the Y
the Y
Featuring guest speakers, workshops, a live panel and more!
The Ararat Learning and Development Day – Preparing for Pre-Prep is an exceptional opportunity for educators, early childhood professionals, and students to advance their knowledge and skills in preparation for Pre-Prep. This free event, hosted by Y Kinders, promises to be a day of inspiration, connection and professional growth.
The conference features highly respected keynote speakers, engaging workshops and a panel discussion.
Y Kinders, known for its commitment to innovation and quality, has been a pioneer in early childhood education for over 20 years. With six Y Kinders in the same LGA offering 30 hours of Pre-Prep in 2025, Y Kinders continues to be at the forefront of sector changes.
Join us at this premier event to connect with like-minded professionals and gain valuable knowledge to enhance your practice.
Registrations close 26 September, 2024
Register by 26 September
Alexandra Oval Community Centre
(Alexandra Oval, Precinct, Ararat)
FREE FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS
Lunch Included
Y Kinders acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
Event MC
The highly regarded Dr Tim McDonald from the Y WA will be MC for the day, bringing his wealth of experience and deep insights to guide the event.
With a talent for creating an engaging atmosphere, he’ll welcome and introduce our guests and bring his professionalism and personal touch to the day’s activities. Under Tim’s skilled direction, the day is sure to be full of meaningful connections and inspiring and thought-provoking conversations.
Dr Tim McDonald has over two decades of leadership in education and philanthropy. He focuses on improving teaching practices and student outcomes through proven strategies. At the Y WA, Tim’s leadership centers on holistic youth development and community empowerment, aligning with the mission to support young people through education and recreation.
His strategic initiatives, like the Growth for Impact Strategy, embed core values into all Y WA programs, ensuring lasting benefits for the community.
Creativity, Curiosity and Confidence
Curating change in the rhythms and rituals of teaching and learning
Change processes can feel overwhelming and burdensome. They can also be the catalyst for fresh opportunities to reflect on and revisit your curriculum design and pedagogical practices. Structural changes to programs create possibilities for reclaiming the ways in which we engage in tandem with the revised, and rather exciting, additions to the EYLF V2.0.
When we think about our educational settings as ‘memory palaces’, we invite our imaginations into play. Dreaming up artful possibilities for curious and creative play-based learning then, becomes a collective way of working that piques children’s curiosities in the co-construction of learning. In turn this attunes our curiosities about how children engage, what they encounter and how they learn.
These curiosities will be explored in Dr Red Ruby Scarlet’s keynote address.
Dr Red Ruby Scarlet is an activist, early childhood teacher-researcher, consultant, artist and academic. She holds numerous degrees in early childhood education and performing arts. Red has been working in early childhood for over 30 years and is devoted to creative, imaginative, inclusive practices that promote dignity and integrity in early childhood. Red has developed curriculum and learning frameworks nationally and internationally. She has won numerous awards for her teaching and advocacy.Red is widely published and is the co-composer and performer of the widely popular “The National Quality Framework – The Musical!”
Time Management
A wishful dream or a nightmare waiting to happen?
In the fast-paced world of early childhood education, time management often feels like a wishful dream or, at times, a looming nightmare. But what if it could be something else—something empowering? This presentation will explore the unique challenges professionals face and offer practical strategies to regain control over your time. By learning how to prioritise, plan effectively, and remain flexible, you’ll discover that time management isn’t just a dream—it’s achievable. Together, let’s transform the chaos into clarity and reclaim our most precious resource: time. Join us in turning the impossible into possible!
Anthony Semann, Founding Director of Semann & Slattery, has a wealth of experience in early childhood education. Starting as a teacher, he developed a deep understanding of teaching and relationships during his time in long day care.
Driven by a commitment to fairness and social justice, Anthony advocates for inclusive practices that transform early childhood settings. At Semann & Slattery, he leads initiatives that empower educators to create impactful learning environments.
Manager, Early Childhood Improvement Branch, Central Highlands Area (ECIB)
With a deep passion for understanding and enhancing the intersection of teaching, learning, and development, Julie’s journey began with a firsthand observation of the extraordinary growth that occurs in the early years.
Her career, enriched by formal education and diverse roles—including teacher, manager, presenter, educational leader, Preschool Field Officer, mentor, and coach—is dedicated to advocating for and facilitating equitable learning opportunities for every child.
Her experience has shown her that high-quality early education and care are essential for children’s well-being and future life successes.
Julie believes in empowering children and supporting them to advocate for themselves, while acknowledging that to be effective an understanding of the complex systems in which Early Childhood Educators work and involvement in decision making is essential. By leading in a relational framework, she seeks to ensure that children, families and ECEC stakeholders are included in progressing a shared vision.
CEO, Ararat Rural City Council/
Adjunct Professor at Federation University, Australia
Tim has been the Chief Executive Officer of Ararat Rural City Council since 2018 when he arrived in the city. With a diverse career background, he holds a qualification in engineering, a Master of Business Administration and a doctorate where he explored relationships between social policy and community engagement.
He is the author of government-funded reports on regional social service delivery and regional population dispersal and he has undertaken significant economic development projects in regional communities.
Tim established the Regional Incubator for Social and Economic Research (RISER) and remains passionate about working with communities throughout rural and regional Victoria.
Tim enjoys life in rural Victoria and is very much a regional person having grown up in rural Queensland, the Wimmera and Ballarat.
Associate Professor, School Partnerships and Early Years Mathematics Education
Swinburne University of Technology
Wendy Goff is a respected researcher and educator at Swinburne University of Technology, known for her innovative approach. With a strong background in teaching and leadership, Wendy has driven significant policy changes and advancements in education. Her research covers mathematics education, technology’s impact on learning, and adult relationships in education.
Wendy’s influential work has shaped national policies, earning her acclaim for teaching excellence and recognition as a leader in educational technology and adult learning.
