Leading wellbeing with Be You in Preschool
This online event will connect preschool and kindergarten directors and leaders to help them increase awareness about the importance of mental health and develop a culture that supports educators, children and families in achieving their best possible mental health and wellbeing.
This event will also explore how Be You can assist preschools in developing mentally healthy communities and explain how mental health links to Quality Improvement Plans, service context and initiatives.
Registration
This event is free for preschool and kindergarten directors and leaders. Places are limited, click below to register.
Date and time
Thursday 15 October 2020
10.00 am to 3.00 pm, Australian Eastern Daylight-savings Time (AEDT)
Program
| Time (AEDT) | Session | ||
| 10.00 am–10.20 am | Acknowledgement of Country, welcome message and program overview Facilitators: Maree Kirkwood and Tanya Burr, Be You, Early Childhood Australia |
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| 10.20 am–10.50 am | Keynote address by Cris Zollo, Be You, Early Childhood Australia Setting the context for preschool and kindergarten |
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| 10.50 am–10.55 am | Move to discussion session | ||
| 10.55 am–11.15 am | Discussion session Your experiences with mental health and wellbeing so far in preschool and kindergarten |
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| 11.15 am–11.35 am | Morning tea break | ||
| 11.35 am–12.05 pm | Panel discussion Be You supporting leaders in preschool and kindergarten Facilitator: Maree Kirkwood Leaders: ♦ Jane Bourne, The Creche and Kindergarten Association ♦ Judy Kynaston, Be You, Early Childhood Australia ♦ Geri Sumpter, Beyond Blue |
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| 12.05 pm–12.10 pm | Move to discussion rooms | ||
| 12.10 pm–12.30 pm | Discussion session Mini action planning: What will be your focus moving forward to support your mental health and wellbeing as a leader? |
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| 12.30 pm–12.35 pm | Move to main stage | ||
| 12.35 pm–1.00 pm | Panel discussion Leader perspectives on specific consideration for 3–5 year olds Facilitator: Tanya Burr Leaders: ♦ Jennifer Koutoulas, Kids & Co Preschool at Hurstville (NSW) ♦ Alison Wells, Sturt Street Children’s Centre (SA) |
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| 1.00 pm–1.30 pm | Lunch break | ||
| 1.30 pm–1.35 pm | Welcome back | ||
| 1.35 pm–2.05 pm | Keynote address by Susan Sharpe, Be You, Early Childhood Australia Leader wellbeing: Mine, yours, ours |
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| 2.05 pm–2.10 pm | Move to discussion rooms | ||
| 2.10 pm–2.25 pm | Discussion session What’s next in leading wellbeing? |
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| 2.25 pm–2.30 pm | Move to main stage | ||
| 2.30 pm–2.50 pm | Presentation by Lisa Watson, Be You, Early Childhood Australia Mindfulness: What why and how? |
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| 2.50 pm–3.00 pm | Q&A and closing remarks Facilitators: Maree Kirkwood and Tanya Burr |
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| 3.00 pm | Close of event | ||
Please note: changes to the program can be made at any point at the discretion of the event organisers.
Facilitators and speakers
Maree Kirkwood
Maree Kirkwood has experience in early childhood teaching, consultancy, management, community engagement and regulatory compliance. She has worked across a variety of early learning settings—including metropolitan areas and very remote locations—as well as in local and state government contexts. Maree holds qualifications in psychology and educational leadership, and her interests include professional identity and advocacy.
Tanya Burr
Tanya Burr is a Be You Consultant at Early Childhood Australia. She has worked in the sector for the last 20 years in various roles, including Kindergarten teacher, Long Day Care director and advisor for curriculum, behaviour guidance and inclusion in the early years. Tanya is currently completing her PhD focused on the education and care of children aged birth to three. She is also interested in finding new ways to build a strong culture of professional learning and professionalism within early childhood settings.
Cris Zollo
Cris Zollo is a Be You Consultant at Early Childhood Australia. Her previous experience includes teaching in preschool settings as well as assessing and rating early learning services in South Australia. She also worked as an academic at the University of South Australia, teaching professional experience, curriculum, advocacy, child development and research courses in early childhood programs for many years. Cris has a strong interest in leadership and advocacy, with a focus on promoting the emotional and social wellbeing of children and families.
Jane Bourne
Jane Bourne is a highly regarded expert in early childhood education and care, with more than four decades of experience. She has held a variety of senior management and executive positions in both for-profit and not-for-profit organisations—including eight years as CEO of Lady Gowrie Queensland, before commencing as CEO of C&K in 2018. She is also the President of Early Childhood Australia’s Queensland Branch. Jane’s management and leadership experience is an extension of her background as an early childhood teacher. She is a fierce advocate for children and is dedicated to creating opportunities that promote the best outcomes for children, families and early childhood professionals.
Judy Kynaston
Judy Kynaston is the General Manager of Be You, a mental health initiative for schools and early learning services. Judy’s extensive work experience includes leadership roles in a variety of early learning settings and community organisations, as well as delivery of training to the early childhood sector. Her experience also extends to advocacy and policy aimed at improving the lives and wellbeing of young children.
Geri Sumpter
Geri Sumpter is the Head of Be You Delivery at Beyond Blue. She is responsible for the delivery of the national ‘mental health in education’ initiative to early learning services and schools. Geri has an extensive career history, with a background in public health, health promotion as well as workplace health, safety and wellbeing. She has held significant leadership roles focused on stakeholder engagement, relationship management and the application of whole-setting approaches to improve health outcomes. Geri is passionate about helping individuals and communities achieve their best possible mental health.
Jennifer Koutoulas
Jennifer Koutoulas has worked as an educational leader and director for more than 25 years in NSW. Jennifer’s role in leadership is to establish, support and sustain quality at all levels through building meaningful and trusting relationships. She uses a culturally grounded approach, which centres on seeing each person as an individual, valuing everyone’s input as well as being attentive, responsive and accessible.
Alison Wells
Alison Wells has been working in early childhood settings for over 30 years. For the last 13 years, she has been working as a Director of Integrated Services for the Department for Education, currently placed at Sturt Street Children’s Centre. Alison is passionate about ensuring wellbeing for staff, children and their families. She has introduced and engaged in Be You programs at her last two sites to promote and support mental health. Much of her professional learning has been around wellbeing, mental health, resilience and trauma, as she believes that positive mental health increases the capacity for learning and the ability to find joy in life.
Susan Sharpe
Susan Sharpe is a Be You Consultant at Early Childhood Australia. She has worked in the early childhood sector for over 25 years in a variety of roles. With a background in professional education and training, her expertise lies in professional learning and development, multiple pedagogies, resilience, Communities of Practice and knowledge-transfer practices. Susan is currently completing her doctoral studies through the University of Southern Queensland and regularly shares her expertise through research symposiums, conferences, educator forums and various learning community events.
Lisa Watson
Lisa Watson is a Be You Consultant at Early Childhood Australia. Previously, she worked as an early childhood teacher in Western Australia (WA) for more than 12 years and led teams at the WA Museum in the Learning and Creativity department. Lisa has also worked for a large provider of education and care as a mentor, coach and project manager.
