Playgroup Makes a Difference – Tuesday 17th October 2023
Planting Today, Growing Tomorrow
Following a four-year hiatus, join us for a playgroup gathering- our annual conference is back! Together we will celebrate and discuss playgroup and its importance in the current climate as we navigate a new chapter for children, families and communities. Having experienced the peak of the pandemic, we now turn to embrace fresh opportunities for connection.
Tickets are currently sold out!
Stay tuned for availability updates – join the waitlist below.
Attending the conference and looking for somewhere to stay?
We have partnered with the Novotel to provide conference delegates the best rate on accommodation.
Opening Speakers
Danny Schwarz
Chief Executive Officer, Playgroup Victoria
Sarah Cummings
Chair of The Board, Playgroup Victoria
Professor Emeritus Dorothy Scott AM
Patron, Playgroup Victoria
Doctor Joanne Tarasuik
Research Manager, Playgroup Victoria
Keynote Speakers
Catherine Liddle
Chief Executive Officer, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children
An Arrernte/Luritja woman from Central Australia, Catherine has been a leading advocate in upholding the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on a national, regional and local level. Catherine has held senior management positions in First Nations organisations including First Nations Media and Jawun Indigenous Corporate Partnerships, as well as within the Northern Territory Education Department, the ABC and NITV/SBS.
A journalist by trade, Catherine’s motivation has always been to drive change that leads to positive outcomes and options for First Nations people. Over the past 10 years she has led multidisciplinary teams, overseen workplace transformations, and advocated for policy reform. Catherine is the CEO for SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, the national non-governmental peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children that works for the fulfilment of the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, in particular to ensure their safety, development and wellbeing.
It will be a joy and privilege to hear more of Catherine’s stories, knowledge and insights.
Dr Sally Smith
Chief Executive Officer, Peeple
Dr Sally Smith has a background in research including at the University of Oxford where she worked on an evaluation of the Peep Learning Together Programme. This led her to change direction in her career and join Peeple who develop and deliver strengths-based ways to help parents to provide the best start for their children.
The Peep Learning Together Programme empowers parents to make the most of everyday learning opportunities including singing, sharing books and stories, and talking about a wide range of ideas, thoughts and feelings.
“The Peep Learning Together Programme aims to do two things which we know from research makes a difference to children’s outcomes. Those two things are the quality of relationships and the quality of the home learning environment,” said Dr Sally Smith. “I now see it [Peep] as absolutely fundamental, not just providing support for families in the first years when children arrive, which is very important on all sorts of levels, but absolutely key in the long term.”
We greatly look forward to hearing more of Dr Sally Smith’s words of wisdom and experience.
Stay tuned for more information on our speakers coming soon!