Conference Roundup 2011 - CareforKids.com.au®

Conference Roundup 2011
An overview of the recent National Long Day Care Conference
by Gwynn Bridge
CEO - Childcare Queensland

Inspiring, motivating, fun and well organised were specific words used by delegates as they described the Childcare Queensland National Long Day Care Conference "Hands up for play" 2011 and what a conference it was.

Our Conference committee works tirelessly each year to ensure that we engage presenters who cover a variety of topics which are appropriate at the time for our licensees (Approved Providers) Directors (Nominated Supervisors) and staff (some of whom will become Certified Supervisors under the proposed regulations).

The intention is for each presentation to provide some practical information to assist delegates to implement into their services immediately after the event. From feedback gathered this year, we have hit the mark and it is rewarding when we hear that delegates have returned to their workplace filled with enthusiasm and new ideas. The networking value of each conference cannot be purchased and we understand how important it is to hear how others are implementing the Early Years Learning Framework, the new National Quality Standards, and the Universal Access to a kindergarten/pre-school program.

The Hands up for Play conference commenced with a welcome from the Gubbi Gubbi story and dance group who are the traditional owners of the land in and around Caloundra where the conference was held. It was exceptional having them explain the meaning of each dance.

Dr. Jane Hewes who is the Chair of the Early Learning and Child Care Program at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, Canada. Jane is a longtime advocate of children's play, children's rights and quality, early learning and child care services. Jane's presentation was inspiring and she gave the delegates many practical ideas on how valuable free play is for each child. Jane pointed out that learning is not only through play gave very detailed evidence of the importance of meeting the individual needs of each child by educators being constantly aware of and involved in the child's play.

Jane is a delightful person and is involved in ongoing research in play and is a strong advocate for children, high quality Childcare and early intervention and the impact of poverty on children.

Also throughout the weekend, Sue Inglis and Carrie Rose provided valuable hands on strategies for our delegates on implementing practical strategies for teaching and programming whilst Hilary Knights provided sound and easily implemented approaches on marketing our services.

Minister Kate Ellis, Minister for Employment Participation and Child Care and Minister for the Status of Women spoke to the delegates (transcript) about the Federal Government involvement with the Early Years sector and Mr. David de Silva, Group Manager Early Childhood Quality DEEWR presented to the delegates the current position on the National Regulations and the National Quality Standards.

Motivational highlights of the weekend were Laurie Lawrence and Brennon Dorwick, both of whom spoke to the delegates on how to set goals and how to reach them. They both also had excellent strategies for change management, teamwork and living your dream.

Brennon wowed the room with his performance on the pommel horse and left us gasping as to how he has maintained his fitness and skill from when he won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in 1990 and 1994 and was an Olympic finalist in Atlanta.

Workshops were designed once again to meet current requirements. These included: Implementing the Kindergarten program; Creating environments for play; Embedding Indigenous perspectives within Early Childhood and Early Intervention Techniques – Marte Meo.

To some the highlight of the evening events is always the themed conference dinner and this year it was "What I want to be when I grow up…" Fantastic costumes with delegates assuming alter egos of their characters. It was a huge night with dancing until midnight to the band Midnight Groove.

Leaving to the finale is a huge thank you to the wonderful sponsors of our conference that are part of the LDC family. Without these sponsors and their total involvement in the whole program our conferences would not be known throughout Australia as "the happy conference".

We will soon be releasing our conference venue and date for next year so please watch our website or Facebook page so that you can book early. We also thank the Australian Government through DEEWR for providing a grant for funding to assist with travel costs for delegates from rural and remote areas.