When we position Country as our teacher, learning becomes richer, deeper and more connected.

This full-day professional development experience invites educators to slow down, listen, and reconsider the ways land, culture and community shape the learning journey.

Across three interwoven threads, you'll explore how Aboriginal perspectives, nature-based pedagogy and everyday sustainability come together to nurture children, communities and the environment.

Guided by three passionate presenters, the day moves seamlessly from ways of knowing to ways of being, to ways of doing, offering both inspiration and practical strategies you can carry straight back into your setting.

• 8 Ways of Learning & Aboriginal Perspectives: Discover the 8 Aboriginal ways of learning pedagogy framework and explore how embedding Aboriginal perspectives can transform teaching, relationships and connection to Country.

• Nature Play & Pedagogy: Delve into the power of nature play, uncovering how outdoor, sensory and child-led experiences build curiosity, wellbeing and a lifelong bond with the natural world.

• Sustainability in Practice: Turn sustainability from concept into culture, with practical, achievable approaches that embed environmental, economic and social responsibility into daily practice.

Together, these threads remind us that Country is not simply a backdrop to learning, it is our greatest teacher.

Participants are encouraged to bring copies of their current program, project books, planning documents, learning stories or other documentation.

Together, we will analyse existing practice, identify opportunities for growth, and collaboratively develop ideas that support a bespoke intercultural pedagogy tailored to each service's own context and community of practice.

Educators will leave with practical resources, planning templates, renewed confidence, and a clear pathway for embedding Aboriginal pedagogies in ways that are genuine, sustainable and responsive to the communities they serve.

The Early Learning Centre sits on an acre of natural play space that allows children to climb trees, venture into the dry creek bed, investigate living habitats including reptiles, native stingless bees, and possums, grow their own food, be creative and embrace their imagination.

Included in the day is a tour of the centre so you can see practical ways to include sustainability approaches within an early learning context.

Schedule:

• 8:30 am - 9:00 am: Arrival Tea/Coffee & Registration
• 9:00 am - 10:00 pm: Session 1
• 10:00 am - 10:30 am: Morning Tea
• 10:30 am - 11:30 pm: Session 2
• 11:30 am – 12:30 pm: preschool tour
• 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm: Picnic Lunch
• 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm: Session 3
• 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm: Q&A/Group Discussion/Post-PD Planning

Tickets:

• Early Bird: $149 Inc GST

Details:

• Location: Saint Paul's Early Learning Centre in Townsville
• Snacks: Tea, coffee and refreshments will be provided throughout the day.
• Lunch: we will be having a picnic and we are asking educators to BYO their lunch for the picnic.

Jessica Staines is an early childhood educator, professional speaker, author, advocate and advisor.

As the founder and director of Koori Curriculum, Jessica is committed to helping educators embed Aboriginal perspectives into early childhood education.

She has played many significant roles nationally and internationally in building cultural understanding, reconciliation and harmony, including as an Indigenous advisor to ABC’s Playschool.

Her work has been published in industry journals, and she has previously been a part of the AIATSIS Education Advisory Committee and HIPPY Reference group, contributing to the development of resources and programs that support Aboriginal children and families in the early years.

Jessica’s family are Wiradjuri and have lived off Country on Gadigal and Wangal land for four generations. Her family originally came from Cowra, Molong, Parkes and Wellington, but due to displacement, they were disconnected from their family and communities.

Today, Jessica lives on Darkinjung Country with her two children on a peaceful bush block, and is proud to identify as a Wiradjuri woman, with connections to her local Darkinjung community.

Bec is founder of Cottonwood Learning, a forest school/bush kindy leader, play worker and a play advocate. She has a passion for Nature Pedagogy and delivers unique professional development and mentors others to take play and learning outdoors in nature.

For over two decades, Bec has worked alongside educators to champion children's right to play, learn and grow in nature. Through professional development, mentoring and conference presentations across Australia, Bec helps educators confidently embed bush kindy and nature-based learning into everyday practice.

She believe the most powerful learning often happens beyond four walls, and is passionate about supporting educators to create rich, authentic outdoor experiences that foster curiosity, resilience and a lifelong connection with the natural world.

Kerry Strickland has been an early childhood educator for many years and currently serves as the director at Saint Paul's Early Learning Centre in Townsville, Queensland.

Background and Philosophy:

• Born in the 1960s, raised by grandparents who instilled values of not wasting resources

• Married to an Aboriginal man whose father was part of the Stolen Generation

• Began sustainability journey in 2014 following her mother's passing

• Committed to challenging conventional early childhood practices

• Believes in starting from the heart rather than from compliance requirements