Catharine Hydon MEd (Early Child Education) has extensive experience in the early childhood sector in Australia. Beginning as a teacher in a sessional kindergarten program, Catharine has gone on to manage a range of services for children and their families. Catharine's involvement in the early childhood field is an important part of her commitment to the sector. She is a long-time member of the Victorian Branch of Early Childhood Australia (ECA) and recently served as a Director on the National Board of ECA.

More recently Catharine has been working with early childhood educators across the country as part of the ECA Professional Learning Project exploring the EYLF and in Victoria has been hosting a number of forums on the National Quality Standard. Catharine is now working as an independent early childhood consultant supporting quality practice and innovation in early childhood service provision.

Anne Kennedy EdD is the chairperson of Community Child Care Victoria and a life member of FKA Children's Services. In her work as an early childhood consultant, trainer and writer she draws on her former experience as an early childhood teacher and on her academic research. Anne was a member of the Charles Sturt University led consortium which developed Belonging Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. She has worked on several projects related to the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework and is currently involved in a professional learning project with the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and Community Child Care.

Anne Stonehouse AM is a consultant, writer and facilitator of professional learning in early childhood. She has published many books, articles and other resources for educators and parents. Her main professional interests are the nature of good quality curriculum for babies and toddlers and family-educator relationships in early learning settings. She was a member of the writing team in the Charles-Sturt-University-based consortium that developed the national Early Years Learning Framework. She is currently engaged in a number of projects related to the national and Victorian Frameworks.

Dr Tranter is an Associate Professor in geography in the School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences at UNSW@ADFA (the Australian Defence Force Academy), where his research and teaching interests are in the areas of transport geography and global change. His research has made a pioneering contribution to the academic literature in areas of child-friendly environments, active transport, and healthy and sustainable cities. He has forged new areas of research by combining hitherto unlinked research topics (e.g. children's rights and peak oil), or by applying innovative concepts to urban transport (e.g. "effective speed", a concept that considers the total time costs associated with any mode of transport). An important theme in his research is how child-friendly environments can make cities more resilient in the face of challenges such as energy stress. This issue is examined in a recent book Paul co-authored with Claire Freeman – Children and Their Urban Environment: Changing Worlds.

Jo Lange has been a teacher and educator for over thirty years in a diverse range of settings. She has worked in primary schools, both as a classroom and specialist teacher. Her experiences also extend to teaching 'at risk' young people who are not in mainstream schooling. She has also worked in the community education area, being involved with young people and adults with a psycho-social disorder or an intellectual or physical disability. Jo has also had seven years within the TAFE sector, teaching youth workers, child-care workers and teachers in the areas of human development, psychology, interpersonal communication and behaviour management.

Jo now works as a private educational consultant, specialising in the behaviour management, personal effectiveness, and team dynamics areas, working directly with teachers in schools. She is affiliated with the ACER, Teacher Learning Network, Victoria, & Lady Gowrie Child Centre, where she undertakes a diverse range of workshops and seminars, on managing difficult behaviours of five to fifty year olds and pastoral care for teachers.

This session will be delivered by the Quality Improvement-System Team from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, who have been involved in the development of the Transition: A Positive Start to School initiative since its inception and are currently working with early childhood educators and prep teachers to deepen educator understanding of the strength-based approach.

Dr. Rubman is an Associate Professor in New York. She has a PhD in Cognitive, Developmental Psychology and she has been an educator for over 25 years. Her teaching experience ranges from graduate and undergraduate classes to kindergarten and child care. While currently teaching full time in higher education, she writes for a Texas based parenting magazine and gives radio interviews. Dr. Rubman has presented workshops on literacy and children's learning in Scotland, England and across the United States from New Orleans and Kentucky to Florida and New York.

June McLoughlin M.Ed is the Director Family and Children's Services at Doveton College. June has expertise in service and policy development within early childhood education and care, disability, parenting and family support fields. For many years June worked within the Victorian State Government and at the Centre for Community Child Health managing a variety of national and state-based projects designed to refocus early years services and provide support to practitioners to deliver more integrated evidenced-based services for families of young children. More recently June has held the position of Assistant Regional Director Early Childhood Southern Region, within the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

Currently June is leading the establishment of a fully integrated Family and Children's Centre within the context of a major 'public/private partnership school redevelopment in Victoria. The school campus includes a wide range of programs and supports for families in the Doveton community from the prenatal period to Year 9 secondary. June sits on a number of community boards and committees and is the past Board Chair of the National Childcare Accreditation Council and the Parenting Research Centre. She is currently a member of the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority.

Louise teaches at Victoria University, has extensive experience in managing early childhood services and conducts professional development nationally. Her energetic workshops have taken her around Australia conducting sessions ranging from the NQF, pedagogical leadership, and the arts.

Pat Jewell has a background in teaching in the early childhood field working with children and families. Is the author if three publications "Getting Good Speech Going" and two group work manuals for professionals "Out of the Mainstream" and "From Strength to Strength" Pat teaches at Swinburne University in Child and Family Services in both undergraduate and post graduate courses and is team leader of the Parenting Program at the Australian Childhood Foundation.

Christine Tayler has worked in the early childhood/children's services sector for over 30 years in the Northern Territory. She has been a practitioner and director in a range of children's services, an educational adviser and validator with the National Childcare Accreditation Council Children's Services. She is currently a lecturer in children's services at Charles Darwin University. Her main expertise is around leadership and professional learning in children's services, with a focus on pedagogy, curriculum and management issues.

Christine has extensive experience in early childhood education within and for very remote Indigenous communities. She was the lead developer and creative force behind the Early Years Learning Framework professional learning package for remote educators. She led the development of a supporting training package to demonstrate the methodology behind this unique innovative training resource. She is a winner of the Northern Territory VET trainer/teacher award, winner of the Vice chancellors ward for outstanding work supporting student's learning. She is a 2011 winner of the prestigious Winston Churchill memorial trust, sponsored by the Fairfax family.

Alison has a degree in Early Childhood Education and comes from a kindergarten teaching background. She also have experience working in Early Childhood Intervention and two years experience as a teacher of Child Studies at TAFE in NSW. For the past ten years Alison has worked in the area of inclusion support. Firstly as a Children's Services Resource and Development Officer and then as the Team Leader of an Inclusion Support Agency. In addition to this role, she has been working part-time for the past 18 months developing resources to support professionals in inclusive practices.

Jenny has worked in management and leadership roles in community and children's services in a diverse range of settings including managing children's services, consultancy, developing and delivering state wide professional support programs and managing a community controlled health board in a remote community in Arnhem Land. Developing collaborative and cohesive teams with a shared vision and purpose features strongly in Jenny's work history and complements her current role at DEECD Western Metropolitan Region which includes supporting the implementation of universal access.

Anne is working with DEECD as Manager of Partnerships and Service Development in the Western Metropolitan Region of Melbourne, one of the fastest growing, most disadvantaged and diverse regions of Australia. Anne has a strong background in early childhood, management and leadership with over 25 years experience leading and managing staff in a variety of workplaces across Australia. Anne has managed many early childhood services and has worked in private enterprises, public health, community based and not for profit organisations. She has successfully managed various departments and small businesses. She has developed and delivered professional development programs to adult learners in the field of early childhood education and leadership.

Judy provides expert consultancy within both government and non-government organisations utilising her extensive human services expertise and broad experience within the health and community services sector. Her previous work includes the Queen Elizabeth Early Parenting Service, the University of Melbourne, Dianella Community Health Service, the City of Greater Geelong Children's Services, DHS and DEECD. Her experience includes the facilitation of strategic planning and program reviews, organisational analysis, strategic development within growth areas in Melbourne, early years policy and service development and facilitation of a project to enhance collaboration between Early Years, Family Services and Child Protection in regard to vulnerable children. She has also undertaken mentoring and coaching with CEOs and other executive managers and is currently teaching at the University of Melbourne.

Zora is the Project Co-ordinator of the new KPV Traffic Safety Education Project. Zora has been with KPV since 2007 and her new role compliments the previously held position of Project Coordinator of the Early Childhood OH&S Champions Project. She has a keen interest in occupational health and safety in children's services and supporting the sector to find solutions to make the workplace safer. Zora has over 20 years' experience in industrial relations.

Anne Vize is an educational author who specialises in writing for and about children with additional needs. Her latest publications are 'The A to Z of Special Needs' and 'Assistive technology for children with special needs' published by Teaching Solutions. She is trained as a special educator and holds a Masters in Special Education. Anne's work experience in teaching and supporting people with additional needs is varied, having worked previously in a special school setting with children with physical, sensory and cognitive disabilities and multiple disabilities, as well as teaching work and life skills in a TAFE setting. She has also co-ordinated a flexible respite program for Yooralla, working closely with families to find creative respite solutions tailored to individual needs.

Susie is the Teacher and Director at St Paul's Anglican Kindergarten and is currently studying her Master of Education at Victoria University. Susie has attended the Bastow Institute's leadership seminars for Leading People in Early Childhood Settings and in 2009 earned the 'exemplary' teacher classification. Susie has been teaching Early Childhood for 15 years and specialises in Art and children's artistic development. Susie Lectures at Deakin University in Early Childhood Art. In 2011 Susie began consulting, running training workshops for other Early Childhood teachers in the National Quality Standards and National and Victorian Frameworks. Susie received a NEiTA 2011 State and territory Award for Inspirational Teachers. Susie has been nominated for the National NEiTA Inspirational Teaching Award which will be announced in June 2012. In 2012 she will be having her first book published on the topic of the NQF and EYLF. Susie is dedicated to providing ongoing professional development to other kindergarten teachers to improve outcomes for all children in Early Childhood.

Caroline is in the final year of a doctoral study investigating how early childhood educators enact a set of play-based maths activities with children aged between three and five, and is employed as a clinical specialist on the Master of Teaching (EC) program at the University of Melbourne.

Timothy O'Leary is a therapist and educator, working in private practice. He is a Social Worker and has a Masters in Couples and Relationships Counselling. His therapeutic work ranges from working with RCH's 'Peekaboo Program' for women and babies after family violence to couple therapy. Tim's educational work includes pre-natal groups for fathers to 'Shame-Shifting' a one day seminar on shifting self-blame and shame after sexual assault.

Liz has a long involvement in the early childhood field. She has worked as an eductor, manger, policy adviser and most recently in pre-service teacher education. She is currently lecturing in early childhood education at Deakin University and is involved in a number of projects that focus on professional practice including a large project on mentoring for newly graduated early childhood teachers, infant and toddler care, natural play spaces and early childhood literacy. Liz has a strong interest in family centred practice as a model of partnership and has published a number of articles on this topic.

Carrolyn Ireland has been an early childhood teacher, head teacher and primary school teacher in New Zealand for over 20 years and since 2007 has been a C&K Early Childhood Advisor. Carrolyn is currently supporting the new kindergartens being built on state school sites and also supports childcare centres in the transition process to C&K. She is a strong advocate for the Building waterfalls curriculum, rich relationships, natural environments healthy risk taking and quality pedagogical practice.

Robyn is a C&K Early Childhood Curriculum Advisor and an experienced teacher who has worked in community kindergartens for more than 30 years. During this time, Robyn has pursued many professional interests. She has trained as an Educational Kinesiologist to research and understand children's learning through movement.

Dr Sharon Goldfeld is a community paediatrician at the Royal Children's Hospital's Centre for Community Child Health, senior research fellow at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne. She is currently National Director of the Australian Early Development Index Program and until recently was the Principal Medical Advisor in the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. Her research has focused on issues of policy interest such as the development of indicators and data, improving health care delivery and factors related to health service utilisation, the topic of her PhD. She has been the recipient of the prestigious international Harkness Fellowship in Health Care Policy and the Aileen Plant Medal in Public Health Research. She has presented her research both nationally and internationally. Dr Goldfeld is a member of several national and state committees that focus on children's issues. In both her policy and academic roles she has spoken about the various facets of child health to many varied audiences in an effort to promote the importance of children.

Originally based in the UK, where she was Professor of Primary Education (Early Years) at Warwick University, Bridie arrived in Australia in 1995 to take up the inaugural Mooroolbeek Chair of Early Education Childhood Studies at the University of Melbourne. This appointment saw Bridie become the first early childhood professor in Victoria and only the second in Australia.

While in Australia, Bridie was seconded (1999-2000) to the federal government department of education (then DETYA) as their first Research Fellow for a year. During this time Bridie worked with the OECD, completing the Country Note for Denmark, which involved travelling throughout that country visiting services provided for children before they entered school. She worked closely with the Indigenous Education Branch, preparing the Indigenous Preschool Profile for literacy and numeracy (with Marilyn Fleer) which is still in use today. She also lead the University of Melbourne, Faculty of Education team, evaluating Best Start during 2003-2006.

Bridie has raised in excess of $4 million in research funds while at the University of Melbourne, including leading the team evaluating the Victorian initiative, Best Start 2003-2006. She is currently a Chief Investigator there of an ARC Linkage Grant "The Young Learners' Project", following the early literacy development of 350 children aged 4, 5, and 6 years-old as they move into school, by tracking home learning environments (HLE) and preschool experiences. Bridie has published in excess of 150 publications including books and monographs, journal articles, research reports, chapters to books and international encyclopaedias. She is an advisor to the Australian Research Council.

Tracy Young, MEd., BEd., GradDip.Ch.dev, Dip.Chn's Serv, Dip.Sust., is a life member of Environmental Education in Early Childhood (EEEC) and convenes an environmental sustainability special interest group for the Victorian branch of Early Childhood Australia (ECA). Tracy has written numerous publications and was the recipient of the 2008 Jean Denton Memorial Scholarship that enabled her to complete a Masters of Education. In 2010 Tracy was awarded the Barbara Creaser Memorial Lecture award in recognition of her work as an advocate for early childhood education for sustainability.

Julie and Deb are experienced Early Childhood professionals employed by KU children's services in NSW. They are board members of the NSW Early Childhood Environment Education Network and are the authors of Eco Smart a Sustainable filter for your Quality Improvement Plan. Deb and Julie believe that connecting children to nature and living more sustainably is a worthy goal for us all.

Rosie is the Manager of the Early Learning Participation unit, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. She has a BA, Grad Dip in Education and is studying for her Masters in Public Policy. Rosie oversees the work of Kindergarten Cluster Management, strategies to improve the engagement of vulnerable children in early childhood education such as Early Start Kindergarten and the implementation of Universal Access to Early Childhood Education in Victoria.

Rosie has twenty years experience working with children and families across the State in both local governments and the non-government sector. In local government, Rosie was responsible for the accreditation of council owned child care centres, the amalgamation of three family day care schemes and provision of parent support programs. Rosie brings into the early education and care space a rich knowledge of research and practice regarding working with vulnerable families. In the non-government sector Rosie was part of the reforms to Family Services that saw the introduction of ChildFIRST, which relies on strong collaboration with the Child Protection system. This included writing practice guides for working with vulnerable children and families.

Joanne is widely respected, has 16 years of experience in early education and care and her practical advice has been sought in a wide range of bodies and committees. She is currently a board member of KPV and member of DEECD's Early Years Advisory Committee. Joanne has a background in business management and is the Manager of Eureka Community Kindergarten Association (ECKA), a kindergarten cluster manager in the Grampians region involving 23 services across 5 local government municipalities.

Jo is a champion and advocate who has been responsible for ECKA's involvement and leadership on a number of projects to improve access to early learning programs for vulnerable children in the region, including the establishment and implementation of the Early Start Kindergarten project in 2010 and participation in a local partnership to deliver the Access to Early Learning pilot project currently underway. Joanne's understanding of the practical implementation of policy and her contributions to broader policy development give her a unique position on bringing together theory and practice.

Kim currently works as an Organisational Development Consultant with EAP company PPC Worldwide. Kim has completed her Masters in Industrial and Organisational Psychology and is passionate about workplace health and safety. She currently works with external clients and organisations to implement effective workplace interventions to improve the working environment. This includes customized workplace training, conflict resolution, coaching, outplacement, consulting and group interventions. Her areas of interest include workplace stress, psychological first aid, resilience and burnout.

Currently overseeing the implementation of Bush Kinder, Doug Fargher has been working in the Early Childhood field for over 20 years. Previously he has worked in a number of positions which include: Coordinator of Swinburne evening child care, Prep Teacher at Sophia Mundi Steiner School, and Teacher at St Kida Balaclava Kindergarten. Doug recently presented at the EEEC conference and his passion about allowing children to learn outdoors in nature challenged and inspired the educators in the audience. At present he devotes his time to his family, directing Westgarth Kindergarten and sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm about Bush Kinder.

Carmel Phillips is the Manager of the Early Years Unit in the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority ( VCAA) . The VCAA works in partnership with DEECD to support implementation of the VEYLDF. Carmel's background is in early childhood , early intervention and public policy .

Darlene Leach is a Senior Policy Manager working in the Early Childhood Strategy Division of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. Darlene has a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) and has extensive experience working with children and families across the early childhood sector.

TBA

Bec works at the Centre for Community Child Health in the Service System Innovation group. Bec has worked closely to support early childhood educators and community members in planning and establishing Victorian integrated children's centres. She is passionate about the need for service reconfiguration in order to better support children and families. Before joining the Centre for Community Child Health, Bec worked as a Speech Pathologist, manager and consultant to improve service delivery in a variety of early childhood settings within Australian and abroad.

Dr Andrea Nolan is an Associate Professor in Early Childhood in the School of Education, Victoria University, Melbourne. Before joining the university sector she had extensive experience teaching in early childhood education settings as well as in primary schools. Her research interests include the use of reflective practice as a way to enhance teachers' professional growth and development, leadership and the implications for practice, children's play and learning, and early childhood pedagogy.

Dr Anne-Marie Morrissey is a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at Deakin University. She also has extensive experience as a teacher and director in kindergartens and childcare centres, and as a Moderator for the National Childcare Accreditation Authority. Her research interests include the role of play in development and learning, natural outdoor learning environments, and quality in childcare programmes.

Iris is currently completing her PhD at La Trobe University. Her doctoral research project is an ethnographic case study of a refugee student in an Australian mainstream secondary school. Her research interests include refugee education, adult literacy and education, and contemporary qualitative research methods. Iris is currently working as a Research Assistant on the State-wide Pilot Professional Mentoring Program for Early Childhood Teachers.

Dr Julie Green is Deputy Director and Head of Research at The Royal Children's Hospital Education Institute. With her research team and wider research collaborations, Julie is leading the development, implementation and evaluation of a range of hospital- and community-based studies examining child and adolescent learning, development and wellbeing, and what these issues mean for improving outcomes for children and young people through policy and practice.

Anna is the Project Coordinator of the Supporting Parents - Developing Children Project at Hume City Council.

Courtney is a Research Assistant at The Royal Children's Hospital Education Institute.

Dr John Henry is the Director of Researching Futures, and has had a long involvement in teaching and in research and development in the general field of education and training, and professional development.

Galina Zenin (B Mus. Ed., Dip. Teach.) is a presenter, early childhood educator, qualified and highly respected music and voice training teacher, author, composer and storyteller. She writes her own music and brings to her music program a wealth of European and Australian experience and a high level of professionalism.

Galina has established herself as one of Australia's most innovative Music and Early Childhood Educators. Her most recent credits include presentations of her creative programs, "Music for Learning" and "Wellbeing Practices for Life" at the 2010 & 2011 DEECD Innovation Showcases. Over the last two years, Galina has been invited to present a wide range of music and wellbeing topics at a number of conferences and seminars.

Lorraine has worked for the past decade with the Victorian Government's Home and Community Care Program (Disability Services) and previous to this with the Department of Human Services (Child Protection). Her passionate interest is in the field of inclusive education and is based on her belief that it is the best educational pathway for all learners regardless of their disability, race, gender or ethnic backgrounds. This passion is driven by her own personal experiences of being a parent of a young person with a disability and pursuing inclusive models of practice, both for her son, and in her work and advocacy role with families. Currently pursuing a Masters in Education (Inclusive Education) Lorraine's goal is to improve the system of equity and access in the current educational environment, thereby giving students with disabilities an opportunity to learn in a mainstream educational system, from primary schooling to university. Walking the talk with her own son, Cameron, who has been from kindergarten to his present Year 9 in a State school, her fortitude and perseverance has resulted in positive and brilliant inclusive schooling outcomes for him.

Lorrelle attained her Diploma in Children's Services Outside School Care and coordinated Outside School Hours (OSH) programs for various Councils before taking up a position with Monash City Council as a CSRDO working to support the inclusion of children with additional needs in childcare centres and OSH services. When the CSRDO program ceased and became the Inclusion Support Program, Lorrelle became the Senior Inclusion Support Facilitator for a consortium comprising Boroondara, Manningham, Monash and Whitehorse. Lorrelle continued to support the inclusion of children with additional needs in childcare and OSH services for six years. Lorrelle is now the A/Coordinator of the Council operated Brine St childcare centre, and is planning on starting her Bachelor in Early Childhood in 2012.

Lauren completed a degree in Disability Studies Applied Science originally, and was fortunate enough to be given a job working in a Kindergarten and early intervention centre run by Yooralla where a team of specialists helped support families and children with additional needs. From there Lauren went back to University and studied Early Childhood Education and became a Kindergarten Teacher at Jells Park Preschool. She has been at Jell's Park for the past 7 years working in the Community Based Centre. Lauren has experience in working with a vast variety of children with additional needs both through her role as a Kindergarten Teacher and as a volunteer in the school holidays with a camp for vulnerable young people.

Louise has taught at Ouyen Preschool for the past 10 years. She has a wide range of interests including exploring ways to empower children, families and educators through collaborative reflection, planning and assessment.

Elaine has been a kindergarten assistant since 1988, and is currently completing a Certificate III in Children's Services (RPL). Elaine is looking forward to the challenges of the new framework and standards.

Anne Vize is an educational author who specialises in writing for and about children with additional needs. Her latest publications are 'The A to Z of Special Needs' and 'Assistive technology for children with special needs' published by Teaching Solutions. She is trained as a special educator and holds a Masters in Special Education.

Anne's work experience in teaching and supporting people with additional needs is varied, having worked previously in a special school setting with children with physical, sensory and cognitive disabilities and multiple disabilities, as well as teaching work and life skills in a TAFE setting. She has also co-ordinated a flexible respite program for Yooralla, working closely with families to find creative respite solutions tailored to individual needs.

Lois is the Early Childhood Education Coach for DEECD with the NMR. Lois has close to 30 years experience working as an early childhood educator, children's services adviser, manager and now coach. Lois has experience working within culturally diverse regions and within metropolitan, rural and remote regions of Victoria.

Liz is Quality Improvement Learning and Transitions Manager for DEECD WMR. Liz has early childhood qualifications and has many years experience working within the children's services field.

Jackie is Early Childhood and Youth Services Projects Coordinator for DEECD in the Western Metropolitan Region of Melbourne, one of the fastest growing, most disadvantaged and diverse regions of Australia. With social work and early childhood qualifications, Jackie has worked with a wide range of services for children and families for over 20 years and in the culturally diverse Western Metropolitan Region for over 10 years.