Regional, Rural and Remote Early Childhood Forum brought to you by Early Childhood Australia

 

Program

Designed with the unique needs of individuals and communities across these locations, the forum offers a two-day program featuring inspiring keynote speakers, expert-led discussions and breakout sessions tailored to enhance leadership skills and support innovative solutions. Share challenges, successes and practical strategies with others navigating similar circumstances, and return to your community inspired to champion access to quality early education and care for all children.

Keynote speakers

Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett	Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett Cathrine is a Professor in Early Childhood and the Academic Director of The Early Years at the University of Wollongong and a passionate advocate for the early childhood sector. She conducts translational work with community and industry partners to support high-quality early childhood education and care practice that enhances outcomes for children. She has authored academic papers and been recognised for her expertise in children’s behaviour, self-regulation, and early childhood pedagogy and assessment through her appointment as an advisor on key projects both in Australia and internationally.
Emma King OAM	Emma King OAM Emma has extensive experience in workforce and education and is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HumanAbility. Prior to this appointment, Emma was CEO of the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) for 10 years, and CEO at Early Learning Association Australia, where she advocated for high-quality, affordable and accessible early childhood education for all children. Emma serves on several boards including the Victorian Skills Authority and as Chair of Farnham Street Neighbourhood Learning Centre. In 2023, Emma was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition of her service to the community.
Leanne Gibbs	Dr Leanne Gibbs Leanne is a Senior Lecturer with the School of Education at Charles Sturt University. Leanne joined Charles Sturt University in 2022 with an exemplary track record in early childhood education and care (ECEC). Her diverse roles in the profession comprise teaching, managing and leading in ECEC settings, local and state government children’s services departments, professional development programs and sector peaks. Leanne is an author, podcaster, board member and early childhood education advocate. She has been a part of many ECEC triumphs, wins and losses over her career and remains passionate about leadership, management, public policy children’s rights and advocacy.

Presenters

The Hon Fiona Nash	The Hon Fiona Nash Fiona is the Australian Regional Educational Commissioner, appointed in 2021. Fiona grew up in Sydney and has spent the last three decades living and working in regional Australia. For many years she was involved in a family farming enterprise in the central west of NSW, now run by her sons Will and Henry. Fiona spent 12 years in the federal parliament as a senator for NSW, holding several ministerial positions including Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Regional Communications and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Education. She also held the position of Deputy Leader of the Nationals. From 2018 to 2021 Fiona was the Strategic Advisor, Regional Engagement and Government Relations for Charles Sturt University.
Mark Barraket	Mark Barraket Mark, Deputy Secretary for Early Childhood Outcomes (ECO) at the NSW Department of Education, leads initiatives that invest in the critical first five years of a child’s life. He oversees support for 6,000 services who look to ECO to strengthen their workforce and early education and care. With over 30 years in education—as a teacher, principal and senior leader—he has led school improvement, teacher supply and crisis responses. From pursuit of universal preschool access, 100 new public preschools and sector-changing reforms, Mark is passionate about early intervention and creating environments where every child can thrive from birth through preschool and beyond.
Frances Press	Professor Frances Press Frances is Head and Dean of Education and Professional Studies and a Professor in Early Years and Education Policy at Griffith University in Queensland. Over many years, Frances has worked closely with government, non-government organisations and researchers to consider the ways in which policy and practice can support systems that respond to the needs and aspirations of children and families and promote social justice. Frances has been an investigator on several ARC-funded research projects examining various aspects of early childhood services, including policy, and how these can best support great outcomes for children and families. She has a keen interest in the impact of educational leadership.
Selma Wastell	Selma Wastell Selma is a trainer, lecturer and educator, specialising in the areas of trauma-informed care and practice, child protection and early education. Her interests include protective behaviours, children’s rights and the impact that trauma has on development and wellbeing. As Selma approaches everything she does with an attitude of hope, this workshop will examine the way effective trauma-informed practice and care can impact the wellbeing outcomes of children, staff and families.
Michele Carnegie	Michele Carnegie Michele is a leading advocate for early childhood education in Australia. As CEO of Community Early Learning Australia (CELA), she drives policy reform that aims to deliver high-quality and operationally sustainable ECEC across the country, especially for community-managed and small providers in urban, regional and remote areas. One of Michele’s most notable advocacy achievements has been leading the role CELA played in the first multi-employer bargaining process for ECEC, that led to securing a $3.6b pay rise for early childhood educators and teachers working in long day care. She successfully represented and, together with the CELA team, provided vital support for community-managed and small providers during COVID-19. Michele is a committed advocate for the expansion of community-managed service provision across Australia and the support network required to make this successful. Her leadership is helping to shape the future of early childhood education in Australia for children and families.
Daniela Kavoukas	Daniela Kavoukas As a genuine and authentic leader, Daniela brings a commitment to human growth with tools and resources to help others realise their own potential and deliver organisational outcomes. Daniela has a gift for figuring out how other people can work together productively and enjoys seeing people succeed in what they do best. As a result, Daniela’s leadership has led to the successful reimaging and growth of Community Child Care Association’s professional learning and membership offerings to services right across Australia. Projects that Daniela manages succeed because she is driven by a balance of her commitment to human growth and organisational outcomes. Daniela leverages her expertise to lead projects, host member webinars and advocate to government stakeholders for better pay and conditions, striving for a well-resourced supported and valued workforce.
Laura Stevens	Laura Stevens Laura has worked in the ECEC sector for over 15 years supporting educators and services. She has extensive experience in ECEC policy with a specialisation in industrial relations. Laura has worked to improve pay and recognition for the ECEC sector through making agreements, advising on the recent Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act, and leading the recent ECEC multi-employer bargaining process. She continues this work to advocate for a stronger community sector and a valued and professionally paid workforce in her current role as Director of Policy and Strategy and Director of Community Early Learning Australia’s (CELA) education and care workplace relations team.
Kate Highfield	Associate Professor Kate Highfield Kate is an educator and researcher exploring young children’s engagement with technology, play and learning. Kate works at the University of Canberra and is particularly interested in how healthy technology use can enhance learning. Kate has explored research and evaluations in many forms and is currently presenting on effective digital documentation; child-led and play-based pedagogies; finding the T in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and STEAM. Kate also works to bridge the gap between research and practice, helping the community engage with research and evidence-based practice.
Blake Stewart	Blake Stewart Blake is a dedicated teacher, lecturer, author and advocate with over 12 years of experience in early childhood education and early childhood intervention. Holding a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five Years) and a Graduate Diploma in Health Studies (Occupational Therapy), Blake is passionate about embedding inclusive, evidence-based practices into early childhood settings. As Chief Impact Officer at Reimagine Australia, Blake leads national initiatives focused on early childhood supports, and sector-wide inclusion capability building, ensuring children with disabilities, developmental differences and neurodivergence can realise their potential.
Paul Mondo	Paul Mondo With over 20 years of experience as an early learning service provider, Paul has developed a strong understanding of the challenges facing owner/operators in an ever-changing, highly regulated landscape. This wealth of experience coupled with a passion for the benefits of early learning inspired Paul to take a leadership role in the advocacy space. As President of the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) for over nine years, Paul plays a key role in advocating with impact for the interests of ACA members and the early learning sector at the federal government level.
Ian Alchin	Ian Alchin Ian is a well-regarded leader in the early childhood sector. He is acknowledged for his insightful and inspirational approach to contemporary ECEC leadership and management. His work develops capable people and sustainable organisations, working with governing bodies, leaders and managers, directors and educators in diverse settings in Australia and internationally. Ian has worked directly with regional and remote services over many years. He regards them as essential services and community assets that provide opportunities for connection, learning and wellbeing for children, families and their communities.
Rod Soper	Rod Soper Rod has over thirty years’ experience in education as a teacher and head of school. He is the co-founder of Thinkers.inq, an early learning school celebrating wellbeing, and Personhood360, an online platform designed to help teachers program, track and measure the development of wellbeing in children. Rod is also the chief investigator of The Playing with Gratitude Research Project, a wellness endeavour supporting change in about 4,000 Australian children, families and teachers. In his spare time Rod likes to read, write and share his passion for educational change through coaching and leading his team of learners.
Emma Woods	Emma Woods Emma is a Wiradjuri woman who has spent most of her foundation years on Dharug country with time living on Biripi, Dunghutti and Whadjuk Noongar countries, currently located on Worimi country. Emma is an educator and Be You Consultant who engages regularly with early childhood education professionals to support their exploration, implementation and revision of mental health and wellbeing planning. Emma advocates for families, educators and children to be provided with culturally sensitive, inclusive and mentally healthy education and support. Emma is a positive and engaging leader with experience in school aged care, long day care, preschool, kindergarten and occasional care settings.
Rhi Sugars	Rhi Sugars Rhi, Director of The Atypical Educator, has worked in the early childhood sector for almost 20 years. Born with 22q11 duplication syndrome, Rhi is multiply neurodivergent and passionate about using her lived experience to challenge and transform the neurodiversity, disability and inclusion narratives experienced in the early childhood sector. Her lived experience with disability and difference, combined with her background in early childhood, place her in a practical position to inform, upskill and support educators in neuro-affirming approaches while navigating the complex nature and dynamics of early learning and school environments. Rhi currently splits her time between running The Atypical Educator, working at the French Australian Preschool, being a mum, and trying to convince her husband to let her buy more chickens.
Natalie Youd	Natalie Youd Nat completed her Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies and Primary Teaching in 2011 and has been working at Salamander Early Education ever since. She has been in a full-time educational leadership role since late 2020 in the community-based long daycare setting. Nat believes leadership is not just a title but a responsibility of educators to extend their knowledge, confidence and skills, to push boundaries and influence change within the early childhood sector.
Rosan Organ	Rosan Organ With over 20 years’ experience in the early childhood sector, Rosan has been an early childhood teacher and team mentor at Salamander Early Education since 2016. Rosan’s passion lies in inspiring and leading her teams in enacting social justice change. Rosan prioritises instilling a strong sense of empowerment in children and staff as active citizens in their world. She works alongside children to support their emotional intelligence and sense of self.
Karen Minter	Karen Minter Karen is a proud Aboriginal woman with a career spanning over 30 years who has dedicated her professional life to making a significant impact within Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs). As an advocate for the community, she has consistently worked to uplift and empower those in disadvantaged areas through her various roles. After working as a Centre Director and Nominated Supervisor for 24 years, Karen is now making further valuable contributions as an Early Years Advisor for SNAICC—National Voice for our Children where she assists services to shape programs that cater to the unique needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
Maurita Cavanough	Maurita Cavanough Maurita is a Bundjalung woman who has been working with SNAICC—National Voice for our Children as an Early Years Advisor since 2022. Maurita has worked in the early childhood sector for over 20 years, holding director and teacher roles in both the mainstream system and Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs). She is passionate about all things community-led and driven. Maurita holds a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and a Master of Education.
Sheila Degotardi	Professor Sheila Degotardi Sheila is a Professor of Early Childhood Education and Director of the Centre for Research in Early Childhood Education at Macquarie University, Sydney. Sheila specialises in infant–toddler pedagogies and learning in early childhood education settings. With a deep interest in relationship-based pedagogies, she investigates the nature of social interactions between children, their educators and peers, to consider how these interactions contribute towards very young children’s learning. Her recent research focuses on the causes and consequences of infant–toddler language environments.
Leanne Elliston	Leanne Elliston BSc, MND, APD Leanne is an accredited practising dietitian with 25 years’ experience in combined clinical, community and private practice. A strong advocate for fostering healthy eating habits from early childhood, Leanne has led a range of early childhood nutrition services within the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector. In her role as Chief Executive Officer and Senior Dietitian at Nutrition Australia ACT, Leanne spearheads various public health nutrition programs aimed at improving food and nutrition literacy among everyday Australians. Leanne believes in strength through collaboration and is Chair of Federation of Canteens in Schools and Co-lead of the intervention stream of the National Nutrition Network for ECEC. As an Honorary Professional Associate of University of Canberra, Leanne regularly collaborates with research and student supervision within the Discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Rhonda Livingstone	Rhonda Livingstone Rhonda is the National Education Leader and General Manager of ACECQA’s Leadership, Quality and Regulatory Support Group. Rhonda brings a wealth of experience to this role, having worked in preschools, long day care centres and as an assessor, developer and deliverer of programs and services for both government and non-government organisations.
Kate Higginbottom	Kate Higginbottom Kate is the Manager of Quality Practice and Programs with ACECQA where she manages a team who develop sector resources and assess the Excellent rating. Kate has extensive experience and knowledge, having worked for more than 17 years as a teacher, director and consultant in early childhood education and care.
Kathy Cologon	Dr Kathy Cologon Kathy is Honorary Senior Lecturer in Inclusive Education at Sydney University and Macquarie University, and Principal Consultant at Toward Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. With extensive experience in the field prior to commencing her work in academia, followed by 15 years of educating teachers for inclusion and ongoing research engagement with children, families, teachers, and allied professionals, she has a broad understanding of the many facets of inclusive education. Kathy has published more than 60 papers, book chapters and books, and is nationally and internationally renowned for her research in inclusive education and disability studies. She seeks to support opportunities to enable all people to flourish as valued community members. This requires challenging normative and deficit assumptions and engaging with practical issues relating to children’s rights and inclusion.
Catharine Hydon	Catharine Hydon With over 30 years’ experience leading and advocating for quality early childhood education and care, Catharine’s work as the Principal Consultant and Director at Hydon Consulting focuses on supporting professionals to explore the relationship between theory and practice. Catharine partners with leaders and educators in a collective effort to create meaning, define quality, and engage in the art of transformational change. Catharine is a long-time member of ECA and has led the Colloquia on Leadership and Ethics faciliator team for the past five years. She serves as a Board Member of the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority and has been re-appointed as a second-tier reviewer for ACECQA.
Lisa Orchin	Lisa Orchin Lisa completed her tertiary studies in education back when mobile phones didn’t exist, computers were only just coming into classrooms and cars without aircon were the norm! She taught primary school for six years in Moree before moving to a farm at Mungindi (a town on the border of NSW and Queensland). Thirty years on, Lisa recognised that the lack of early childhood education and care (ECEC) was contributing to the decline of the community’s long-term sustainability. The district was unable to attract young families, nurses, police, teachers, farm employees and others—something had to change. Lisa knew the only way to solve this problem was for her small but passionate community to raise the money themselves—and so commenced the crazy rollercoaster ride of bringing ECEC to Mungindi.
Rachel Cubis	Rachel Cubis Rachel is an experienced early childhood manager with over two-and-a-half years of leadership in the field. She is dedicated to building a strong, collaborative team of educators, ensuring that each team member is respected and given the opportunity to express their creativity. She strives to empower educators by providing a space where their voices are valued and professional growth is encouraged. This approach not only strengthens the team but also enhances the learning experience for the children they care for. With a deep commitment to fostering a nurturing and inclusive learning environment, Rachel believes that every child’s voice should be heard and valued. She is passionate about creating meaningful experiences that encourage children’s growth and development, allowing them to thrive in their unique ways.

Panelists

Andrew Paterson	Andrew Paterson Andrew is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Family Day Care Australia, the national peak body for family day care. With 20 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector and a Masters of Marketing and Communications, he is knowledgeable in association management and strategy, public relations, advocacy and communications. Andrew also holds tertiary qualifications in education and has an early professional background in outdoor education. He is a passionate advocate for play-based learning and for the unique strengths and agility of family day care in leveraging the natural home learning environment to support quality early education outcomes for more Australian children, families and communities.
Amy Shine	Amy Shine Amy, Director of Forbes Preschool, has 25 years of experience working in rural and remote preschools. Under her guidance, Forbes Preschool has become a leader in inclusive education, a recognised NDIS provider, and has won the prestigious Narragunnawali Reconciliation in Education award. Amy is passionate about community partnerships, embedding allied health professionals into the daily life of the preschool and fostering strong connections with Forbes Shire Council. Her dedication to creating an inclusive, supportive environment has made a lasting impact on both the preschool and the wider community.
Aunty Frayne Barker	Aunty Frayne Barker Aunty Frayne is a Ngemba Aboriginal woman who has worked in the early childhood sector for over 40 years. After completing her early childhood teaching degree at Macquarie University in 1997, she returned to Brewarrina where she took up the position of director at Gainmara Birrilee Preschool. In the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2019, Aunty Frayne was recognised for service to early childhood education for her contribution to ECEC through her long-standing directorship at the Gainmarra Birralee Preschool, a service dedicated to Aboriginal children in the New South Wales community of Brewarrina.
Amanda Holt	Amanda Holt Amanda has been an early childhood professional for 42 years, having completed several TAFE-level qualifications, a teaching degree, a Master of Early Childhood and a Master of Special and Inclusive Education. Amanda has worked in preschool, long day care, outside school hours care and special education, and is currently a lecturer in early childhood education and care at TAFE NSW. Amanda is a passionate advocate for children and those working in the ECEC sector and believes that even though children’s life journeys do not begin or end with us, we make a difference by nurturing partnerships between all aspects of a child’s life.