Leading with the National Quality Standard

Rebecca Duncan has been working in education since 1998. Along with teaching experience in each year level across Kindergarten to Year 4, her roles have included Coordinator of the Learning Development Centre at Christ Church Grammar Preparatory School as well as leadership in the integration of learning technologies, including at All Saints' College. In 2004, Rebecca was the recipient of a National Excellence in Teaching Award (NEiTA) for Western Australia. 

Rebecca has been with AISWA since late 2010, when she was contracted to write a resource to support educators in their implementation of the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). This project culminated in the publication of the acclaimed book, 'Early Years Learning Framework: In Action'. Ongoing employment as a consultant for AISWA followed, initially in the Curriculum, Literacy, and most recently, Early Childhood, teams. She has led numerous projects at AISWA, including initiatives to connect the Australian Curriculum and EYLF, one of which led to AISWA’s publication of 'Playing with the Australian Curriculum' (2013). Her teacher resource, 'Journeys of Inquiry', was published in 2018, highlighting case studies of inquiry in early childhood. This has now been accompanied by a second volume of inspiring stories of inquiry pedagogies in 'Further Journeys of Inquiry', which was published by AISWA in 2020. In 2021, Rebecca authored the text, 'Playful STEM: Using Blocks in Kindergarten to Year 2', followed by being the lead representative and editor for AISWA on the cross-sectoral publication, 'The National Quality Standard in Action: Western Australian schools', due for publication in late 2024. Inquiry pedagogies, literacy and numeracy, learning through play, integrative approaches, responsiveness to children, learning technologies, and the Early Years Learning Framework represent a few of Rebecca’s areas of specialty. She continues to stay deeply connected to classroom practice through mentoring, coaching and working alongside educators across the primary years of schooling. 

Wendy Candy is an Early Childhood Consultant with AISWA. She is an experienced educator, leader, and mentor with expertise in designing innovative curricula and pedagogy in early childhood contexts. In 2019, Wendy was the recipient of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders WA Teacher Leader Award for Excellence. She has taught in early years classrooms and in universities and has conducted research on supporting educators and engaging children in ethical decision-making around sustainability issues. Wendy is currently researching educational leaders’ perspectives on play-based learning. Wendy is passionate about professional growth, teaching pedagogies and curriculum development, sustainability and quality learning and teaching. Wendy has recent teaching experiences and stories of practice, and she looks forward to providing support and mentoring for educators and leaders. Her work at AISWA includes supporting the development of Quality Improvement Plans, mentoring and coaching, assisting with planning and programming, and providing advice in early childhood pedagogy, including literacy, play-based learning and nature pedagogy.