Welcome

Child Australia is pleased to announce the 2011 Western Australian Early Childhood Education and Care Conference “Windows of Opportunity” to be held over the weekend of June 18 & 19, 2011.

The 2011 Conference coincides with a critical period in early childhood education and care as the sector commences its transition to the reforms endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments in 2009. These reforms support the need to close the gap between care and education in order to extend and enrich children’s learning through their crucial formative years from birth through to age eight. The 2011 Western Australian Early Childhood Education and Care Conference “Windows of Opportunity” reflects a significant period in time in which early childhood leaders, educators (in childcare and school settings), academics, researchers and policy makers can come together to work collaboratively to ensure our children have the best start in life.

The Conference will provide participants a wide range of international and national key note speakers who will present on the most current research findings and provide a variety of workshops based on Leadership, Learning Environments and Relationships. The areas of Advocacy, Curriculum and Assessment, Reflective Practice, Play, Early Childhood Education for Aboriginal Children and Inclusion will also be in focus.

The 2009 Conference was an outstanding success. Attracting over 500 delegates, the conference imparted the most current research and insights about early childhood development via leading national and international presenters. With increased relevance to a wider audience, the 2011 Western Australian Early Childhood Education and Care Conference promises to exceed the success of the 2009 inaugural event