autistic Preschool Educator [PDF 368 KB]

Practical neuro-affirming support plans (workshop)

Rhi Sugars, Atypical Educator and Christina Keeble, Christine Keeble Consulting
June 2024 Disability and Inclusion Symposium
Listen to the podcast Workshop: Practical Neuro-affirming Support Plans by ACT Education Directorate
Read the presentation: Practical Neuro-affirming Support Plans [PDF 391 KB]

Inclusion in the ACT

Karen Toohey, Discrimination, Health Services, Disability and Community Services Commissioner, ACT Human Rights Commission
June 2024 Disability and Inclusion Symposium
Listen to the podcast Inclusion in the ACT by ACT Education Directorate
Read the presentation Inclusion in the ACT [PDF 1.9 MB]

The role of the senior practitioner

Tracey Harkness, ACT Senior Practitioner, ACT Officer of the Senior Practitioner, Community Services Directorate
June 2024 Disability and Inclusion Symposium
Listen to the podcast The Role of the Senior Practitioner by ACT Education Directorate
Read the presentation The Role of the Senior Practitioner by ACT Education Directorate [PDF 550 KB]

Neurodiversity panel discussion

Christina Keeble, Jodie Griffiths-Cook, Karen Toohey, Tracey Harkness and Rhi Sugars
June 2024 Disability and Inclusion Symposium
Listen to the podcast Panel Discussion by ACT Education Directorate

Reconciliation in Education

Amy Duncan, Sector Engagement, Narragunnawali, Reconciliation Australia
April 2024 Early Childhood Education and Care sector meeting
Listen to the podcast April 2024 Early Childhood Education and Care sector meeting (2:48:12 – 3:09:17).

Find resources for educators and teachers at Reconciliation Australia including Narragunnawali program tools for schools and early learning services to take action towards reconciliation between non-First Nations Australians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

An update on national and local work relevant to ACT early childhood education and care providers and service leaders

Sean Moysey, Executive Branch Manager, Education and Care Regulation and Support
June 2023 ACT Early Childhood Education and Care Governance and Leadership Forum: Leading with Impact
Listen to the podcast June 2023 ACT Early Childhood Education and Care Governance and Leadership Forum: Leading with Impact

Driving ECEC quality through good governance

Associate Professor, Dr Marianne Fenech, Early Childhood Governance Director, Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) The University of Sydney
June 2023 ACT Early Childhood Education and Care Governance and Leadership Forum: Leading with Impact
Listen to the podcast June 2023 ACT Early Childhood Education and Care Governance and Leadership Forum: Leading with Impact

Operationalise governance

Amanda Tobler, Managing Director, ELM
June 2023 ACT Early Childhood Education and Care Governance and Leadership Forum: Leading with Impact
Listen to the podcast June 2023 ACT Early Childhood Education and Care Governance and Leadership Forum: Leading with Impact

Panel discussion

Associate Professor, Dr Marianne Fenech, Early Childhood Governance Director, Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) The University of Sydney; Amanda Tobler, Managing Director, ELM;
Abby Guanzon, Director Harrison ECC; Alice Castrission, Preschool and School Age Care Officer, Catholic Education Canberra and Goulburn; and Natasha Finnigan, General Manager, Kids Biz Out of School Hours Care
June 2023 ACT Early Childhood Education and Care Governance and Leadership Forum: Leading with Impact
Listen to the podcast 2023 Leading with impact combined presentations Leading with Impact
Read the presentation June 2023 Leading with impact combined presentations Leading with Impact [PDF 4.2 MB]

CECA Update on National ECEC Reviews and the Child Safety Review

Clare Brookes, Senior Director, Education and Care Regulation and Support, ACT Education Directorate
March 2025 ACT OSHC sector meeting
Listen to the podcast March 2025 ACT OSHC sector meeting
Read the presentation March 2025 ACT OSHC sector meeting [PDF 334 KB]

Critical Reflection in OSHC

Associate Professor Jennifer Cartmel, Griffith University and Executive Member of World Education Research Association Taskforce for Global Research and Kylie Keane, Consultant at Keen About
March 2025 ACT OSHC sector meeting
Listen to the podcast March 2025 ACT OSHC sector meeting
Read the presentation Critical reflection in OSHC [PDF 2 MB]

National Out of School Hours Services Alliance (NOSHSA)

Kylie Brannelly, NOSHSA chair, and Kylie Keane, NOSHA ACT representative
March 2025 ACT OSHC sector meeting
Listen to the podcast March 2025 ACT OSHC sector meeting
Read the presentation National Out of School Hours Services Alliance [PDF 709 KB]

Quality educational programs and practice in OSHC

Jessica Annerley and Lauren Kapper, Assistant Directors, Quality Assurance Team, Children’s Education and Care Assurance (CECA) Education and Care Regulation and Support, ACT Education Directorate
March 2025 ACT OSHC sector meeting
Listen to the podcast March 2025 ACT OSHC sector meeting
Read the presentation National Out of School Hours Services Alliance [PDF 700 KB]

A child-led approach to Quality Area 1 in OSHC

Kayley Stewart, Out of School Hours Care Senior Educational Leader, Rebecca Adams Internal Audit Program and Melita Pendergast, Centre Manager, Communities at Work
March 2025 ACT OSHC sector meeting
Listen to the podcast March 2025 ACT OSHC sector meeting
Read the presentation A child-led approach to Quality Area 1 [PDF 1 MB]

OSHC Panel Discussion

Panel discussion with presenters and OSHC sector representatives.
March 2025 ACT OSHC sector meeting
Listen to the podcast March 2025 ACT OSHC sector meeting

Early Childhood Education Pay and Conditions Research

Professor Sheila Degotardi, Early Childhood Education and Director, Centre for Research in Early Childhood Education,
Macquarie University
April 2024 Early Childhood Education and Care sector meeting
Listen to the podcast April 2024 Early Childhood Education and Care sector meeting (14:37 – 1:16:32)
Read the presentation Early Childhood Education Pay and Conditions Research [PDF 2.1 MB]