Connecting Through Play
2025-06-03 18:30 - 20:30 (Australia/Perth) | Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, 2 Blair Street, Bunbury, WA, Australia

Safer Together: Practical Strategies for Strengthening Child Safety
2025-07-31 14:00 - 15:30 | https://shop.childaustralia.org.au/event/child-safety-webinar-2025/
You’re invited to a free sector-wide webinar
Now more than ever, the early childhood sector is stepping up to lead on child safety.
Join Child Australia for a national webinar focused on practical solutions, stronger systems and shared responsibility — because protecting children must be at the heart of everything we do.
This session will move beyond headlines and crisis response, offering evidence-based, actionable strategies to create safer environments in every early learning setting, everywhere in Australia.
🗓️ Thursday 31 July
🕑 2:00pm AWST
💻 Free Live Webinar
🎙️ Panel of experts across education, child protection, policy & regulation
🆓 No cost. Open to all sector professionals, leaders & families

Meet the Expert Panel
Hear from national child safety agencies, jurisdictional regulators, ACECQA, family advocates, child protection specialists and early childhood providers with hands-on experience.
More speakers will be announced soon!
Together, we’ll explore:
⚠️ Red flags and early intervention strategies
📣 Clear escalation and reporting pathways
🤝 Sector gaps and opportunities for stronger cross-agency collaboration
👀 How educators and families can recognise & respond to inappropriate adult behaviours

Special Guest

Hon. Minister Sabine Winton BA BPS MLA
Department of Communities WA
Minister for Education; Early Childhood; Preventative Health; Wheatbelt

Speakers
Georgie Dent
The Parenthood
CEO
Georgie Dent is the CEO of The Parenthood, Australia’s leading parent advocacy organisation representing over 80,000 parents, carers and supporters.
She is a best-selling author, former lawyer and prominent advocate for children, families, gender equity and mental health. The Parenthood champions paid parental leave, access to quality early childhood education and care and family-friendly workplaces. She is a mum of three and lives in Sydney with her husband & co-partner in chaos.

Gabrielle Sinclair
ACECQA
CEO
Gabrielle Sinclair is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) which is the independent national authority for the Early Childhood Education and Care sector’s National Quality Framework.
Gabrielle commenced her career as a teacher and has held senior executive positions in a number of Queensland Government portfolios including Education, Infrastructure, Planning, Local Government and Corrective Services.
Before her appointment to ACECQA in January 2017, Gabrielle was Deputy Director-General, Early Childhood and Community Engagement in the Queensland Department of Education and Training.
Gabrielle has degrees in teaching and education, a Master’s degree in Education and an Executive Master’s degree in Public Administration.

Michael Petrie
ACECQA
General Manager – Workforce, Engagement and Research
Michael Petrie is General Manager, Workforce, Engagement and Research, and leads ACECQA’s functions relating to national workforce policy, qualifications and skilled migration assessments, research and evaluation, communication, and stakeholder engagement. As part of his responsibilities, he also leads ACECQA’s national customer enquiries team and its family focused website Startingblocks.gov.au.
Michael also has extensive experience working with government and senior leaders from the public sector, industry, unions and peak representative groups.

Kayelene Kerr
eSafeKids
Founder, Child Safety Advocate & Body Safety, Cyber Safety and Pornography Education Specialist
Kayelene Kerr is recognised as one of Western Australia’s most experienced specialist providers of Protective Behaviours, Body Safety, Cyber Safety, Digital Wellness and Pornography education workshops. Kayelene has featured on Australian and international television broadcasts, radio programs and in print media.
Kayelene is passionate about the prevention of child abuse, sexual exploitation and sexual violence, drawing on over 24 years’ experience of study and law enforcement, investigating sexual crimes, including technology facilitated crimes. Kayelene believes protecting children from harm is a shared responsibility and she aims to support and inspire the trusted adults in children’s lives to talk about challenging topics.
Kayelene has presented to international audiences and has delivered keynote addresses and workshops at Education, Child Protection, Health, Family and Domestic Violence and Community Services conferences. Kayelene has also presented to many primary and secondary school parents, carers, educators, students, government and non-government departments and service providers.

Nicole Talarico
Talarico Consulting
Early Years Consultant
Nicole Talarico is best known as an advocate for child safety and children’s rights, with a social justice lens always present.
Nicole’s career spans thirty years in the education and care sector having engaged in roles supporting high quality practice and compliance. Nicole is an author, her book Asserting a Culture of Child Safety was written to guide education and care services to create and maintain physical, emotional, spiritual, social and culturally safe environments inclusive of online safety. Nicole’s insights have been shared at inter/national conferences in the capacity as key note speaker and MC and through targeted professional development projects.
Nicole undertakes Quick Response work and training for the Department of Education in VIC, NSW and WA due to her extensive experience in the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Nicole’s work has been published in a range of early childhood sector peak body publications, inclusive of podcasts and webinar platforms.

Katy Brennan
NT Department of Education and Training
Director – Quality Education and Care NT
Katy Brennan is the Director of Quality Education and Care Northern Territory (QECNT), with a vast range of experience in early childhood education and regulatory leadership. With a background spanning Long Day Care, Preschool, Primary School, and OSHC settings, and prior regulatory experience in Victoria, Katy has a deep understanding of the sector.
Joining QECNT in 2020, Katy has progressed through key roles, including Authorised Officer and Assistant Director, before being appointed as Director in early 2024. As Director Katy provides strategic leadership in the implementation of the National Quality Framework across the NT, driving regulatory excellence, sector collaboration, and improved safety and outcomes for children. Now proudly calling the Territory home, she is committed to growing a strong, responsive and high-performing regulatory authority.

Lauren Bowen
Education and Care Regulatory Unit (ECRU) WA
Team Leader Assessments

Lauren has worked in the early childhood education and care sector for the past 28 years, 18 of which she has dedicated to supporting sector regulation and quality as part of the Department of Communities and the Education and Care Regulatory Unit.

Meet the Facilitators
Tina Holtom
Child Australia
CEO

Tina Holtom is a values-led leader with a deep commitment to creating better systems for children, families and the people who support them.
With a career spanning over 20 years in education, child development and executive leadership, she brings both lived experience and strategic clarity to some of the sector’s most complex challenges.
Tina has led transformational reforms, reimagined service models and built bold cross-sector partnerships, all while championing the teams at the heart of the work.
Her leadership style is grounded, forward-thinking and unapologetically people-first.
Whether influencing policy, steering organisational change or mentoring emerging leaders, Tina’s focus remains firmly on building a future where every child can thrive, and every professional feels seen, supported and empowered to lead change.

Connie Borg
Child Australia
Sector Specialist Team Leader

Connie has over 25 years’ experience in a variety of community and education and care services, specialising in infants and toddlers.
Along with strong community involvement, Connie believes support and guidance to build educator capacity is the best way to drive quality sustainable practice.
Connie has been with Child Australia for over eight years and is passionate about the professional development and growth of educators in the ECEC sector.

Connecting Through Play
2025-08-25 18:30 - 20:30 | Albany Entertainment Centre, 2 Toll Place, Albany, WA, 6330, Australia

Little People Big Dreams (LPBD) Conference
2025-10-11 08:00 - 17:00 | DoubleTree by Hilton Esplanade Darwin, 116 The Esplanade, Darwin, Northern Territory, 0800, Australia
Theme: Empower, Connect, Embed
Child Australia, in partnership with the Northern Territory Government, is proud to present the Little People, Big Dreams (LPBD) Conference.
For the past 6 years, the conference has been a sold out event inspiring individuals working in the Early Childhood Education & Care sector from around Australia.
Join us at LPBD on 11 October 2025!

8 Ways of Learning Masterclass
2026-03-27 08:00 - 13:00 | The Hub, Bentley Technology Park, The HUB - Building, 2 Brodie-Hall Dr,, Betley, Western Australia, 6102, Australia
Elevating ECLD 2026 to new heights!
Don’t miss this Exclusive Masterclass experience with Jessica Staines, founder of multiple award-winning Koori Curriculum.
This hands-on masterclass invites Early Childhood Educators to collaboratively explore and apply the 8 Ways of Learning as a framework for programming and planning.
Grounded in Aboriginal pedagogy and guided by relational ways of knowing, being and doing, participants will work together to develop a program around a shared topic of enquiry, discovering how each of the 8 Ways can shape, inform and enrich their curriculum approach.
From story sharing and non-linear learning to community links and land-based learning, this practical workshop moves beyond theory and into action. Educators will co-design learning experiences, create a learning map, and embed the 8 Ways in meaningful and culturally responsive ways.
Participants will leave with:

A working draft of a program plan using the 8 Ways
A deeper understanding of each pedagogy in context
Ideas for connecting with community and Country
Confidence to collaborate with their team using an intercultural lens

This session is ideal for teams ready to move beyond awareness into practice and is suitable for those new to the 8 Ways, as well as educators wanting to refine and deepen their approach.
Purchase tickets here.

ECLD WA Sector Awards
2026-03-27 18:00 - 21:30 | The University Club of Western Australia, Hackett Entrance, 1 Hackett Dr, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
The Early Childhood Learning & Development WA Sector Awards will provide the opportunity for educators and organisations in Western Australia to be recognised for their exceptional commitment to ensuring quality outcomes for children and their families.
Join us as we celebrate the outstanding achievements of early years professionals during an intimate cocktail reception and awards presentation.

Purchase tickets here.

ECLD Immersion Experience
2026-03-28 08:00 - 17:00 | The University Club of Western Australia, Hackett Entrance, 1 Hackett Dr, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
Child Australia is proud to present the 2026 Early Childhood Learning & Development (ECLD) Immersion Unplugged: An Interactive Professional Learning Experience.
The 2026 ECLD Immersion Experience is unlike anything we’ve done before.
Set within the surrounds of the University of Western Australia, ECLD offers an immersive experience centred around the theme of Connections.
Expect a full day of engaging, hands-on learning where wellness activities, drumming, outdoor exploration, and creative workshops are woven throughout.
The best part? You’ll walk away with something tangible! A practice plan or resource created by you or your team, ready to implement in your service the very next day!
This is professional development reimagined. A space to slow down, reconnect, and leave re-energised with your heart full, your purpose renewed, and your toolkit overflowing.

Purchase tickets here.
