Top End child care instructors receive free conference from community benefit fund

CHILD care educators across Darwin received a childcare aid on Saturday, thanks to a free Reggio Emilia teaching conference brought by one of the NT’s leading childcare directors

Territory educators were given a free conference over the weekend, learning about the Reggio Emilia philosophy.

CHILD care educators across Darwin received a childcare aid on Saturday, thanks to a free Reggio Emilia teaching conference brought by one of the NT’s leading childcare directors.

Malak Child Care Centre director and event organiser Jo Vlassco said the conference taught educators about the philosophy, which values the child as strong, capable and resilient, rich with wonder and knowledge.

“In August last year I attended a conference on Reggio Emilia facilitated by Deborah Harcourt from APECC (Asia Pacific Early Childhood Consultants) … after this conference I wanted my staff to be able to learn about it,” she said. “I applied to the Community Benefit Fund for $15,000 to allow us to bring Deborah back to Darwin and hold a conference that all my staff could attend.”

After receiving the grant in November, Ms Vlassco opened the conference up to educators across Darwin and held it on a Saturday so anyone could attend and directors didn’t have to worry about covering staff.

“This grant allowed us to hold the conference at the Mantra Pandanas in the city fully catered for and open it up to 100 educators free of charge,” she said.

“It has also allowed us to have Deborah work in our service at Malak for four days (this week) on the floor with staff to discuss and learn new ways to slowly implement parts of the Reggio Philosophy and practice in to our centre.”