Speakers
GS.jpg Organisation: Department of Education and Training Position: Deputy Director-General, Early Childhood and Community Engagement Gabrielle has been in the Queensland Public Service for more than 20 years. Dorothy Scott DAS photo.jpg Organisation: University of South Australia Emeritus Professor Dorothy Scott OAM, PhD, began her career as a child care worker in a state children’s home in Victoria in the late 1960s. Moved by the suffering of children which she witnessed there, she studied social work at the University of Melbourne in the 1970s to pursue her vision of preventing child abuse and neglect. As a young social worker she developed innovative services in the areas of sexual assault, child protection and maternal mental health, which led to her being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia and the Centenary Medal. Professor Scott is an honorary professorial fellow at the University of Melbourne and Emeritus Professor at the University of South Australia. Her current consultancy work involves clinical supervision for those working with vulnerable young children and their families, mentoring leaders of children’s services, facilitating inter-agency collaboration and providing policy advice to governments. Her most recent book (co-authored with Professor Fiona Arney) is Working with Vulnerable Families, A Partnership Approach, published by Cambridge University Press. Marian Prete.jpg Organisation: Early Childhood Education and Care Position: Director, North Coast Region Marian Prete is Director of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in the North Coast Region and is proud to be guiding the region’s schools and ECEC services towards developing collaborative partnerships that will support our children to enjoy successful transitions from their prior to school learning environment and into Prep and the formal years of education. Lyndon Davis.jpg Lyndon Davis is an Indigenous presenter, performer, educator and artist. Lyndon was born and raised on the Sunshine Coast, and is a Traditional Custodian and representative of the Local Gubbi Gubbi / Kabi Kabi people. Lyndon works extensively within local schools, universities and communities, presenting an exciting and informative Indigenous Cultural Education Program. He has vast knowledge of local indigenous history, Aboriginal culture, Gubbi Gubbi language, traditional song and dance and the arts. Annmaire Dawkins.jpg Organisation: Lady Gowrie Position: Manager Annemarie is the manager of the Gowrie Caboolture Early Years Centre; a universal multi-disciplinary service supporting anyone parenting a child 0-8yrs living in the Caboolture catchment. Annemarie has been with the Gowrie for 5 years and has a passion for early intervention and working in vulnerable communities. Narelle Dawson.jpg Organisation: C&K Bribie Community Kindergarten Position: Director Narelle Dawson has a Bach Education in Early Childhood and is the Director/Teacher of Bribie Island Community Kindergarten, where she has led this Service to achieving the highest possible rating of Excellent awarded by ACECQA in February 2014. Narelle has mentored a local LDC service Director for the past 18 months and together they have recently formed ‘The Transition to School Networking Group’ for Bribie and surrounding areas working closely with local schools and ECEC Services to insure the best possible transitions for children and parents in the area. Narelle is also a member of the North Coast Region ECEC Reference Group representing the Kindergarten sector. SueInglis.jpg Organisation: Pelican Waters Golden Beach Kindergarten and Childcare Position: Director Sue Inglis M.Ed. (Early Childhood), leader of Pelican Waters Golden Beach Kindergarten and Childcare Centre, is passionate about the importance of the early years in a child’s life. Sue is a keen advocate of quality early childhood education, and enjoys developing meaningful learning opportunities alongside educators, children, families and community. Sue believes that children who share enjoyable and purposeful learning moments in their foundational years develop a positive lens with which to view the world as they grow into their lives Andrew's McMahon pic (3).jpg Organisation: Playgroups Queensland Association Position: State Coordinator Accessible Playgroups and Special Projects Andrew has a background in Early Childhood and the Police Service. He now manages the Department of Education and Training (DET) funded Accessible Playgroup Program which empowers and builds on the capacity of marginalised communities across the state. The program helps develop children’s milestones through play as children progress to Kindy and School. Andrew has been at Playgroup QLD for 5 years and is the Playgroup QLD Abecedarian affiliate trainer. Andrew is a father, with two loud and energetic small children aged 18 months and 3 years old. michelleReber.jpg Organisation: Early Childhood Education and Care Position: Transition Officer Michelle is employed by the Department of Education and Training as one of the Transition, Innovation and Partnership Officers for the North Coast Region. The department’s strategic plan identified the importance of children making successful transitions to school resulting in the appointment of officers across the state to work with schools and their transition partners to identify, plan and implement transition strategies and practices that meet the unique needs of their community. Michelle has been involved in the Early Childhood Education and Care sector in various roles for many years and is passionate about advocating for high quality outcomes for children and supporting successful transitions to school for all children and families. Agnes Seery.jpg Organisation: Early Childhood Education and Care Position: Abecedarian Project Officer With a background in psychology and community development, Agnes is the Bundaberg Abecedarian Project Officer for Dept. of Education & Training (Early Childhood Education & Care Division, North Coast Region). The Bundaberg Abecedarian Pilot Project aims to embed 3a strategies across Bundaberg ELC spaces using a whole-of-community approach. KimWalters.jpg Organisation: Early Childhood Teachers Association Position: President Kim Walters is an early childhood educator withover 30 years teaching experience in Kindergarten & Prep. In 2007 Kim accepted her current position as President of the Early Childhood Teachers Association. Kim also coordinates her own local group the ECTA Cooloola Regional Group who are partners in the All Aboard Gympie Region campaign Leanne.JPG Organisation: Lawnton State School Position: Principal A graduate of BCAE Kelvin Grove Leanne has proudly worked with DET for the past 25 years. She commenced her early teaching career in the secondary sector and transitioned to the Primary sector where she has focused her work for the last 20 years. She has a strong commitment to high quality curriculum implementation with a specific interest in the teaching of reading, writing and more recently oral language and phonological development. Leanne has developed these skills through her leadership within Head of Curriculum, Deputy Principal and Principal positions across a range of schools in the North Coast Region. Hillhouse David.jpg Organisation: Torbonlea State School Position: Principal I have worked for Education Queensland for the past 15 years in a variety of schools and positions including PE teacher, Small School Principal, Deputy Principal and Principal. Many of these schools have been in regional Queensland and I am currently the Principal of Torbanlea State School near Hervey Bay. At Torbanlea State School we strive to provide the best possible educational support programs in the early years.Mary Lincoln.jpg Organisation: Department of Education and Training Position: Director, Early Learning Pathways, Early Childhood and Community Engagement From her early career days as a kindergarten and primary school teacher to her current role as Director for Early Learning Pathways with the Department of Education and Training, Dr Mary Lincoln has maintained a key focus on working with community partners to improve outcomes for children. Mary is currently leading Queensland’s implementation of the Australian Early Development Census, the supporting successful transition to school state-wide initiative and refocusing age appropriate pedagogies in the early years of schooling. Mary believes that working together early childhood services, schools and community partners can make a significant difference to the health, well-being, learning outcomes and future opportunities for our young children. INA cassara.JPG Organisation: Lawnton Kindergarten and Preschool Association Position: Director/Teacher Ina Cassará, BPrim Ed (Early Childhood Development). I started my teaching career in 2003 in the mining town of Moura where I had the privilege to teach country children for 5 years. In 2007 I accepted the position of teacher/director at Lawnton Kindergarten. My teaching philosophy is based on a reflective approach to planning whereby planning formats are open-ended, retrospective and shared; and open to possibility, framed by intentional teaching moments. I believe that young children have a right to learn what is of interest to them and that adults have a responsibility to ensure this occurs. I further believe that children should be actively involved in shaping the learning environment through planning, negotiating and decision-making. My teaching philosophy has been shaped by the Early Years Learning Framework and The Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guidelines. Kathryn Forgan.JPG Organisation: Condy Park Kindergarten Kathryn has filled the roles of Early Childhood Teacher, lecturer, Consultant and Director for over 20 years working mostly in the not for profit sector. Kathryn advocates for the agency of the child, supporting the family and ensuring that all educators have a voice within their organisations and the wider community. Kathryn utilises a risk benefit approach towards learning, advocating for children to have time and a strong sense of wellbeing and connection to nature. Smith Kylie .jpg Organisation: Pacific Paradise State School Position: Principal Kylie Smith is currently Principal, Pacific Paradise State School (2015) and previously of Lawnton State School (since 2011) where her priority is maintaining a culture of learning and continual improvement through building a capable and dedicated staff team, and by developing strong partnerships with parents and community. A focus in building partnerships has been her work with families to ensure successful transitions for children into Prep. Her work has included establishment and leadership of the Pine Rivers Early Learning Strategy and Lawnton Early Learning Hub. Her previous roles have included: Regional Manager, Behaviour Support Services, North Coast Region. Leonie.jpg Organisation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute Position: Manager Leonie’s key interest area is family engagement in community programmes from a strengths-based perspective, and she brings a belief in and commitment to the process of reflective practice. Examples of recent initiatives and training Leonie has led include: Lynden.jpg Organisation: Department of Education and Training Position: Principal Policy Officer, Early Learning Pathways Ms Lynden Lauer is Queensland’s Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) coordinator with responsibility for supporting the use of the AEDC by schools, early childhood services and communities to improve early childhood outcomes. Lynden is a Principal Policy Officer in the Early Childhood Education and Care Division, Department of Education and Training. IMG_0322.JPG Organisation: Gympie West State School Position: Principal Michael has worked in Queensland State School's for over 25 years as a principal and teacher from small indigenous school community to large coastal and rural school communities. His leadership emphasis and priority as a school principal ensures early education is well supported through a collaborative approach. Staff_Bloxham_Ray.JPG Organisation: Jinibara State School Position: Principal Ray has been a Queensland state school leader for more than 15 years, at both school and district level. In recent times Ray has conceptualised and implemented an Early Childhood Education Support model in his school and its broader community that directly supports children and their parents, from birth to school, in partnership with Qld Health and local ECEC providers. This model has the potential to be a template for more Queensland schools to be collaborative in supporting early intervention, family support and continuity of learning experiences in the important foundational years of a child’s life. The impact and influence of this work continues to grow. These leadership experiences and numerous others within and allied to the state schooling sector and his doctoral research into Executive Leadership in Education reveal Ray to be a successful and entrepreneurial educational leader, who actively pursues professional learning opportunities both as participant and presenter within national and international forums. Ray is a published author in both ACEL’s Leading and Managing and the Journal of Education Administration. | RegistrationSelect Your Tickets |
