Fifth year for successful child care conference

Monday 4 September

Some of Australia’s leading experts in the fast-growing sector of child care will be speaking in Coffs Harbour on Saturday 16 September at the 2006 TAFE NSW-North Coast Institute Children's Services Conference.

Last year’s conference attracted 180 delegates from as far as Sydney and the Gold Coast and this year’s conference includes a range of workshops and seminars that follow the theme of 'Making it Real'.

The theme reflects the vital role of early childhood educators in the development of the whole child and to focus on child care practice that engages children’s interests in a meaningful and beneficial way.   

Elizabeth McGregor, acting Institute Director, said the ongoing success of the conference reflected how important the issue of child care and services for children are to the NSW community.

"It is also a well-publicised skill-shortage area, and I’m delighted that this high-quality conference will help increase levels of skills and understanding for industry professionals in the region,” said Ms McGregor.

The conference program has been put together by the staff and students from Child and Family Services, Coffs Harbour Education Campus, and includes key note speaker Ms Caroline Fewster, Co-ordinator of the Children's Services Degree at Bond University.

Other presenters include Anne Stonehouse, author, academic conference speaker, presenter of professional development and consultant in both the USA and Australia for 30 years; Wendy Baldwin, Teaching  Director on the Gwydir Mobile Children's Services; Diane Duvall, Co-ordinator of Resource. Advisory and In-Service Training for Lady Gowrie and a wide range of expert educationalists in early childhood.