2026 Grow Together Conference

This practical and thought-provoking session explores how educators can strengthen safeguarding within their service. Nicole highlights simple strategies to better identify and respond to risk, using holistic child and family insights to uncover vulnerabilities.

With a strong focus on child rights, she will explore how to embed safety into everyday practice—supporting children to recognise unsafe situations and seek help. Educators will leave with greater confidence to assess risk, strengthen safety planning, and create safer environments for all.

About the presenter 

Nicole Telarico is an educator, social worker, and child rights advocate with a Master’s in Child and Family Practice. A published author and experienced conference speaker, she is widely recognised for her expertise in safeguarding.  

This practical session explores what neurodiversity looks like in early childhood and how educators can better support neurodivergent children to learn, connect, and thrive. 

Jemimah and Melindie will share insights into how neurodivergent children may present in early learning environments, along with inclusive, responsive strategies that educators can apply in everyday practice. The session will also introduce two free resources developed in partnership with Yellow Ladybugs and ADHD Australia, designed to support educators working with autistic children and children with ADHD. 

About the presenters 

Jemimah Simpkin is a Preschool Field Officer with over 25 years of experience across early childhood, childcare, and primary education. A neurodivergent educator, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work and is passionate about championing inclusion. Jemimah is currently completing her Master’s in Autism Studies. 

Melindie Lane is a Preschool Field Officer and experienced early childhood educator with a background in psychology, counselling, and inclusion. As a neurodivergent educator and parent of neurodiverse children, she brings a deeply personal and professional understanding of supporting children and families in early childhood settings. 

The Bundjil Nest project is reconciliation in action that has grown through strong respectful relationships. This session will share the development of the Bundjil Nest Project, a collaborative project between three educational services in Balnarring on Boon Wurrung Country. We will share why it was created, who was involved, what it has achieved and how the project has, and continues to, influence the education profession and broader community. Technical support – we feel that we will deliver mostly through conversation but will also show a few films.

About the presenters 

Karen Anderson currently teaches at Balnarring Preschool and established the Ngarnga Biik (Country learning, Country is the teacher). With 43 years' experience and 16 years' teaching with Country, Karen has a strong commitment to including the voices of the First Peoples in everyday authentic practice.  

Ann Slater was a teacher at Balnarring Preschool (recently retired). Beach and bush were her learning environments every week for the past 10 years. In 2025, Ann completed her PhD, which focused on Learning to listen deeply and beyond reconciliation in early childhood services. 

Discover simple, trauma-informed strategies that support all children to feel safe, connected, and ready to learn. This uplifting and interactive session introduces practical routines, relationship tools, and everyday approaches from the BSEM Early Years model that can be implemented immediately. 

Focused on inclusion and wellbeing, Clare will share ways to strengthen children’s sense of belonging and create environments where every child can play, learn, and truly thrive 

About the presenter 

Clare Kearney is an experienced educator whose career spans preschool through to secondary education. She brings a strong focus on early intervention and the importance of supporting children in their foundational years. 

Clare has extensive experience working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, and communities, creating culturally safe and inclusive learning environments grounded in genuine partnership. Her practice centres on strong relationships, wellbeing, and play-rich settings where every child can succeed socially, emotionally, and academically.

Working in early childhood is deeply rewarding—but also demanding. This energising session invites educators to pause, reflect, and refocus on their own wellbeing amid the pressures of the profession. 

Louise will share practical strategies to help you reclaim your energy and purpose, including setting boundaries, prioritising what truly matters, and simple steps to improve everyday wellbeing. This uplifting session is a reminder that looking after yourself is not optional—it’s essential. 

About the presenter 

Louise Dorrat brings over 40 years of experience in the early years sector, with a career spanning leadership, service management, and teaching in higher education. She also teaches dramatic arts within Bachelor of Early Childhood programs. 

With a background in theatre, Louise delivers engaging and dynamic workshops that blend creativity, practical skills, and inspiration—empowering educators to confidently bring drama and storytelling into their everyday practice. 

Stress is an inevitable part of life—but learning how to respond to it can make all the difference. This engaging session explores how to “stress better, not less,” drawing on principles of Positive Psychology to support greater resilience, focus, and wellbeing. 

Coco will share practical, moment-to-moment strategies to help you understand your stress response, improve motivation, and navigate pressure with confidence. Participants will leave with simple tools to enhance wellbeing, strengthen performance, and access further support when needed. 

About the presenter 

Coco Nkrumah is a renowned corporate mindfulness trainer with Converge International, a leading Australian provider of mental health and wellbeing services. Coco works with organisations to build resilience, focus, and emotional wellbeing through practical, evidence-informed mindfulness approaches. 

Known for an engaging and accessible style, Coco empowers individuals to thrive under pressure and create more balanced, meaningful lives.

Are you ready to support children with a Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) profile using practical and compassionate strategies? 

In this engaging session, the Yarrabah School Wellbeing Team will share evidence-informed approaches grounded in the PANDA framework, Interpersonal Neurobiology, and relationship-based practice. Moving beyond traditional behaviour management, this session focuses on building connection, reducing anxiety, and creating environments where children can feel safe and regulated. 

Educators will leave with practical strategies to foster understanding, strengthen relationships, and support children to thrive through connection rather than compliance. 

About the presenters 

Yarrabah School Wellbeing Service Team works collaboratively to support the diverse wellbeing needs of children and young people through inclusive, relationship-focused approaches. Based within Yarrabah School, the team brings together expertise in education, wellbeing, and therapeutic support to create environments where every child feels safe, valued, and supported to succeed. 

Their work is grounded in evidence-informed practice, with a strong focus on connection, regulation, and understanding behaviour through a developmental and neurobiological lens. 

Bring stories to life and build your confidence in using drama and puppetry in everyday practice. This hands-on session explores simple, practical ways to create engaging group experiences that support children’s learning, imagination, and sense of connection. 

Louise will share easy techniques using voice, rhythm, stories, and puppets—helping educators feel confident to embed dramatic arts into daily routines. Participants will leave with practical ideas, simple resources, and the confidence to create meaningful, joyful experiences for every child. 

About the presenter 

Louise Dorrat brings over 40 years of experience in the early years sector, with a career spanning leadership, service management, and teaching in higher education. She also teaches dramatic arts within Bachelor of Early Childhood programs. 

With a background in theatre, Louise delivers engaging and dynamic workshops that blend creativity, practical skills, and inspiration—empowering educators to confidently bring drama and storytelling into their everyday practice. 

Play schemas are repeated patterns in children’s behaviour that offer valuable insight into how they think, learn, and develop. 

In this practical session, Melanie will explore what play schemas look like in infants and toddlers and how they naturally emerge in everyday play. Educators will gain simple, actionable strategies to recognise, support, and extend these patterns—creating rich learning environments that align with children’s interests and developmental needs. 

About the presenter 

Melanie Martin is the Inclusive Practice Coordinator for Family and Children’s Centres at the City of Kingston. Melanie has extensive experience working as a preschool field officer and comprehensive knowledge of child development in early years services. She is passionate about supporting educators to create inclusive, responsive environments where all children can thrive. 

Melanie brings a strong focus on practical strategies and reflective practice, empowering educators to better understand children’s learning and development through everyday interactions.

Begin with a meaningful Acknowledgement of Country and reflection on the importance of understanding and honouring the history of First Nations peoples. This engaging session then comes to life through a captivating live performance, followed by an interactive dance workshop that invites everyone to participate. 

Led by the talented IOP artists, this experience uses music and movement to foster connection, cultural understanding, and a sense of community. Grounded in the values of “no shame, be proud, respect,” this session offers a powerful and uplifting way to engage with culture through creativity and shared experience 

About the presenters 

Indigenous Outreach Projects (IOP) is a culturally diverse national collective dedicated to connecting with communities through dance, music, and storytelling. With over 20 years of experience working across metropolitan, regional, and remote areas, IOP has partnered with schools, councils, health and youth services, and major events nationwide. 

Driven by a mission to use the arts as a platform for positive change, IOP delivers engaging, inclusive programs that inspire confidence, cultural pride, and wellbeing—particularly for young people. Their dynamic performances and workshops are widely recognised for bringing energy, connection, and meaningful impact to communities across Australia.