Playgroup Victoria state conference 2012
Playgroups: laying the foundations
Connecting, supporting, learning
Rydges Bell City, Preston
Thursday 3 & Friday 4 May 2012
A conference for everyone with a playgroup aged child or a professional interest in playgroup.
Keynote speakers Nairn Walker, Michael Carr-Gregg and more than 10 workshop presenters will provide major learning opportunities for you to take away from the conference.
Applications to present a workshop on one of the three conference themes close on 17 February and can be made here.
Conference themes
Connecting
Playgroups are a platform for parents and children to connect in their own neighbourhoods:
- Playgroups bring together families at a similar stage of life
- Playgroups help families build relationships in newly developing communities
- Playgroups can connect families to local childcare, schooling services and family relevent resources.
Supporting
Parents are a child's first educator. Playgroups - especially supported, facilitated and intensive playgroups - provide scaffolding that empowers parents to provide their children with learning opportunities as they play.
Learning
Playgroups allow children to learn through play and provide parents with learning opportunities through peer support. Playgroups provide structured experiences for families who face more parenting challenges than others.
Keynote speakers
Michael Carr-Gregg is one of Australia's highest profile psychologists who works in private practice in Melbourne. He is a founding member of the National Centre Against Bullying, was appointed official advisor to the Queensland Government on bullying in October 2010 and is an ambassador for the Australian Government's National Drugs Campaign. He is a regular on Channel 7's Sunrise and Radio 3AW.
Nairn Walker has worked with over 50,000 professionals in Australia, New Zealand, USA and the UK to raise awareness of Dr Ruby Payne's insights into the issues presented by economic disadvantage in every level of our communities. She is committed to raising awareness through sharing strategies that make a difference. Find out more about Nairn Walker here.
Program overview
Day 1 of the conference focusses on supported playgroups. In the morning keynote speaker Nairn Walker will explore how poverty can affect behaviours and outcomes. After lunch, participants can either choose from six concurrrenly run workshops which each explore the conference's themes OR attend a master class with Nairn Walker.
Day 2 focusses on community playgroups. Keynote speaker Michael Carr-Gregg will appear in the morning and after a morning tea break, participants can choose from six sessions on promising and emerging practice. After lunch, there will be an opportunity to choose from six workshops each based on one of the conference's themes.
A fully detailed program is currently being developed and will appear here as soon as it is complete.
Costs
Members: $100 per day
Non members: $150 per day
Nairn Walker master class extra $50 (limited seating and tickets available)
Conference bookings
Book online here.
Accommodation
For accommodation bookings at Bell City, Preston visit http://www.bellcity.com.au/
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