Novotel Preston, 215 Bell Street, Preston
20th – 21st November 2024
Ticket Sales Now Closed
We are thrilled to be celebrating half a century of Playgroup Victoria. Our 2024 conference will bring together various members of the early years community and those who interlink. Together we will reflect on the benefits of playgroup over time- and the mounting evidence and research that shows the positive outcomes of playgroup. The idiom ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ has been part of the playgroup philosophy since the beginning and is still carried through the generations- and is highly valued as such. Read on to discover more ways that you can take part and contribute to our conference.
Major Conference Sponsor
Minderoo Foundation, our primary sponsor for the 2024 Playgroup Conference, is a proudly Australian philanthropy, working to forge a fair future by courageously challenging inequalities and campaigning for meaningful change.
Minderoo Foundation Communities Focus Area Vision: All children in Australia reach their full potential in thriving communities.
Learn more about the Minderoo Foundation HERE
Keynote Speakers
Dr Prabhat Rai
Conceptual PlayLab Researcher, Monash University
Dr Prabhat Rai works as a Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Education and Senior Research Fellow at the Conceptual PlayLab, Monash University, where he leads research on children’s STEM concept formation in early years, especially in family and community settings. A PhD from the University of Oxford, Prabhat has previously worked in academic and leadership roles in India, Bhutan and the UK.
Cat Sewell
Artistic Director and CoCEO, Polyglot Theatre
Cat Sewell is the Artistic Director and CoCEO of Polyglot Theatre, a world-renowned contemporary theatre company based in Melbourne/Naarm making exceptional arts experiences for children and families. Over the last 20 years, Cat has worked at the intersection of the arts, health and education fields, with play and creativity at the core of her practice.
Marc Armitage
Playwork Consultant
Marc Armitage is an advocate and writer in children’s play, playing and Playwork. He began his professional career as a playworker in the UK and has worked as an adventure playground worker, double decker playbus worker, local government play development officer, university lecturer, and a research associate in the UK and Sweden. He is now a permanent resident in Australia.
Panel Discussion
With a wealth of knowledge and experience, tune in to hear our panel as they explore ‘The Evolution of Community Connections’. Guided by Playgroup Victoria’s Patron, the panel will dissect and examine the topics of family, locality, culture, identity, interests- and how these universal components of life and belonging influence children, parents, society and our early years spaces over time. The panel will part of day one of the conference.
Panel MC
Emeritus Professor Dorothy Scott AM
Professor Emeritus Dorothy Scott AOM is an honorary professorial fellow in social work at the University of Melbourne and an adjunct professor at the Australian Centre for Child Protection at the University of South Australia. Dorothy has worked in the fields of mental health, and child and family services, and in the 1970s pioneered the development of sexual assault counselling services, and specialist services for women with postpartum psychiatric disorders and their infants.
Panel Speakers
Kat Fox
Engage Pasefika
Kat is a teacher who delivers community outreach programs focusing on early childhood literacy and women’s health. Growing up regionally, Kat’s family lacked cultural connection to other Pacific Islanders in her early years. Kat volunteers at a Pacific Island Playgroup to ensure the children grow up strong in their sense of belonging and cultural identity.
Gabriel Carazo
YMCA 2023 Father of the Year
Gabriel is a father of two and resides in Regional Victoria. Blending his expertise in relationship counselling, family therapy and play therapy, Gabriel created Rad Dads Victoria. Utilising a strength-based approach, with a focus on bush and adventure play, Rad Dads is an initiative designed to empower modern fathers by creating a community space that encourages positive parenting, emotional growth and mutual support.
Fiona Holder
Programs Coordinator, Playgroup Victoria
Fiona has been facilitating PlayConnect+ Playgroups for children with additional needs for the past five years. Fiona has three autistic children with various other diagnoses and draws on her lived experience to support children with disabilities, developmental delays and chronic illness, together with their families. Fiona works alongside families to build their capacity and belief, while providing resources, a link to services and a space to share, to play and meaningfully connect. Read our interview with Fiona HERE.
Melissa Carter
Rainbow Playgroup Parent
Melissa is a queer and non-binary single parent who had their first child in lockdown. They have been attending rainbow playgroups since lockdown ended and have found a strong sense of community within these spaces.
Sponsorship Opportunities
We warmly welcome sponsors to take part in our 2024 conference. Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and explore further collaboration partnerships!
