Be You Leadership Forums 2021
The Be You Leadership forums are back in 2021. The two forums planned for this year are especially designed for early childhood and school age care leaders and will help take your leadership to the next level.
As we collectively recover from the experiences of 2020, mental health is a priority. Take this time to learn and reflect together about how we can support the needs of our communities, prepare for new challenges and ensure we take the time to celebrate our successes, strengths and community connectedness.
Leading the way for resilience has never been more important. The first forum will explore individual, community and systemic factors and strategies that influence how we achieve—and sustain—resilience throughout our learning communities. Join us to discuss how ethical decision-making, trauma-informed practice, self-regulation approaches and protective factors for leaders’ wellbeing can support our learning communities.
Extending on these themes, the second forum will provide an opportunity to examine the relationship between Empowering environments and authentic leadership. During the day, we will refine our definitions and unpack the factors that contribute to how we identify, promote and encounter empowering environments and authentic leadership. There will also be interactive opportunities to consider values, assumptions, experiences and frameworks that drive our strategic direction, keep mental health a priority for the early childhood sector and support the wellbeing of leaders.
Registration is now closed.
| Event name | Date | Time | Registration |
| Leading the way for resilience | Friday 19 February 2021 | 10.00 am–3.00 pm (AEDT) | Register to access recordings |
| Empowering environments and authentic leadership | Thursday 20 May 2021 | 10.00 am–3.00 pm (AEST) |
Register to access recordings |
These free events are especially designed for early childhood and school age care leaders.
Empowering environments and authentic leadership
This event took place on Thursday 20 May 2021. Register here to access the recordings.
| Time (AEST) | Session | |
| 10.00 am– 10.20 am |
Acknowledgement of Country, welcome message and program overview Facilitators: Amelia Joyce and Sammi Wilson, Be You, Early Childhood Australia |
|
| 10.20 am– 11.20 am |
Keynote address by Jo Goodwin, Uniting Care and Judy Radich, Cooloon Children’s Centre Inc. Creating empowering environments |
|
| 11.20 am– 11.40 am |
Morning tea break | |
| 11.40 am– 11.55 am |
Interactive session With Amelia Joyce and Sammi Wilson |
|
| 11.55 am– 12.35 pm |
Panel discussion Inspiring and empowering authentic leadership Facilitator: Amelia Joyce Panellists:
|
|
| 12.35 pm– 12.40 pm |
Move to discussion session | |
| 12.40 pm– 1.00 pm |
Discussion session What do we start, stop, continue or do differently to be authentic leaders? |
|
| 1.00 pm– 1.30 pm |
Lunch break | |
| 1.30 pm– 1.35 pm |
Welcome back | |
| 1.35 pm– 2.10 pm |
Leader perspectives panel discussion Driving NQS strategic directions and keeping mental health visible Facilitator: Sammi Wilson Panellists:
|
|
| 2.10 pm– 2.50 pm |
Keynote address by Rod Soper, thinkers.inq Acknowledging, considering, and celebrating authentic leadership |
|
| 2.50 pm– 3.00 pm |
Q&A and closing remarks Facilitators: Amelia Joyce and Sammi Wilson |
|
| 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
Amelia Joyce
Amelia Joyce gained her diverse knowledge and skills through her work across varied sectors, including education, health, mental health, government, not-for-profit, human services and commercial business. Amelia has worked with families, children and young people in therapeutic and crisis-support capacities throughout South Australia. She has also been an educator in early childhood and primary school settings, and served as director of a community-based early learning service.
In her current role as the Executive Manager of Be You at Early Childhood Australia, she combines her clinical social work and education experience with her knowledge of digital media to create online spaces that allow educators and health professionals to safely communicate, advocate, connect and learn together.
Sammi Wilson
Sammi Wilson is a Be You Consultant at Early Childhood Australia. Her extensive career includes educator and leadership roles, with a strong focus on school age care settings. She has also held leadership roles promoting mental health in community service and education sectors, and she has worked as a social worker for more than 10 years. Sammi is passionate about personal empowerment and believes that positive mental health is key to leading the best life possible.
Space
Jo Goodwin
Joanne Goodwin is a descendant of the Wonnarua and Kamilaroi peoples of NSW. She is committed to progressing reconciliation and exploring the practice of cultural competence in the early childhood sector. Joanne has an extensive background in early childhood and social inclusion, having worked on a variety of programs in various communities across the country. Currently, she is rolling out Newpin (New Parent and Infant Network) sites across Queensland, under the Queensland Government’s Social Benefit Bonds pilot program.
Space
Judy Radich
Judy Radich is an early childhood teacher with over 25 years of experience and the manager of Cooloon Children’s Centre Inc., a not-for-profit service based in Tweed Heads with 45 places for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
Judy has served on boards and taken leadership positions on committees related to early childhood at national, state (NSW) and local levels. She has played the role of an advocate, educator, writer, advisor and consultant, mostly with not-for-profit organisations and government agencies. Her focus is on enhancing the quality of the services young families need and use.
Rod Soper
Rod Soper is an author, leader and wellbeing researcher. In each of these roles he works towards his vision of helping people from all backgrounds thrive and flourish. He co-founded the thriving thinkers.inq play community and works as a consultant in the education sector, partnering with workplaces to inspire and support them in building wellbeing communities through organisational change. As a researcher, his recent work led to the founding of ‘The Playing with Gratitude Project’, which has successfully supported over 4000 children, families and educators in building wellness communities of their own.
Space
Geri Sumpter
Geri Sumpter is the Head of Be You Delivery at Beyond Blue and she has an extensive career history based in public health, health promotion and workplace health, safety and wellbeing. She has held significant leadership roles, driving whole-setting approaches to improve health outcomes, with a strong focus on stakeholder engagement and relationship management. She has a passion for helping individuals and communities achieve their best possible mental health.
Space
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.
Space
Georga Simmons
Georga Simmons is the Early Learning Practice Manager, Quality and Compliance, at Uniting Vic.Tas. In this role she supports 65 early learning services and lends her expertise to the organisation’s leadership team. She is also developing early learning curriculum tools and audits to support educators in their pedagogical practice and compliance with legislation. In more than 30 years’ experience in the not-for-profit, private, tertiary education and local government sectors, Georga has managed and developed a broad range of services. She has provided leadership in kindergartens, long day care, family day care, occasional care and vacation care, in Central Enrolment and the Victorian Government’s Kindergarten Inclusion Support Program.
Leading the way for resilience
This event took place on Friday 19 February 2021. Register here to access the recordings.
| Time (AEDT) | Session | |
| 10.00 am–10.20 am | Acknowledgement of Country, welcome message and program overview Facilitators: Amelia Joyce and Amanda Kidd, Be You, Early Childhood Australia |
|
| 10.20 am–10.50 am | Keynote address by Dr Lyn O’Grady, Psychologist Knowing, understanding and building resilience together |
|
| 10.50 am–10.55 am | Move to discussion session | |
| 10.55 am–11.15 am | Discussion session Sharing our understanding of resilience |
|
| 11.15 am–11.35 am | Morning tea break | |
| 11.35 am–12.05 pm | Leader perspectives panel discussion Ethical leadership: Facing dilemmas and making decisions Facilitator: Amanda Kidd Panellists:
|
|
| 12.05 pm–12.10 pm | Move to discussion session | |
| 12.10 pm–12.30 pm | Discussion session Case study reflection and discussion |
|
| 12.30 pm–12.35 pm | Move to main stage | |
| 12.35 pm–1.00 pm | Keynote address by Professor Emeritus Ann Farrell, Queensland University of Technology Leaders, identity and self-regulation |
|
| 1.00 pm–1.30 pm | Lunch break | |
| 1.30 pm–1.35 pm | Welcome back | |
| 1.35 pm–2.05 pm | Leader perspectives panel discussion Trauma-informed ways of leading a whole learning community Facilitator: Amelia Joyce Panellists:
|
|
| 2.05 pm–2.10 pm | Move to discussion rooms | |
| 2.10 pm–2.25 pm | Discussion session Strategies for checking-in on our wellbeing and exploring stressors |
|
| 2.25 pm–2.30 pm | Move to main stage | |
| 2.30 pm–2.50 pm | Keynote address by Debbie Yates, Be You, Early Childhood Australia Protective factors for leaders mental health |
|
| 2.50 pm–3.00 pm | Q&A and closing remarks Facilitators: Amelia Joyce and Amanda Kidd |
|
| 3.00 pm | Close of event | |
Facilitators and speakers
Amanda Kidd
Amanda Kidd is a Be You Consultant at Early Childhood Australia. She has more than 17 years’ experience working with children aged birth to 18 years in a range of practitioner and leadership roles. Amanda is a strong advocate for the crucial role that quality education and care and educators can play in building a resilient Australian society. She has a passion for holistic approaches to mental health and wellbeing, particularly the healing powers of positive relationships, nature and play.
Space
Amelia Joyce
Amelia Joyce gained her diverse knowledge and skills through her work across varied sectors, including education, health, mental health, government, not-for-profit, human services and commercial business. Amelia has worked with families, children and young people in therapeutic and crisis-support capacities throughout South Australia. She has also been an educator in early childhood and primary school settings, and served as director of a community-based early learning service.
In her current role as the Executive Manager of Be You at Early Childhood Australia, she combines her clinical social work and education experience with her knowledge of digital media to create online spaces that allow educators and health professionals to safely communicate, advocate, connect and learn together.
Ann Farrell
Professor Emeritus Ann Farrell is a passionate leader in the early childhood education and care sector and a proud member of Early Childhood Australia. Commencing her professional career as an early childhood teacher in Australia and Canada, she went on to head the School of Early Childhood and Inclusive Education at Queensland University of Technology for 15 years. Ann is also Deputy Chair of the Board of Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) and serves on the National Advisory Board of Be You.
Ann earned a PhD from The University of Queensland in 1996 and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Gothenburg (Sweden) in 2012 for international leadership in early childhood research. She has authored more than 100 scholarly publications and is committed to sharing her insights in professional and community contexts.
Ben Rogers
Ben Rogers is the Manager for Community Trauma at Emerging Minds. Ben’s role includes working with the Be You Bushfire Response Program to support learning communities, following the 2019–2020 bushfires. Ben is an occupational therapist and has held positions in a variety of mental health and child and family services across Australia and the United Kingdom.
Space
Debbie Yates
Debbie Yates is a State Manager for Be You at Early Childhood Australia. Her previous experience includes teaching across both early learning and primary school settings. She has also worked as a manager at a range of community organisations with a focus on supporting families and children. Debbie holds post graduate qualifications in management (non-profit sector) and training in counselling.
Space
Lyn O’Grady
Dr Lyn O’Grady is a community psychologist with a particular interest in suicidology as well as the mental health and wellbeing of children, young people and families. Over the past three decades, she has worked in the education, health and community sectors. Her key roles included school psychologist in Melbourne’s Western Metropolitan Region, and National Project Manager for KidsMatter (now known as Be You) at the Australian Psychological Society. At a more systemic level, she has worked with the Catholic Education Office Melbourne and the Victorian Department of Education and Training.
Currently Lyn is the Academic Head of the College of Professional Psychology. She has a private practice and consults in the areas of child and adolescent mental health and suicidology. Lyn has also authored a book: Keeping our Kids Alive: Parenting a Suicidal Young Person.
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 and 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.
Space
Jo Goodwin
Joanne Goodwin is a descendant of the Wonnarua and Kamilaroi peoples in NSW. She is committed to progressing reconciliation and exploring the practice of cultural competence in the early childhood sector. Joanne has an extensive background in early childhood and social inclusion, having worked in a variety of programs and communities nationally. Currently, she is rolling out Newpin (New Parent and Infant Network) sites across Queensland, under the Queensland Government’s Social Benefit Bonds Pilot Program.
Space
Renee Wright
Renee Wright is currently employed as a State Manager for Be You and brings with her extensive experience in early intervention program design and implementation, higher education as well as leading and coaching teams. A teacher at heart, Renee has an interest in social inclusion across the lifespan and how this intersects with race, gender, culture and economic policy. In her spare time Renee loves trying out new cake recipes, going to the cinema and exploring Melbourne’s latest art attractions.
Space
Sara Richardson
Sara Richardson has a deep professional commitment to early childhood and this is reflected in her work experience. As a State Manager for Be You, she is able to draw on her knowledge and skills, developed over 25 years, in many contexts to lead a national mental health initiative. Reconciliation and building educator capacity are areas of particular interest to Sara, and she seeks opportunities to embed these into all aspects of her work.
Space
