17 March 2023
Latest News
Professional development in the early learning space is essential to maintain and improve knowledge and skills, build confidence and credibility, re-energise and improve efficiency, but it shouldn’t have to be boring!
After a two year event hiatus and a couple of false starts – all due to the impact of COVID-19 health protocols – ACA Victoria was delighted to hold its first face-to-face professional development event in a long time!
Our Early Learning Leaders Summit was held on Friday 1st April at Melbourne’s Crown Conference Centre. The one-day event was designed for Approved Providers (owner/operators) and senior managers of early learning services, with a theme that resonated with many - "Planning to thrive!".
The Summit Program featured first class speakers including Kurt Fearnley – Disability Advocate & Paralympian, Lisa McInnes-Smith – Transformational Coach & Author, Tamara Brown and Jade Dixon from PwC, Jane Hunt – CEO of the Front Project, Heather Barnes – Early Childhood Consultant and Director of Heather Barnes Pty Ltd, Tom Scantlebury - CEO of Sky Blue Customer Experience Services, Kim Little – Deputy Secretary, Early Childhood Education, Victorian Department of Education and of course our very own Paul Mondo, President of the Australian Childcare Alliance.
Summit delegates enjoyed making new friends and catching up with old ones as fellow service providers, exchanging their ideas and solutions to challenges throughout the day.
To end on a high, Australia's own Tania Doko wowed the Summit attendees with an intimate performance at the Summit Dinner, thanks to our friends at OneMusic Australia. It was the perfect way to complete a wonderful, uplifting and engaging event.
Delegate feedback from the event was extremely positive, with an average rating of 9.2 out of 10 according to the event survey! Delegates said they liked the concept of a one-day event for owner/operators and senior staff, they appreciated the relevant content and particularly liked the honesty and humour to keep it interesting! The live performance coupled with the three-course dinner was also a highlight.
ACA Victoria would like to thank Platinum Sponsors Guild Insurance and Child Care Super, along with Lanyard Sponsor Bonkers Beat, Summit Sponsor Officeworks, Education Sponsor Bunnings Trade, Coffee Cart Sponsor CBRE and OneMusic Australia for providing the musical performance. Thanks also go to all of the exhibitors who helped create a wonderful exhibition space to chat with Summit delegates about products and services relevant to their service operations.
Finally, ACA Victoria would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all of the Summit delegates, for helping to make the day a huge success.