Learn Play Thrive Early Education Podcast

Welcome back to the Navigating the NQS podcast mini-series with host Simone Brand! In this episode, Simone dives straight into the absolute heart of daily early childhood practice - Quality Area 5, Standard 5.1. 
Simone unpacks the deep intentionality needed to maintain respectful and equitable relationships with each child, showing how an Exceeding-level service transforms ordinary routines into powerful rituals of safety and belonging.

This epsiode explores Element 5.1.1 (Positive interactions) and Element 5.1.2 (Dignity and rights of the child), illustrating how quality practices reject a "one-size-fits-all" behaviour management. Instead, she highlights the power of deeply attuned, individualised connection rituals and progressive care routines that respect children's bodily autonomy. Through her own inspiring centre stories, Simone demonstrates how viewing children as active citizens with genuine agency can completely transform challenging moments and transitions.

Listeners will walk away with an actionable toolkit, including three targeted critical reflection questions designed to spark deep conversation at your next team meeting. Tune in to discover how slowing down and prioritising authentic, rights-based connections hardwires young brains for lifelong resilience!
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Have questions or feedback? Connect with us on social media or email us at info@learnplaythrive.com.au
Connect with Us:
- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au
- Instagram: @learnplaythrive_
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- Email: info@learnplaythrive.com.au

In this inspiring episode, Simone sits down with the leadership and pedagogical powerhouse team from Gilgandra Preschool. Together, they share how they have pioneered a model of "adaptive quality" that is responsive to changing rural/regional/remote community realities, workforce pressures and unique child needs.

The team dives deep into the philosophy that high-quality outcomes do not begin with programs alone, but rather through a beautiful chain reaction -  people build culture, culture shapes systems, systems sustain quality, and quality ultimately strengthens outcomes for children. 

Listeners will hear how Gilgandra Preschool moves far beyond box-ticking to foster a deeply reflective workplace where educator capability is continuously nurtured. This episode completely flips the narrative around regional disadvantage, showing how rural constraints can be used as creative design challenges for innovation. Instead of letting distance, workforce shortages, or a lack of specialist access define them, the Gilgandra team shares how they redesigned their service from the ground up. Tune in to discover how to transform barriers into opportunities for your own early childhood community!
If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving us a review on your favourite podcast platform.
Have questions or feedback? Connect with us on social media or email us at info@learnplaythrive.com.au
Connect with Us:
- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au
- Instagram: @learnplaythrive_
- Facebook: @Learn Play Thrive Australia
- Email: info@learnplaythrive.com.au

Welcome back to the Road Safety in Early Education podcast mini-series! In this episode, we reframe the local streetscape as a giant, interactive picture book, demonstrating how road safety education naturally drives early language and literacy.

Aligning with EYLF V2.0 Outcome 5, the team discusses how real-world experiences—like decoding environmental print and using "commentary walking"—build rich oral language and critical thinking in young children.

The conversation covers practical ways to weave vital road safety messages into play-based learning using Kids and Traffic's free resources. Our guests highlight how educators can use DIY storybook templates to co-create personalised books featuring photos of their own children, families, and local traffic environments. Amanda and Bec also share tips on using their 'Guidelines for Using Passenger Safety Photos' to ensure visual accuracy while sparking organic, collaborative safety conversations with families.

Tune in to learn how to capture children’s voices through safe journeys!

Find out more:
https://kidsandtraffic.mq.edu.au/
https://kidsandtraffic.mq.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Generic-16-Guidelines-for-using-passenger-safety-photos-Info-Sheet.pdf
If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving us a review on your favourite podcast platform.
Have questions or feedback? Connect with us on social media or email us at info@learnplaythrive.com.au
Connect with Us:
- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au
- Instagram: @learnplaythrive_
- Facebook: @Learn Play Thrive Australia
- Email: info@learnplaythrive.com.au

Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast! In this episode, host Simone Brand sits down with Dorothée Seeto, Director of Endless Play Studio.

Many early childhood services find themselves stuck, scattered, or dependent on a single passionate educator when it comes to sustainability practices. Dorothée delivers a powerful reframe to overcome this overwhelm - "Sustainability isn’t just an extra chore or green stuff like recycling bins, but the vital project of growing capable, connected and courageous 21st-century citizens".

The discussion unpacks how to drive a genuine culture of sustainability using a tailored, whole-of-centre approach. Dorothée explains how leaders can anchor the journey of sustainability in their service's unique philosophy, existing routines and team strengths. By making every educator feel valued, teams can build a shared, place-based vision where environmental education brings everyone joy rather than feeling like a box-ticking exercise.

Listeners will walk away with highly practical strategies to weave sustainability across the curriculum. Educators are invited to step into the role of curious co-researchers who slow down, follow the children’s lead, and turn everyday play into learning for a sustainable future.

Tune in to discover how your leadership can help every educator see the unique, irreplaceable value they bring to a regenerative early years environment!

Find out more:
www.instagram.com/endless_play_studio/
www.linkedin.com/company/endless-play-studio/
If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving us a review on your favourite podcast platform.
Have questions or feedback? Connect with us on social media or email us at info@learnplaythrive.com.au
Connect with Us:
- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au
- Instagram: @learnplaythrive_
- Facebook: @Learn Play Thrive Australia
- Email: info@learnplaythrive.com.au

Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Play Provocations podcast mini-series with host Linda Harrison! In this episode, Linda is joined by Dr. Kate Highfield, Head of School for the School of Teacher Education at the University of Canberra. As a co-author of Early Childhood Australia’s updated 'Statement on Young Children and Digital Technologies', Dr. Highfield shares ways digital tools can be used as open-ended loose parts that interact with the physical world to deeply enrich wonder, investigation, and creative agency.

The discussion unpacks vital planning considerations from the revised ECA statement, highlighting the four key pillars -  Relationships, Health and Wellbeing, Citizenship, and Play and Pedagogy. Dr. Highfield explains that intentional digital play should never be about passive screen consumption. Instead, technology must sit comfortably alongside gross motor and messy play, ensuring children remain content creators who control the technology rather than being controlled by it.

Listeners will walk away with three highly practical, EYLF-aligned digital play provocations. You'll explore ways to use digital backdrops to expand dramatic play, use a wireless magnifying wand to inspire detailed charcoal drawings of nature, and "Soundscape Architects" which embeds child-recorded audio directly into block construction. Tune in to discover how to merge the digital and physical worlds to build a truly holistic early learning ecosystem!
Find out more:
https://digitalchild.org.au/educators/
https://www.deakin.edu.au/faculty-of-arts-and-education/research/centre-of-excellence-for-the-digital-child
https://katehighfield.com/about-kate/
If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving us a review on your favourite podcast platform.
Have questions or feedback? Connect with us on social media or email us at info@learnplaythrive.com.au
Connect with Us:
- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au
- Instagram: @learnplaythrive_
- Facebook: @Learn Play Thrive Australia
- Email: info@learnplaythrive.com.au