CONFERENCE 2015 enriching childhood Speakers & Presenters

Keynote Speakers Stuart Lester After many years working on adventure Wendy Russell playgrounds and community play Wendy is a Senior Lecturer in Play projects in the NW of England, Stuart and Playwork/Professional Studies is now Senior Lecturer in Play and in Children’s Play at University of Playwork/Professional Studies in Gloucestershire, UK and a consultant Children’s Play at the University of on children’s play and playwork. Gloucestershire, UK.

Speakers & Workshop Presenters Gudrun Gilles Dr Justin Coulson Gudrun Gilles has been involved with the children Dr Justin Coulson is an author, services sector since the mid 1980’s when she obtained speaker, blogger, columnist, and media an Advanced Diploma in Social Pedagogy. Gudrun has commentator. He writes and speaks managed a number of children services programs including the bicultural about parenting. He is the founder of inclusion support services in W.A. and the N.T. Over the years Gudrun has happyfamilies.com.au and The Real developed a particular passion for culture and diversity. Having shared her Men Project. knowledge and experiences via her blogs on the ‘My Time, Our Place’ web forum, as a workshop facilitator and presenter at more then 50 conferences around the country she is looking forward to delve into the impact of diverse experiences during childhood on the future of our communities.

Melinda Tankard Reist Melinda Tankard Reist is a Canberra author, speaker, media commentator, blogger and advocate for women and girls. Melinda is a regular guest on Channel 7’s Morning Show, and has also appeared on ABC Q&A and The Gruen Sessions. She is named in the Who’s Who of Australian Women and the World Who’s Who of Women. Rebecca Lloyd Dr Jennifer Cartmel Rebecca Lloyd is Australia’s leading specialist in communication for school-aged and early childhood Dr Jennifer Cartmel is a Senior Lecturer education and care. Originally a newspaper in the School Services and Social journalist, Rebecca has worked for government Work, Griffith University. She has had education ministers of both parties as well as experience in teaching, research and leading innovative communication teams in state practice with children and families in and national education organisations. Before founding Bec & Call children’s services including school Communication for Education in January 2014, Rebecca established age care, schools, preschools, integrated services and child and led all communication and stakeholder engagement functions protection and well-being. One of her key areas of interest for ACECQA from that agency’s creation in 2011. is critical reflection. It is a major focus within her university teaching program and professional learning sessions. She In her spare time she bakes experimentally, apologises to other was presented with a National University teaching award for walkers for her two labradors, and plans large parties at home contribution to student learning based on the approach of as a way of conscripting her three children into helping with the using and teaching critical reflection. Jennifer has recently gardening. co-authored the publication Reflection as a tool for quality: working with the National Quality Standards.

Patrick Brennan Catherine Daniels Patrick Brennan is the Child Protection Project Officer at Network of Community Catherine Daniels has worked within the Early and Middle Activities. He has worked in the child Education and Care Sector for 17 years in roles which protection field for more than 25 years include an Early Education Centre Director and currently the and holds a BA (Welfare Studies) and Family Day Care and OOSH Manager for Sutherland Shire an MA (Hons) (Sociology). Amongst the Council’s Children’s Services. Catherine holds an Associate various agencies Patrick has worked for Diploma of Social Science, a Certificate IV in Training and are NSW Health, FACS and the Office of the Assessment and an Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Children’s Guardian. He has also taught at Management. various universities and TAFEs in NSW. Catherine is passionate about curriculum, leadership and empowering the Children’s Services community to improve the outcomes for children which has lead to her regularly facilitating professional development sessions for Gowrie NSW, Family Day Care NSW, ECTARC and Sutherland Shire sam crosby Council’s Registered Training Organisation. Sam Crosby is an experienced and passionate nature educator based at Centennial Parklands in Sydney. She has developed and delivered nature programs such as the CP Bush Rangers, Bush School and Kids vs Wild and is the lead officer on OOSH in the Bush. She shares her passion for nature play regularly both as a practitioner and as a Brendon Colltis presenter and has developed and delivered high quality training to OOSH staff, National Park Rangers, School teachers, parents and just Brendon Colltis is the Director of BAHR Consulting Pty about anyone who wants to get kids out playing in nature. She has Ltd, a Newcastle based Human Resources Consultancy. worked both internationally and in Australia. He holds a Diploma of Business Management (Human Resources) and is an accredited Adult Educator, holding a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessing. Brendon’s strengths are performance management, dispute resolution, industrial relations, employee relations, learning and development and workers’ compensation. Currently Brendon is providing HR Services to a broad range of industries and businesses including; Several Out of School Hours Care Facilities, Engineering Companies, Service Dr Steve Hartman Industries and Hospitality Venues. Dr Steve Hartman trained as a Paediatrician at Sydney Children’s Hospital and has been a Consultant Paediatrician for 28 years. He has also completed extensive studies at the Institute of Family Therapy of Australia and the Institute of Psychiatry. Dr Carmel Harrington Dr Carmel Harrington has been Kylie Keane researching sleep for 20 years. A former lawyer and educator she has Kylie Keane grew up attending an OSHC service in Sydney a PhD in Sleep Medicine and consults during both term time and holidays and loved every minute internationally with companies, schools and of it. Growing up, Kylie knew she wanted to work with universities on the fundamental role sleep plays children and everyone presumed it would be as a teacher. in our daily performance and how it impacts our Kylie then returned to the service she grew up in to work casually and instantly knew she didn’t want to teach in a on-going physical and mental well-being. classroom but wanted to play! Kylie worked full-time in Sydney before making the move to the ACT, taking on the role as Assistant Director & Educational Leader. Kylie’s workshop will be co-presented with Lisa Beattie

Nathan Young Nathan Young is a Shipwright by trade who undertook a life calling in the field of education beginning in 2009. A celebrated artistic person himself, Nathan Coordinates an OSHC service for 4 school and is undertaking an active role in promoting the importance of Outside School Hours Care. Nathan is currently engaged in action research for NOSHSA Saurubh Malviya about maximizing the working relationships between schools, OSHC and families. Saurubh Malviya is currently enrolled in Doctorate of Education, looking at learning opportunities in OSHC for children. Saurubh has been a tutor for Bachelor of Education for almost 2 years and has been working as an OSHC coordinator for over 7 years. Sally Roebuck Saurubh is the founder of a not for profit Sally Roebuck has worked with children for the past organisation ‘We Belong’ which was established to 5 years. She is an active committee member of provide a sense of belonging, social and emotional OSHCWA and is passionate about ongoing research learning through play and leisure. and advocacy for the OSHC sector in Australia. Sally has worked with colleagues from around the country through the NOSHSA Action Research Project and has a keen interest in building Educator confidence through multi-platform documentation and reflective practice. Sally has a background in Fine Arts and enjoys sharing these skills with the children she works with.