Connect with ECA’s Ethics in Action
Connect with ECA’s Ethics in Action event will explore the ethical dimensions of the workplace and strengthen capacities to make more informed, effective and respectful decisions in the early childcare education and care settings and in the community.
Using Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics to support professional thinking, participants will be invited to practice the art of ethical decision-making through group discussions and case studies, and reinforce approaches that enhance the rights and wellbeing of children, families, our colleagues and the community.
Educators will be able to leave this event, referencing the Code of Ethics to implement ethical decision making into their centres.
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Completing the Connect with ECA’s Ethics in Action event will contribute 2 hours and 30 minutes of NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Registered PD addressing 6.2.2, 7.1.2, 7.3.2 and 7.4.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW. |
Registration Rates
ECA members receive a discount for this event. To sign up for ECA Membership, please click here.
Registration Type | Total |
ECA Member | $95.00 |
Non-Member | $110.00 |
Service Pack—three tickets for three people to attend one event | $255.00 ($85.00 per ticket) |
Connect package—tickets for one person to attend all three events in this series (not including past events) |
$237.00 |
*All registration fees are inclusive of GST.
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Date and time
Friday 21 August 2020
9.30 am to 3.30 pm, Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST)
Program
Time | Session | ||
9.30 am– 9.50 am |
Acknowledgement of Country, welcome message and program overview | ||
9.50 am– 10.20 am |
Dr Anne Kennedy ♦ What are ethics? ♦ What is the Code of Ethics and why do we need one? ♦ What is the difference between law and ethics? |
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10.20 am– 10.35 am |
Panel discussion: Catharine Hydon, Dr Anne Kennedy and Associate Professor Lennie Barblett Implementing the Code of Ethics in children’s education and care settings |
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10.35 am– 10.40 am |
Move to discussion session | ||
10.40 am– 11.05 am |
Group discussion What ethical issues have you faced? |
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11.05 am–11.25 am | Morning tea break | ||
11.25 am– 11.55 am |
Catharine Hydon ♦ Exploring the Code of Ethics ♦ The ethical decision-making cycle and applying ethics to our every day decisions |
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11.55 pm– 12.15 pm |
Case studies and the current pandemic ♦ Stephanie Jackiewicz, Wanslea ♦ Sarah Louise Gandolfo, Semann & Slattery |
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12.15 pm– 12.20 pm |
Move to discussion rooms | ||
12.20 pm– 12.45 pm |
Group discussion Using the ethical decision-making cycle, groups will discuss the correct ethical decisions for provided example situations |
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12.45 pm– 1.20 pm |
Lunch break | ||
1.20 pm– 1.25 pm |
Welcome back | ||
1.25 pm– 1.55 pm |
Associate Professor Lennie Barblett Delving deeper; exploring the bigger ethical issues |
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1.55 pm– 2.00 pm |
Move to discussion rooms | ||
2.00 pm– 2.25 pm |
Group discussion ♦ Responding to Lennie’s provocation ♦ How do you take action? |
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2.25 pm– 2.35 pm |
Ethics of activism ♦ Sue-Anne Hunter, SNAICC |
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2.35 pm– 2.55 pm |
Panel discussion: Catharine Hydon, Associate Professor Lennie Barblett, Dr Anne Kennedy and Sue-Anne Hunter | ||
2.55 pm– 3.05 pm |
Where to next? | ||
3.05 pm | Close of virtual conference |
Please note: changes to the program can be made at any point at discretion of the event organisers.
Facilitators and speakers
Meet our speakers!

Catharine Hydon
Catharine Hydon
Catharine Hydon is the Director and Principal Consultant at Hydon Consulting. She has a Master’s degree in early childhood education, and has extensive experience in the early childhood sector—beginning her career as a kindergarten teacher and progressing to lead roles in a range of services. She has been a member of Early Childhood Australia (ECA) for many years and is currently the Co-Chair of ECA’s Reconciliation Advisory Group. Catharine has been a member of the ECA Code of Ethics Working Group for the last two reviews and co-authored the recent Ethics in Action implementation guide.

Dr Anne Kennedy
Dr Anne Kennedy
Dr Anne Kennedy works as a consultant, writer, trainer, researcher and advocate in early childhood education. Anne was a member of the Charles Sturt University team that developed the national Early Years Learning Framework (2009). Anne’s interest in professional ethics was furthered while undertaking her doctoral thesis, which examined early childhood education as an ethical concern. Anne was member of the ECA working groups that reviewed and revised ECA’s Code of Ethics in 2006 and in 2016 and is a co-author of ECA’s Ethics in Action implementation guide.

Associate Professor Lennie Barblett
Associate Professor Lennie Barblett
Lennie Barblett is an Associate Professor at Edith Cowan University and an experienced Kindergarten and early years teacher. Combining both her experience, scholarship and research she is a passionate advocate for high quality early childhood education and care for all children, and professional recognition for all who work in early childhood. She co-authored Early Childhood Leadership in Action, the Code of Ethics and other publications. Lennie is a Board member of the Western Australian Schools Curriculum and Standards Authority.

Sarah Louise Gandolfo
Sarah Louise Gandolfo
Sarah Louise is a Melbourne-based early childhood teacher currently working towards a Master of Educational Leadership. She has worked in, and advocated for, early childhood education and care for almost 20 years, and is passionate and loud about children’s rights, social justice and ethical leadership. Sarah Louise was part of the organising team for the Victorian launch of The Anti-Bias Approach in Early Childhood and is currently the co-convener of the ECA Anti-Bias Special Interest Group. As an Associate at Semann & Slattery, her day-to-day work involves coaching and mentoring early childhood educators across Victoria in high quality leadership and pedagogy.

Stephanie Jackiewicz
Stephanie Jackiewicz
Stephanie began her career as an educator and soon moved into the research stream, firstly as a university lecturer and then as a Senior Research Officer at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research. She has been involved in a variety of projects that relate to children’s health and wellbeing and has presented at both international and national conferences. She was the National Director (WA) on the Early Childhood Australia Board (ECA) for six years. During that time she was involved with the development of the ECA Reconciliation Action Plan, sat on the Barbara Creaser Awards committee and chaired the ECA National Committee reviewing the Code of Ethics. Stephanie has been a long term advocate for young children and in 2015 was acknowledged for this work with an award for Outstanding Professional Service Award from the Professional Teachers Council of WA. Prior to joining Wanslea Stephanie led the Early Years Learning and Care Team at Catholic Education Western Australia. She was integral in developing the organisations first child care services and in implementing the EYLF and NQS in the schooling sector. Stephanie has a Bachelor of Social Science, Master of Social Science and Master of Business Administration.

Sue-Anne Hunter
Sue-Anne Hunter
Sue-Anne Hunter is a descendant of the Wurundjeri people. She is committed to self-determination, strengthening culture within families, and advocating for the rights of Aboriginal children, young people, and families. Currently, she is the Sector Development Manager at SNAICC National Voice for our Children. She oversees the cultural clinical healing services at the agency, and is central to the development of an integrated, culturally-appropriate and trauma-informed approach. She is experienced in therapeutic interventions, including Aboriginal healing wisdom, which brings a cultural lens to her work with Aboriginal communities, families, and children.
Connect with ECA’s Ethics in Action
Terms and Conditions
Click here to view the ECA Events Connect terms & conditions.