Something new is coming to the Lake Macquarie Early Childhood Resource Market!

On Saturday 7 November, educators can combine a day of resource shopping, connection and inspiration with a program of affordable professional-development sessions.

Choose one session or join us for the complete program, featuring practical learning about critical reflection, early intervention, slow pedagogy, multiliteracies and schematic play, and bringing First Nations children’s books to life.

Every session has been designed to offer practical ideas you can take back to your early childhood setting and use straight away.

Gather your team, plan your sessions and make a day of it.

Workshop Session: More Than a Story: Bringing First Nations Children’s Books to Life with Jessica Staines

Join Jessica Staines for a lively pop-up session exploring some of her favourite First Nations children’s books and the many ways they can enrich early childhood programs. Discover how thoughtfully selected stories can become springboards for meaningful conversations, investigations and play-based learning—helping educators embed culture across the curriculum and scaffold children’s understanding of Country, community, identity and belonging.

This practical session will also consider the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children seeing their cultures, families and experiences reflected positively in the books and learning environments around them. Participants will leave with fresh inspiration and practical ideas for taking First Nations stories beyond the bookshelf and bringing them
meaningfully into everyday practice.

Workshop Session: When Critical Reflection Asks ‘Why Do We Do It Like That’? with Ella De La Motte

Ever had one of those moments where someone asks, “Why do we do it that way?” and the only answer you can think of is… “Well, we just do!”

That’s where critical reflection gets interesting. This fun and practical session takes critical reflection out of the paperwork pile and puts it back where it belongs, in the conversations, questions and everyday moments that make us stop and think.

We’ll explore what critical reflection actually looks like, why it’s different from simply reflecting on what went well (or what went completely pear-shaped!), and how asking better questions can uncover assumptions, habits and practices we may not have questioned for years.

We’ll play with some “But why/What if/Says who?” thinking, look at everyday early childhood scenarios from different perspectives, and explore how to make critical reflection something teams can actually enjoy doing together.

No essays. No pages of reflective writing. No complicated templates. Just curiosity, good conversations and a willingness to occasionally ask:

“Hang on… why ARE we doing it like that?”

Educators will leave with practical questions and ideas they can use straight away to get their teams thinking, talking and, most importantly, doing something with what they
discover.

Workshop Session: Beyond the Activity: Discovering Learning Through Multiliteracies with Janine Kelly

What if we looked beyond what children are doing and explored the thinking, communication and learning taking place beneath the surface?

Drawing on Janine Kelly’s book, The Connected Child, this engaging presentation explores how multiliteracies, schematic-driven pedagogy and green-screen technology can come together to create meaningful learning opportunities in early childhood education.

Through research-informed insights and practical examples, participants will discover how children communicate and construct meaning through movement, gesture, storytelling, visual imagery and digital experiences.

Real examples of children exploring outer space, hatching dinosaurs and travelling through the Rocky Mountains demonstrate how educators can recognise schematic patterns, respond to children's interests and extend learning through imaginative digital play.

Guided by Janine’s CONNECT – REGULATE – GUIDE – REFLECT framework, this presentation encourages educators to move beyond simply providing activities and consider how intentional teaching can make children's thinking and learning visible.

A little something extra! Participants will also have the opportunity to enter a prize draw, with two exciting giveaways: one FREE copy of The Connected Child and one FREE green screen to inspire creative learning experiences in their own early childhood setting.

Workshop Session: Changing Futures Through Early Intervention with Kate Kelso & Bronwyn Stratford

Early childhood professionals are often among the first to notice when a child may need additional support. Knowing how to document developmental concerns and use evidence-based screening tools recognised by medical specialists and the NDIS can help professionals identify when further assessment or support may be beneficial, while providing families with clear, meaningful information to guide their next steps.

In this engaging 45-minute presentation, discover the powerful role early childhood professionals play in identifying concerns, recognising strengths, supporting families, and connecting children with early intervention and other valuable supports. We will explore what early childhood intervention is, the benefits it can provide, and how early childhood professionals can support intervention pathways within their professional role.

Workshop Session: What if we just slowed down? with Nicole Halton

What if we stopped asking so many questions and listened more instead?

What if we spent time just being with children?

What if routines became moments of connection rather than hurried checklists?

In this transformative session, we'll explore how the relentless pace of modern life impacts both children and educators. Through the lens of Slow Pedagogy, you'll discover why unhurried time is not a luxury but a necessity for meaningful learning and sustainable practice.

You'll walk away with:

A deeper understanding of how hurried schedules affect children's wellbeing, play quality, and learning outcomes
Practical strategies to protect uninterrupted play time and create space for wonder
Tools to reframe routine moments (meals, nappy changes, transitions) as opportunities for connection
Confidence to advocate for a slower, more intentional approach with families and leadership
Techniques to reduce educator burnout by shifting from task-completion to relationship-focused practice

This is about giving yourself permission to do less, but with greater presence and purpose. Join us to rediscover the joy of being with children, not just managing them.

Contact the host of "Early Childhood Resources Christmas Market & Professional Development" Lake Macquarie, NSW