Alex and Sophie are in conversation with Adrian Pattra-McLean in this episode, discussing how we can utilise skills we already have as educators to enhance teamwork, relationships, communication and accountability. With over 15-years of experience, Adrian is a well-respected professional consultant and educator with a Master of Education (Ed. Psychology) and a Bachelor of Education (Human Resources). Adrian has held various senior management roles in the Early Childhood Education sector...

In this episode, we chat with Adele Brown, an inspiring early childhood educator who has upskilled from her Diploma of Early Childhood Education to her Bachelor of Early Childhood Education. Adele shares what motivated her to return to study, the challenges she’s faced while balancing work, life, and learning, and the incredible support that’s helped her along the way. As she prepares to complete her degree this year, Adele reflects on how the journey has shaped her practice and what she hope...

Crystal is back in the recording studio with some books she's been itching to share! Join us for our third book club episode and get your pens ready - you'll want to take note of the books we're recommending today. Head over to our socials and let us know if you pick these titles up! Books discussed: The Magic Is In You by Brooke Vitale and Colin Hosten, illustrated by Grace Lee Bidhi Galing by Anita Heiss, illustrated by Samantha Campbell Be You by Peter H. Reynolds Australia: Country ...

Find yourself doing the same learning experiences over and over? Looking for some inspiration on different activities you can try? Welcome to the Educator Toolkit series from Shine On Podcast, where our Shine Bright educators share their practice, inspiration and ideas. First up - fine motor skills and group games! Thank you to Jas, Belinda, Katie and Shez for sharing their practice with us! Do you have a part of your practice you'd like to share with our Shine On listeners, or an educa...

They say it takes a village to raise a child... but how do we build the village? Wendy Irving and Mim Brown join us in this episode to discuss the benefits of the Shine Bright Supported Playgroup model and other family-centered projects run by Communities For Children Bendigo. Throughout the conversation we’ll explore Wendy and Mim’s important roles within the community, what their projects look like day-to-day, how they support children, families and community, and how they work throug...

Send us a text Welcome to this special episode of Shine On, where we explore Advice From Little Experts. We know that child’s voice is crucial to high quality early childhood education, so in this episode, we took some questions from educators and children, and asked our little experts for their input. You’ll hear a busy classroom in the background, children at work, and the beautiful chaos of learning with children. The questions our little experts pondered are: how do you show you're being ...

Send us a text In this episode, Alex, Crystal and Sophie are recording together for the first time in over a year! We’ll catch you up on what’s next for the pod, what we’ve been up to and share some early childhood recommendations. We’ve got some exciting episodes planned which we are SURE you will love! Head over to our social media @shineon_podcast to tell us the early childhood resources you can’t get enough of! Resources discussed: The Spoke – ECA blog Play School Show Time @t...

Send us a text Curious about simple and creative ways you can use an iPad for documentation in early childhood programs? Listen in as Rachel Minns from Tech Play Teach talks us through tips and tricks you can start using right now. Rachel is an experienced early years educator with a passion for integrating technology in purposeful, age-appropriate, and creative ways. As an Apple Professional Learning Specialist, she empowers educators to amplify children’s voices and agency through dig...

Send us a text Need a new book recommendation? Alex and Sophie have got you covered with five titles that are sure to be a hit with the children. Listen in to see why we love Come Over to My House by Sally Rippin and Eliza Hull, Owl Babies by Martin Waddell and Patrick Benson, Finding Our Heart by Thomas Mayor and Blak Douglas, The Book With No Pictures by BJ Novak, and The Five Rules of Friendship with Jess Sanders (with thanks to Affirm Press for sending this review copy to Sophie!)

Send us a text Vicki Hall is in conversation with Sophie and Alex, discussing gender justice and the significance of this work in early childhood education. In a time where gender-based violence is on the rise in Australia, the significance of this work cannot be overstated. Gender equity starts in early childhood, and in this episode Vicki talks us through how they are standing up for children – and how you can too. Over the last four years, Vicki and her team have been implementing an...

Send us a text On this episode we hear from Ana-Luisa Franco from Little Scientists. Come and hear fantastic examples of STEM in early childhood, the inquiry cycle, and Little Scientists recent experience partnering with Play School! Ana-Luisa Franco is the Training Facilitator and Content Developer at Little Scientists. As an Early Childhood Teacher, she believes in fostering educational environments that encourage exploration and thoughtful learning. With over 20 years of experience in earl...

Send us a text Alex and Sophie chat with Koralynn Dodds, Early Years Manager of Berrimba Childcare Centre in Echuca. Koralynn is a Yorta Yorta, Wiradjuri and Maori woman who has been an early childhood educator for 7 years. She is the mother of 8 young children, and attended Berrimba childcare herself as a child and now the Early Years Manager Koralynn has a strong passion for culture and children, and has been involved in early years committees to help support outcomes for children in ...

Welcome to the Shine On Book Club! Alex and Sophie share some book recommendations that could be great to use in your early childhood educational programs. (These books are recommendations only, please use your discretion when deciding whether or not these will be right for your children).

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 advocac...

Alex and Crystal are in conversation with mental health social worker Tracey Farrell. Tracey is known for her passion in supporting infants, children, young people and their families to achieve a felt sense of safety when accessing therapeutic support. Over the past 12 years, Tracey has worked across various children mental health and family services with the common thread of bringing an attachment and trauma informed lens to the work.Tracey taught at university for 7 years as a way of influe...

Alex and Sophie are in conversation with Susan Glencross, an educational and developmental psychologist at Strathmore Kids, which is a private practice that she runs with her partner Lauren. Susan grew up in the rural area of Darwin and completed her undergraduate studies there, but ended up in Melbourne pursuing her postgraduate training at the University of Melbourne.Susan came to the early childhood years as a new graduate, when she picked up a role as a therapist in an early interven...

Sophie and Crystal are in conversation with Georgina Goddard. Georgie is a teacher, Nominated Supervisor and Educational Leader at Marong Kindergarten. Before becoming an early childhood teacher, Georgie worked within the disability field for 14 years. From a young age she was lucky enough to experience advocating for, working alongside, and communicating with a large variety of children, teenagers, adults and families with varied needs and abilities. Those years of experiences and...

Sophie is on the other side of the microphone in this episode, as Crystal interviews Sophie and kindergarten teacher Milly Ruff about a style of planning and programming. This is an emergent planning style that Sophie developed and has since been implemented at multiple early childhood education services. It has been tried and tested, with the tick of approval from children, educators AND the Department of Education. Listen in to find out more! Example of Learning Wall format:https:...

Alex, Crystal and Sophie discuss a hot topic in early childhood education - assessment and rating! They share Shine Bright EYM's proven process for supporting early childhood services through assessment and rating, which has led to amazing A&R results.

Alex and Sophie are in conversation with Nicole Lees. Nicole is a consultant for Be You with Early Childhood Australia. Nicole’s background includes educator and leadership roles, consultancy and research. She spent several years working in the education sector in Japan and South Korea. Nicole’s experience in early childhood education across three different countries highlighted the significance of a sense of wellbeing. To follow this interest, Nicole undertook a Master of Childhood and...