Early Childhood Australia runs a biennial early childhood conference for all who are involved in supporting the growth, development and learning of young children.
The Early Childhood Australia Biennial Conference is a celebration of those who work with and advocate for young children and Early Childhood Australia as an organisation. The Early Childhood Australia Biennial Conference is a significant part of Early Childhood Australia's history and advocacy work.
Early Childhood Australia invites respected and experienced Australian and international keynote speakers.
Early Childhood Australia / McArthur Management Services Awards
We are currently accepting applications for the Early Childhood Australia / McArthur Management Services Awards. Applications close 5 September 2008.
Visit the Early Childhood Australia / McArthur Management Services Awards page to submit an application.
The 2008 Early Childhood Australia Biennial Conference
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The next Early Childhood Australia Biennial Conference:
Children: A nation's capital
'Investing in our children'
3–6 October 2008
National Convention Centre, Canberra
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Conference themes
Keynotes and sessions will explore approaches to working with young children, focusing on:
- Social and emotional wellbeing
- Environment and sustainability
- Advocacy and leadership
- Theory into practice
Confirmed keynote speakers
Joan Brink (US)
A dynamic practicing teacher, committed to the power of intentional teaching
alongside shared control with children.
Currently in her 33rd year of teaching, Joan Brink has spent the past 29 years devoted to early childhood education. Joan has served as an enthusiastic High/Scope field consultant since 1995; and was an adjunct early childhood professor at Siena Heights University, teaching the High/Scope curriculum to primary teachers.
Joan has 'had the privilege' of addressing over 200 groups of educators, in 38 of the 50 US states and two countries; and she anticipates 'with great pleasure' introducing ECA Conference delegates to the High/Scope
curriculum and its concepts.
Martha Farrell Erickson (US)
An inspiring leader and expert in uniting research with real-life practice in attachment and children’s wellbeing.
A developmental psychologist and professor, Marti Erickson specialises in parent–child attachment,
child abuse prevention and children's mental health. In all of her work, she strives to link research,
practice and policy for the wellbeing of children and families.
Marti co-developed the STEEP intervention program, and has researched its impact on high-risk
families in the US, Germany and Australia. She has also served on the boards of organisations such as the
National Council on Family Relations and Prevent Child Abuse America, and has worked closely with Al Gore
to coordinate the Family Re-Union policy initiative. As well as publishing scholarly articles and book chapters,
Marti is the child and family expert on her local Today and Sunrise TV shows, and co-hosts a weekly radio show
(webcast on www.fm1071.com).
Ferre Laevers (Belgium)
Dedicated to providing children with 'deep, motivated, intense and
long-term' learning experiences.
The project has generated a framework for quality assessment and improvement for a wide range
of settings: from babies and toddlers in child care, to professionals in in-service training. The basic hypothesis is that
the most economic and conclusive way to assess the quality of any educational setting is to focus on the degree
of 'emotional wellbeing' and the level of 'involvement' of the children.
In 2005 Ferre was elected president of the European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA).
Julia Moons (Belgium)
A preschool teacher and researcher dedicated to improving outcomes
for children's wellbeing.
Julia Moons has been participating in the Experiential Education project since 1980. As a preschool
teacher she was involved in several action research projects and has made a major contribution to the
development of practice that supports wellbeing and involvement in children.
As a senior member of the University of Leuven's Centre for Experiential Education team, Julia
is involved in several projects in the field of early childhood education.
Chris Sidoti (Aus)
A former Human Rights Commissioner for Australia with a passionate
commitment to children's rights.
Chris Sidoti is a human rights lawyer, activist and teacher, currently working from Sydney as an
international human rights consultant. Chris is currently the independent chair of the UK Government's
Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum; and has been Australian Human Rights Commissioner and
foundation director of the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.
Chris has also worked in non-government organisations, including the Human Rights Council of
Australia and the Australian Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace. He is an adjunct professor at the University
of Western Sydney, Griffith University and the Australian Catholic University, and a Fellow of the Castan Centre for
Human Rights Law at Monash University.
Rob Gell (Aus)
His approach to sustainable development is respected by government, business, environmental groups and the community.
Rob Gell is a coastal geomorphologist by training, and has taught Environmental Science and Physical Geography at a tertiary level. For 28 years he was a weather TV presenter.
In his professional life, Rob works as an environmental and communications consultant and is chair of Access Environmental. He is also a company director, published author and photographer.
Rob is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and an Inaugural Fellow of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand. He was Environment Ambassador to the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Karen Martin (Aus)
A Noonuccal woman whose outstanding analytical research in Aboriginal early childhood education is used nationally and internationally.
Karen Martin is a Noonuccal woman from Minjerripah (North Stradbroke Island, south-east Queensland) who also has Bidjara ancestry (Canarvon Gorge, central Queensland). She has taught in Aboriginal community education services, and has published and lectured widely in Aboriginal early childhood education.
The outstanding analytical depth of Karen's research has seen her awarded the 2005 Barbara Creaser Memorial Award by Early Childhood Australia, the 2006 James Cook University Medal, and the joint 2007 AARE Doctoral Research in Education Award.
Karen is a member of the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children and the ARACY Research Network, and is currently Associate Professor Early Childhood at Southern Cross University.
Sponsors
Gold Sponsor:
School of Early Childhood, Queensland University of Technology
Silver Sponsor:
National Childcare Accreditation Council
Conference Sponsors:
Interested in becoming a sponsor or exhibitor?
Download the Sponsorship and Exhibition Package
The conference provides the opportunity for participants to:
- reflect on their own practice with young children
- be challenged and affirmed
- hear new ideas from our own experts as well as those from other countries
- discuss their own and others’ work and to grow as professionals
- network
- have fun.
Register your interest
Click here to send an email to receive updates and other information about the conference as it becomes available.
Discount for ECA members
Early Childhood Australia members receive a discount to the conference. If you are interested in becoming a member, call 1800 356 900 or visit the ECA Membership webpage.
Contact details
For more information about the conference, please contact Early Childhood Australia's National Office.
T: 02 6242 1800
F: 02 6242 1818
E: conference@earlychildhood.org.au
PO Box 7105
Watson ACT 2602
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