David Worland | Chief Executive Officer
Early Learning Association Australia

David has 27 years’ experience working in executive leadership roles in the early childhood, education and health sectors. Over the last eight years, David has occupied CEO roles across both community and private service provision in the early childhood education and care sector. David is a passionate advocate for investment in high quality early childhood education and care programs. This is because 90% of a child’s brain development occurs in the first five years of life and the long terms benefits for children in developing their social, emotional and cognitive skills in a play based learning environment are profound and last a lifetime.

The Early Learning Association Australia, a peak membership body for early childhood education and care services.

Appearances:

Day 2 @ 09:00

Early Childhood Educators Forum

In conjunction with the Early Learning Association Australia (ELAA) and by special request, we have produced a break-out forum designed to upskill and inspire pre-school and kindy teachers and administrators.

Some topics covered include -

Implications of Australian policy and funding reforms in early childhood education and care

David Worland, CEO, ELAA

Understand the latest early childhood education and care policy and funding reforms across both State and Federal Government in Australia

Understand the opportunities and challenges presented by these reforms on:

Children
Families
Service providers
Teachers and educators.

The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers in the Early Childhood context

Linda Blakis, Professional Practice Manager, Victorian Institute of Teaching

Early Childhood guiding documents and the standards
Exemplar of practice using the standards
Resources for Early Childhood Teachers from VIT

Play in a digital society

Jo Bird, Senior Lecturer - Early Childhood Education, University of New England

Children see technologies everywhere and want them in their place spaces.
Consider what children do with technologies not just time spent (creators versus consumers).
Encourage digital literacy and discuss digital ethics and set up rules and boundaries
Scaffold their learning around technologies and don’t be afraid to learn together.

Making the most of partnerships with families

Joanne Tarasuik, Research Manager, Playgroup Victoria