USQ hosts early childhood education conference

USQ Celebrating Educators: Embracing the Change conference begins at Springfield campus on Saturday 11 February. (Pictured) Conference organiser and Early Childhood Education lecturer Dr Louise Phillips.

A conference to aid early childhood educators navigate changes introduced this year through the National Quality Framework will be held at USQ Springfield campus in February.

The two day USQ Celebrating Educators: Embracing the Change conference will take place in the USQ Springfield Auditorium and Main Building on Saturday 11 February and Sunday, 12 February.

A joint initiative of USQ’s Faculty of Education and the Workforce Council, the conference will cover a wide range of topics relevant to early childhood educators and the new framework.

Conference organiser and USQ Early Childhood Education Lecturer Dr Louise Phillips said the introduction of the National Quality Framework for early childhood education and care services was a significant change for the sector.

'The framework has been developed to improve quality in the sector and outlines standards that mean substantial changes to services and will affect the delivery of these services,' Dr Phillips said.

'We will hear from a wide range of sector representatives including government officers, early childhood education academics, consultants and practitioners.

'Topics explored will include: the status and significance of early childhood education and care; successful change and educational leadership.

'We will also cover young children as artists, early childhood education for sustainability, learning in routines, children as active community participants and embedding Indigenous culture in practices and the new out of school hours framework,' Dr Phillips said.

Dr Phillips said the conference had been planned based on the success of the inaugural conference held in 2011.

'There was so much positive feedback from last year’s event and it highlighted the need for similar events in the future in the Western Corridor.

'The conference seeks to celebrate the role and place of early childhood educators.'

The USQ Springfield campus currently offers Bachelor of Education programs with specialisations in Early Childhood, Primary, Special Education, Sports Health and Physical Education, and Secondary.

Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Nita Temmerman said the Early Childhood Education programs are very popular with students and the conference brought together educators from across many sectors.

'Early Childhood Education is very much at the forefront of both the states and federal education agenda and the conference works through some of the current critical agenda issues such as on-going professional development for educators,' Professor Temmerman said.

For more information or to register for the conference phone 1800 112 585 or visit www.pscq.org.au. Registration closes 3 February, 2012.

What: Celebrating Educators: Embracing the Change Conference
Where: USQ Auditorium and Building A, cnr Sinnathamby Blvd, Springfield Central
When: Saturday, 11 February 9am to 5pm and Sunday 12 February from 9am to 3pm

Contact Details:
Jo-Ann Sparrow, USQ Media, +61 7 3470 4119 or 0438 309 096