Gold Coast Half Day Workshop

Presenter: David Gilkes

Topic: Mark Making - A Voice for our thinking

Children have an innate curiosity and desire to know, to find out, to research, to construct theories, to make connections, and to express their thinking creatively. When children first pick up a pencil, a paint brush or a stick and make a mark, they are doing something very powerful. They are communicating. How can we be sensitive to these imaginative, creative, knowledge-building and meaning-making processes? How do we ensure that we are providing contexts to support these experiences? David will talk about mark-making as an act of citizenship and participation, as a process of building relationships and knowledge.

Biography David Gilkes has been in early years education for 30 years, the majority of this time working as a teacher alongside 4 and 5 year old children and their families in both Hobart and Canberra. David’s leadership roles include Director of an Early Learning Centre and an Early Years Network Leader in the Tasmanian Department of Education.  The Reggio Emilia educational project and its provocation for the Australian context has inspired and challenged David for many years.

Presenter: Billie Edwards

Topic: Introduction to including acknowledgement to country

Cultural Development presentation looking at policies from pre-contact to current day and breaking down barriers to inclusive practices. The presentation focuses on hands on strategies that help Educators become more culturally confident. Following this we will participate in an ochre blessing and interactive song and dance session. We will finish with a weaving workshop which educators can create and keep and take the skill and learnings back to their services.

Biography Billie Edwards is a proud and passionate Aboriginal and South Sea Islander woman, striving toward equality and recognition for her people. Born and raised on the Gold Coast with deep cultural connections, she has worked within the Indigenous community for over 20 years, including in schools and particularly the early learning sector. She continues to share her knowledge both professionally and culturally in embedding Indigenous Perspectives through Culturally inclusive programs.

Presenter: Jennifer Ribarovski

Topic: Understanding and enhancing executive function skills in early childhood education

Executive functioning skills are critical for young children to develop to support them to navigate the complexities of everyday life. Although children aren’t born with these skills, they have the potential to develop them, which is a key component of the work of early childhood educators. This session will leave participants with an understanding of executive functioning skills and how they can plan for the development of these skills in their program, using practical examples to demonstrate key concepts.

Biography Jennifer Ribarovski is the Managing Director of JR Education Consulting and has over thirty years’ experience in the education and care sector, including playing a key role in the implementation of the NQF for both the NSW Regulatory Authority and ACECQA. Jennifer has trained authorised officers across Australia to assess against the National Quality Standard, and has developed curriculum and support documents to assist educators in their pedagogical journey. She has taught in preschools, early childhood centres, public schools, at universities and has a wealth of experience in translating educational theory into practice. Along with her consulting practice, Jennifer currently teaches at and provides consultancy services to Sydney University in both the undergraduate and postgraduate early childhood degree. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and a Master of Educational Leadership and Management with Distinction but is most proud of being a ‘squishy grandma’; a title recently bestowed on her by a four year old child in a centre based service.