Safe, Seen, & Supported  ​

Strong Foundations: Neuroscience and emotional development in the early years.

Presented by Sandi Phoenix for Phoenix Support for Educators

Neuroscience and emotional development in the early years. What aspects of emerging science about the brain is most useful in our role as educators? We love analogies and metaphors... but which ones are going to get us closer to understanding the current research around the brain, its functions, and emotions? Hear about brain science from recent years and investigates how research might influence our pedagogy. Spoiler alert: We can't teach about emotions with emojis! 😉

Complex Trauma and behaviours: Providing a Therapeutic Response in Early Childhood

Presented by Trent Savill from Complex Care

This session will empower educators with the mindset, knowledge, and tools to shift from managing behaviours to supporting recovery and resilience in children who have experienced trauma, through a needs-based, relational, and therapeutic lens.

Participants will explore how trauma impacts brain development and impacts behaviour that often presents as “challenging behaviour” in early childhood and school settings, and unpack the stress response system (fight, flight, freeze, and fawn) leading to heightened emotional responses and difficulties with regulation.

This presentation will examine how relational trauma affects children’s ability to regulate emotions, build trust, and engage in learning, and how consistent, safe relationships can support healing.

Educators will deeper understanding of trauma-informed practice through a therapeutic lens to strengthen everyday interactions to build secure relationships, meet children’s underlying needs, and respond to complex behaviours with compassion and confidence.

Healing Together: Creating Connected Spaces for Jarjums through Intergenerational Trauma Awareness

Presented by Louisa Whettam from Ngiyambalgarra Consultancy

This session will explore how educators can activate the strength of using their heads, hearts and hands to create nurturing and connected spaces for Jarjums (children). Through discussions and practical strategies, participants will learn from a cultural lens to support children and their families, promoting healing and resilience through compassionate early childhood pedagogy. Louisa will take us on a journey into culturally sensitive approaches to recognise the impacts of trauma on young First Nations children’s lives, emphasising the importance of cultural continuity and community support in fostering positive outcomes for our youngest generation.

Nurturing attachment relationships in our work with young children

Presented by Dr. Kaylene Henderson

Research tells us that children who experience high quality relationships in their early years experience lifelong benefits.

But how do we ensure this critical foundation for children? Why is it so important to find that ideal balance between too strict and too permissive?

And how might our own childhood experiences influence our relationships with children, families and colleagues?

In this engaging session, presented by Child Psychiatrist Dr Kaylene Henderson, we will gain a deeper understanding into children’s attachment needs (and of the influence of our own attachment histories), as we strive to build strong foundations for children’s wellbeing and developmental outcomes.

Dr Kaylene will also weave in some practical tips for fostering greater cooperation, fun and sense of togetherness among our groups of children.

Educator Wellbeing: Preventing Burnout and Fostering Resilience

Presented by Christopher Phoenix from Phoenix Support for Educators

Chris will wrap up the conference weaving  some together education and entertainment (EDU’TAINMENT). This session  is both informative and enjoyable and blends humour, interactive games, psychology, and philosophy to guide educators in exploring their own wellbeing. 

In early childhood education, the emotional energy we give to nurturing children’s social and emotional wellbeing is both vital and deeply rewarding, yet without balance, it can leave us vulnerable to compassion fatigue and burnout.

At the heart of this presentation is the Phoenix Cups framework, a powerful tool designed to help educators identify their own needs as well as the needs of others. By understanding these needs, participants will be better equipped to develop strategies for meeting them in constructive and meaningful ways.

Prioritising our own wellbeing allows us to show up for children with presence, empathy, and consistency, strengthening our capacity to help them thrive. Because we can’t pour from empty Cups.