| Type | Price |
|---|---|
For Members Standard Price Subsidy/Grant Applied Reduced Member Price |
$630.00 -$630.00 $0.00 |
Description
Join us for a two-day professional learning opportunity held as part of the Aboriginal Independent Community Schools Network Meeting. This session is designed to strengthen connections, collaboration, and professional dialogue among early childhood educators working in remote and regional contexts. Participants will engage in shared learning with peers from Aboriginal Independent Community Schools, the Catholic sector, and a range of prior-to-school programs and services, including those operating across the Kimberley and other remote areas of Western Australia. The PL provides space to explore common challenges, celebrate successes, and exchange culturally responsive, contextually relevant practices that support children, families, and communities.
Day One:
The day will begin with a Welcome to Yawuru Country and opportunities for attendees to connect. This will be followed by professional learning focused on Early Childhood pedagogy. Concurrent sessions will include early learning for Aboriginal educators and multilingual learning environments for non-Aboriginal educators.
Next, Baya Gawiy (Fitzroy Crossing) will share their early childhood approach, including their wellbeing framework, language and culture projects, and Reggio Emilia–inspired early learning centre, followed by a hands-on crafting workshop.
The afternoon will be dedicated to networking, providing an opportunity for early years educators working in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander settings to engage with one another. Participants will join yarning circles guided by reflective questions from the Early Years Learning Framework and will offer a platform to share experiences, challenges, and best practices, fostering a supportive professional community.
Day Two:
Day two will be exclusively open to AISWA schools and non-members by invitation only. The focus will be on digital technologies in the Early Childhood landscape. This professional learning will be delivered by Dr. Diona Boylan and Prof. Lennie Barblett from ECU.
Exploring Digital Literacies in the early years
Children are growing up in increasingly digital worlds and bring with them a wide range of literacies shaped by culture, community, and everyday experiences. Traditional understandings of literacy are expanding as children engage with, create, and communicate through digital and non‑digital, multimodal forms. This workshop will support educators to build confidence in fostering children’s digital literacy through both digital and non‑digital, play‑based strategies. Grounded in the EYLF V2.0 (AGDE, 2022), the session will explore safe digital literacy practices, practical planning strategies, and opportunities to engage with the digital content of the EYLF (AGDE, 2022) while experimenting with a range of resources.
Outcomes
- Deepen understanding of effective strategies for prior to school and transition to school programs
- Gain insights into culturally responsive practices
- Expand knowledge of early childhood pedagogy, programs, and practices through professional learning
- Enhance ability to design and implement early childhood education programs that are inclusive and supportive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- Develop skills in creating a positive learning environment that respects and incorporates students' cultural backgrounds
- Apply new strategies and methodologies to enhance early childhood education in remote settings
- Build a professional network with educators from remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander settings, fostering collaboration and shared learning
- Reflect on and improve teaching practices through discussions and exchanges with peers
- Strengthen professional identity and commitment to continuous improvement in early childhood education
Presenters
Melissa Kennedy (AISWA Staff)
Consultant | Early Childhood
Melissa Kennedy’s primary role is supporting Early Childhood programs at Aboriginal Independent Community Schools. Melissa is passionate and dedicated to the education profession with almost 20 years’ experience in both Independent Schools and Indigenous education. She has gained extensive experience filling many diverse roles including Early Childhood Classroom Teacher, Early Childhood Coordinator, Deputy of Teaching and Learning and Principal. Melissa brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in addition to an inherent understanding of community school education and Inquiry pedagogy.
Baya Gawiy Early Childhood Learning Unit
An Aboriginal community‑controlled early childhood and family centre in Fitzroy Crossing that delivers culturally grounded, trauma‑informed early learning grounded in Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing.
Dr Fiona Boylan
Dr Fiona Boylan, based at Edith Cowan University, is a leading authority on growth mindset in early childhood education. Her recent PhD and extensive publications have significantly shaped global understanding of educators’ perspectives in this field. Renowned for innovative research, Dr Boylan has developed design principles to help early childhood educators foster growth mindset in the formative years, earning her international recognition as an influential figure in early learning.
Professor Lennie Barblett
Lennie is a Professor at Edith Cowan University in the School of Education lecturing and researching in Early Childhood. Areas of research pertain to socially just curriculum and universal access to quality early childhood education and care.
Terms & Conditions
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Segments
Aboriginal Independent Community Schools: Early Childhood Network
Date / Time
20 Jul 2026 Starts: 08:30 Finishes: 14:30Delivery Format : In Person
Broome Lotteries House Incorporated
Address20 Cable Beach Road E
Broome WA 6725
Australia
PL Hours : 7.00
Aboriginal Independent Community Schools: Early Childhood Network
Date / Time
21 Jul 2026 Starts: 08:30 Finishes: 14:30Delivery Format : In Person
Broome Lotteries House Incorporated
Address20 Cable Beach Road E
Broome WA 6725
Australia