Best Practice for the Modern World (West Coast)

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2025 Early Childhood Best Practice Conference: "Putting the Pieces Together"

Date: 17 & 18 May 2025

Location: The Montessori School Kingsley, Perth, WA

About the Conference

Join us for the 2025 Montessori Early Childhood Best Practice Conference, themed "Putting the Pieces Together". This event will bring educators, parents, and professionals together to explore best practices in early childhood education, focusing on risk-taking, digital technology, holistic approaches, and connecting with children in a rapidly changing world.

Key Highlights

• Inspiring keynote sessions from renowned Montessori educators.
• Workshops focusing on innovative teaching strategies, Montessori therapy, and mental health.
• Networking opportunities with other educators and industry experts.
• Interactive presentations on the latest in early childhood education, including digital technology's role and mental health in education.
• Conference Party: Enjoy food, networking, and dancing at our exciting party to celebrate the success of the conference!

Conference Venue

The event will be held at The Montessori School Kingsley, Australia’s longest-running Montessori school, overlooking picturesque Lake Goollelal. We are excited to showcase their new multi-purpose facilities, which provide a unique environment for early childhood education.

Programme Schedule

Day 1 - 17 May

8:30am - 9:00am

Registration, Networking & Exhibitors

9:00am - 9:15am

Conference Welcome - Guest MC Oliver Heatherington-Paige

9:15am - 10:15am

Montessori Therapy - Lucette van Someren Boyd
Exploring Montessori therapy, the role of the therapist, and practical help for children facing challenges in the classroom.

10:15am - 10:45am

Montessori in Australia - Sector Update - Cara Morris
Insights into the growth of Montessori in Australia, its impact, and future directions.

10:45am - 11:15am

Morning Tea, Networking & Exhibitors

11:15am - 12:15pm

Risky Business - Disrupting the Status Quo - Catherine Reed Holmes
A discussion on risk-taking behaviours in children, fostering independence, and critiquing the status quo.

12:15pm - 1:15pm

Lunch, Networking & Exhibitors

1:15pm - 2:15pm

The Connection Crisis - Jason Alexander
Addressing the global challenge of connection, effective communication, and fostering a strong sense of belonging in children.

2:15pm - 3:15pm

Digital Technology: Friend or Foe? - Mark Powell
Exploring the role of digital technology in Montessori education, its strengths, limitations, and its impact on childhood.

3:15pm - 3:45pm

Afternoon Tea, Networking & Exhibitors

3:45pm - 4:45pm

Re-wiring the Frazzled Brain - Rachel Cavanagh
Practical activities for supporting neuro-diverse children in handling change, emotional regulation, and learning.

4:45pm - 5:30pm

Break & Networking

5:30pm - 6:00pm

Tales, Tunes and Trivia - Oliver Heatherington-Paige
Songs, anecdotes, and a fun quiz to get ready for the evening festivities.

6:00pm - 10:30pm

Conference Party - Networking, food, and dancing to celebrate the day!

Day 2 - 18 May

7:00am - 8:00am

Optional: Breakfast Session

8:00am - 8:30am

Arrival, Networking & Exhibitors

8:30am - 9:30am

The Big Picture: MACTE and the Future of the Montessori Movement - Dr Rebecca Pelton
Discussing the role of accreditation in Montessori education and the future of Montessori educator preparation.

9:30am - 10:30am

True Then - True Today - Vicki McKinnon
Evaluating societal changes, navigating regulatory pressures, and staying true to Montessori principles.

10:30am - 11:00am

Morning Tea, Networking & Exhibitors

11:00am - 12:00pm

Nourishing Modern Minds - Belinda Smith
Exploring the critical role food plays in children’s learning, behaviour, and brain health.

12:00pm - 12:30pm

Lunch, Networking & Exhibitors

12:30pm - 1:30pm

What’s the Point? - Susan Chahwan
Showcasing Dr Montessori's theory in action, discussing model environments, and their impact on social change.

1:30pm - 2:30pm

Is Leading Your School Sucking the Life Out of You? - Elizabeth Goor
Addressing challenges in school leadership, including workload, teacher shortages, and strategies to improve school environments.

2:30pm

Conference Close

Speaker Details

Jason Alexander

A passionate advocate for holistic education and the power of meaningful connections, Jason co-owns I Am Education and has over 18 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, including six years as a Montessori Director. He specialises in guiding children’s behaviours and fostering deep connections to help them thrive authentically. He is also the author of 'Sprout to Soar: Connecting to the Potential of Children'.

Rachel Cavanagh

An educational therapist from Brisbane, Rachel works across disciplines including literacy, language, and functional skills. She is also an advocate for people with neurodiversity and a mother of three neuro-diverse teenagers. Rachel has developed practical activities to support neuro-diverse children in handling change, emotional regulation, and learning.

Susan Chahwan

Susan Chahwan is an experienced Montessori educator who has worked extensively on demonstrating Dr Montessori's theory in action through model environments and community outreach.

Elizabeth Goor

Elizabeth Goor is a school leadership expert who has been helping Montessori schools tackle challenges such as teacher shortages, workload management, and creating positive environments for both educators and students.

Oliver Heatherington-Paige

Oliver Heatherington-Paige is a talented MC and entertainer known for his engaging storytelling, music, and trivia activities. He brings a lively and interactive element to the conference, helping attendees unwind and enjoy.

Vicki McKinnon

Vicki McKinnon has been involved in Montessori education for over 30 years. She provides insights into maintaining Montessori principles while navigating societal changes and regulatory pressures.

Cara Morris

Cara Morris is an experienced Montessori practitioner who has played a significant role in the growth of Montessori education in Australia. She has dedicated her career to improving early childhood education practices and empowering educators.

Mark Powell

A Montessori educator with over 27 years of experience, Mark has published widely on Montessori education and designed many classroom materials. He delivers workshops internationally and is currently the Director of Education Services at Montessori Australia. Mark is known for his workshops on relationship building in Montessori environments.

Dr Rebecca Pelton

Dr Rebecca Pelton is the President of MACTE (Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education) and is an advocate for Montessori accreditation worldwide. Her work focuses on the future of Montessori educator preparation.

Rachel Cavanagh

An educational therapist from Brisbane, Rachel works across disciplines including literacy, language, and functional skills. She is also an advocate for people with neurodiversity and a mother of three neuro-diverse teenagers. Rachel has developed practical activities to support neuro-diverse children in handling change, emotional regulation, and learning.

Belinda Smith

Belinda Smith is a nutritionist and educator focusing on the role of nutrition in children's learning, behaviour, and brain health. She brings a wealth of knowledge on how proper nutrition supports educational outcomes.

Lucette van Someren Boyd

A nurse with post-graduate qualifications in Child and Family Health Nursing, Lucette is also an early childhood teacher with a Master's in Special Education. She has studied Montessori Applied to Children at Risk (MACAR) and is a board member of the Montessori Medical Partnership for Inclusion.