Event Registration

2025 Early Childhood Conference - Nurturing Young Minds (TUT)

80 places available

Start: Friday 1 August 2025 - 9.00am

Finish: Friday 1 August 2025 - 3.30pm

Location: SSTUWA building, 1 West Street, West Perth WA 6005 (off Thomas Street)

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About the Conference

Each year, the SSTUWA hosts the Early Childhood Educator Conference that brings early childhood educators within our union together. Join our 2025 event and be inspired by a range of incredible speakers and workshop presenters. The one-day event will provide you with the opportunity to learn, listen, collaborate and discuss effective ways to nurture the intellectual, emotional and social growth of young children. This day will remind us that we all have the power to make a difference and emphasise the importance of creating supportive and nurturing environments for children, both at home and in school.

Keynote Speaker

Beck Thompson - Author, Teacher, Speaker and Founder of Trauma Informed Teachers Australia

Childhood Trauma and How Teachers Saved Me

Beck is a dynamic and inspiring figure and will share a unique perspective shaped by her lived experience of trauma and neglect. Beck's story is a powerful one with a powerful message for all schools. "This is a story that needs to be told and heard by every teacher who has ever doubted that they have the power to make a difference." Primary Teacher, QLD. In addition to her memoir Chasing Normal, Beck is a passionate primary teacher, a captivating speaker and is dedicated to helping others navigate the complexities of trauma. Signed copies of Beck's book will be available for purchase at the conference.

Featured Speakers

You will be invited to choose a session from the following:

Dr Amie Fabry - Director Early Childhood, The Learning Future

The Role of Educators in Nurturing Young Minds

Join Dr Fabry as she guides you to unpack what it means to nurture young minds. What is your role as educators in nurturing young minds? What are some of the intentional decisions you make within your classroom on a daily basis. What information and messages could we share with others in the school community so they can collectively nurture young minds?

Dr Fiona Boylan - Senior Lecturer, Early Childhood Studies, Edith Cowan University

Fostering Growth Mindsets in the Early Years

The chance to engage with Dr Fiona Boylan to unravel the principles of growth mindset theory. Learn how you can foster growth mindsets in children from birth up to eight years of age. Explore nine design principles for positive change and some practical strategies for integrating each one into your setting. This accessible approach, based in both research and practice, will support you to create a culture that inspires children to understand their mindsets, develop a love of learning and enhance both their achievement and their wellbeing.

Breakout Workshops

You will be invited to choose one workshop from the following:

Neurodiversity in the 21st Century Classroom - Supporting all ECE Learners - Amy Cox, Play Therapist, Consultant, Play Advocate
EYLF-Supporting the Implementation of WA Curriculum K-2 - Kristy Howson, Principal Consultant Early Childhood, SCASA
Your 2023 General Agreement - Natalie Blewitt and Cherry Bogunovich, SSTUWA

Closing Session

Tammy-Anne Caldwell and Todd Budden, Above and Beyond Education

Nurture Yourself to Nurture Others

Boost your well-being with brain-science! Discover the mind-brain-heart science behind why we need to nurture ourselves, if we want to nurture our students. The session will be fun and highly-practical with tools and techniques to use immediately - in your own daily life and with your students. You and your students can also benefit from using these strategies together, to nurture everyone's wellbeing simultaneously. Finish the day being nurtured with a guided meditation and amazing sound session, combining breathwork, mindfulness and compassion.

Costs

$ 130 : Members
$ 265 : Non-Members

Hospitality

Morning tea and lunch provided

Nominated Audience

Early Childhood Educators, members and non-members

Trade union training leave - Schools

Members in schools and TAFE colleges are eligible for five days of paid leave per year to attend trade union training (TUT).

To comply with TUT leave requirements applicants must:

Submit applications to DoE/principal four weeks prior to the event.
Provide DoE/principal with a printed copy of the course program attached to this form.
Be nominated by the SSTUWA. See “nominated audience” on the attached course program.

The school will not be charged for the salary of the person attending trade union training - this is covered by the DoE. However, if a relief teacher is required, this is funded through the school's one line budget.

For school administration
When processing TUT leave applications:

Ensure staff attending training have selected TUT Leave in HRMIS.
Project code 1471 will be generated within the payment system.

Professional Standards for Teachers in Western Australia

This training relates to the following standards :

Standard 1 – Know students and how they learn
Standard 2 – Know the content and how to teach it
Standard 3 – Plan for and implement effective teaching and learning
Standard 4 – Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments
Standard 6 – Engage in professional learning
Standard 7 – Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community