Professional Development Day - Bribie Island
Join us for a one day professional development experience designed to inspire and strengthen practice across the early childhood sector. The day features expert presenters sharing practical strategies, current insights, and reflective opportunities that support quality practice, educator wellbeing, and meaningful outcomes for children and communities. This session is ideal for educators and leaders seeking purposeful, engaging professional learning.
Description
Workshop Title: Children’s learning Environments, Spaces, Place & Non-Places.
Presenter: Dr Geraldine Harris
Children’s learning unfolds deeply in ‘places’ alive with relational, sensory, and ecological resonance, in contrast to ‘non-spaces’ that feel flat, disconnected or sterile. The workshop will introduce the concepts of the childhood commons© and ecoregulation© and how pedagogical decisions about learning environments can support children’s embodied curiosity, social attunement and felt sense of safety. Places that are woven with textures, rhythms, sounds and patterns invite connection with and within the broader world. These silent environmental invitations can be understood as co-regulating, opening opportunities for children to experience awe exploration and wonder. The workshop will explore how co-designing environments with children, educators can support their learning play and wellbeing.
Workshop Title: Building strong foundations through motor skill development and physical literacy
Presenter: Phoebe Marais
This workshop explores how movement supports whole-child development. We examine how early movement experiences strengthen brain development, attention, and regulation, creating the foundations for wellbeing and school readiness. Participants will follow the journey of motor development—from sensory awareness and primitive reflexes to rudimentary and fundamental movement skills, and ultimately lifelong engagement in movement. We clarify what physical literacy means in early childhood and why confident, motivated movers are better equipped to participate and learn. Practical Playball activities will demonstrate how movement-rich environments nurture capable, curious, deeply engaged learners.