AEU Early Childhood Conference 2023
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In Person
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Online
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8.30am
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Registration Open
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Online Room opens
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9.00-9.30am
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Welcome
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Welcome- streamed
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9.30-10.30am
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Keynote- 'The wellbeing pebble and the ripple effect'
Sarah Louise and Nicole Talarico
Imagine, if you will, your own wellbeing as a pebble. This pebble can be held close, safe in a pocket or bag, radiating positivity and joy. Or this pebble can be dropped, forgotten, let go. The impact of that pebble when dropped, whether in a positive or negative state, in the pool of your early childhood setting, begins a profound ripple, impacting directly on children, families, colleagues and the entire service community. With this in mind a commitment to one’s own self-care and overall sense of wellbeing is paramount to ensuring quality outcomes and thriving environments for all. While partly our own professional responsibility, we also acknowledge that it is crucial for well-being to become an organisational value. Our session aims to address wellness as an explicit value for accountable workplace cultures while providing a range of practical suggestions and strategies for how you and your colleagues can embrace the power of professional wellbeing in your unique context.
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Keynote- 'The wellbeing pebble and the ripple effect'
Sarah Louise and Nicole Talarico
Imagine, if you will, your own wellbeing as a pebble. This pebble can be held close, safe in a pocket or bag, radiating positivity and joy. Or this pebble can be dropped, forgotten, let go. The impact of that pebble when dropped, whether in a positive or negative state, in the pool of your early childhood setting, begins a profound ripple, impacting directly on children, families, colleagues and the entire service community. With this in mind a commitment to one’s own self-care and overall sense of wellbeing is paramount to ensuring quality outcomes and thriving environments for all. While partly our own professional responsibility, we also acknowledge that it is crucial for well-being to become an organisational value. Our session aims to address wellness as an explicit value for accountable workplace cultures while providing a range of practical suggestions and strategies for how you and your colleagues can embrace the power of professional wellbeing in your unique context.
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10.30-10.45
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Sponsors - Bank First and Teachers Health
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Sponsors- Bank First & Teachers Health
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10.45- 11:15am
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Morning Tea
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Morning Tea
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11.15-12.45pm
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Workshop – Wellbeing-
Choose 1
1. Walking- exploring the land
around you
Too often we forgot just how powerful a walk can be in clearing the mind and feeling the benefits of physical activity. Join us for a walk down to the beautiful Yarra River and reconnect with nature
2. Yoga
Yoga is one of the most scientifically supported practices to build strong mental health. This session will allow you to trial a short and accessible piece of yoga practice.
3. Singing
The human body was made to sing! Singing is an underutilised way to express emotion and allow yourself to feel free. Join this energising workshop to try out singing as a pathway to emotional expression.
4. Feminist Cross Stich
The concentration and repetition of an activity like cross stich can be surprisingly mediative. Join AEU women’s organiser Kerry Green on a journey into the fascinating world of feminist cross stitch
5. Games
Who doesn’t enjoy a good game? Games promote social connection within a rules-based, predictable order. While a free flowing social activity might not be everyone’s cup-of-tea, a game helps everyone feel included. Come try a game with us.
6. Bookclub
Book clubs combine the calming benefits of reading with the human desire for social connection. Find out about how great a book club can be in this interactive workshop.
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Workshop – Wellbeing
Choose 1
1. Games
Who doesn’t enjoy a good game? Games promote social connection within a rules-based, predictable order. While a free flowing social activity might not be everyone’s cup-of-tea, a game helps everyone feel included. Come try a game with us
2. Bookclub
Book clubs combine the calming benefits of reading with the human desire for social connection. Find out about how great a book club can be in this interactive workshop.
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12.45-1.30pm-
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Lunch and networking
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Lunch & Networking (optional- via Breakout rooms)
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1.30-2.15pm
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Workshop – Union
Choose 1
1. OHS- Psychologically safe work place
New regulations place an expectation on employers to create psychologically safe workplaces. This workshop will explore those regulations and how they might be leveraged to support manageable workloads and supportive relationships.
2. Workload-
Collectively putting boundaries around your work
(online & in person)
This workshop explores how you can band together with your colleagues to put meaningful boundaries around your work. Saying ‘no’ on your own might be difficult, but working together you can effect real change.
3. Rights in the agreement- Get involved in VECTEA
The next VECTEA/EEEA will be a vital tool in creating sustainable workplaces during a period of rapid change. This workshop explores how the next VECTEA/EEEA will be constructed and your role in making sure it delivers what you need.
4. Supporting a voice to parliament
Supporting others to have their voice heard is an ongoing part of your work. This workshop will look at the role you can play as an early childhood educator in supporting the campaign for a first nations voice to parliament.
5. Capability Assessment- making it fair
The capability assessment process in the current agreement is pathway required for movement from 2.5 on VECTEA/EEEA to 3.1 and the professional pay levels above that. This workshop will look at how you can work with other members to make sure the process is fair and work towards eliminating the process in the future.
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Workshop – Union
Choose 1
1. Consultation- having your voice heard
When managed properly, consultation can allow you to have input into the decision-making that effects your working life. This workshop looks at how to prevent consultation being a peripheral or bureaucratic exercise.
2. Workload-
Collectively putting boundaries around your work (online & in person)
This workshop explores how you can band together with your colleagues to put meaningful boundaries around your work. Saying ‘no’ on your own might be difficult, but working together you can effect real change.
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2.15-3.30pm
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Plenary – Anthony Seaman
When we dream together, we can dream bigger: reimagining a system that works for teachers
What would the early education system look like if it worked for us not we worked solely for it. What would the possibilities be if radical activism allowed us to dream big and imagined a system that valued teachers as the cornerstone of quality service delivery rather than merely another educator. In this keynote presentation, Anthony Semann will invite you to forget in order to re-create, to challenge rather than to acquiesce.
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Plenary – Anthony Seaman
When we dream together, we can dream bigger: reimagining a system that works for teachers
What would the early education system look like if it worked for us not we worked solely for it. What would the possibilities be if radical activism allowed us to dream big and imagined a system that valued teachers as the cornerstone of quality service delivery rather than merely another educator. In this keynote presentation, Anthony Semann will invite you to forget in order to re-create, to challenge rather than to acquiesce.
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3.30pm
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Conference Finish
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Conference Finish
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