Montessori Australia Presents

FREE CERTIFIED WORKSHOP SERIES

Practical Montessori insights for a kinder, brighter world

Join Montessori Australia for a free, certified workshop series featuring special guests, hosted by Montessori Australia’s Director of Educational Services, Mark Powell.

Play as the Child’s Work

Self-Directed Play and Democracy Beyond the Prepared Environment

Meet your presenter

Derek Sheppard

Montessori Australia Executive Member Appointee

What becomes possible when play is truly recognised as the child’s work?

This webinar explores how Montessori’s insight that spontaneous activity is the child’s work can be lived more fully through free, self-directed play and democratic responsibility within a Sudbury-model environment.

Drawing on experiences of the democratic Sudbury model, Derek will examine what happens when students decide how to use their time—and when School Meeting and peer accountability give that freedom genuine structure.

Participants will hear short examples of play, learning and later pathways, and consider what these practices may offer Montessori classrooms when adults step back from leading activity or inserting teachable moments.

Play as Meaningful Work

Explore how spontaneous, self-directed play supports concentration, creativity, problem-solving and the construction of the child’s developing self.

Freedom with Responsibility

Consider what happens when students have genuine freedom to determine how they use their time while remaining responsible to a shared community.

Democracy and Peer Accountability

Examine how School Meeting, shared decision-making and peer accountability provide structure while allowing students to participate meaningfully in community life.

When Adults Step Back

Reflect on what children may discover when adults resist directing activity, interrupting concentration or turning children’s interests into teachable moments.

When children are trusted with meaningful freedom, play can become a powerful pathway towards independence, responsibility, learning and belonging.

About Derek

Derek Sheppard first encountered Montessori education in approximately 1994, when he and his family joined a working group of parents, teachers and community members researching options for an independent school in the Maleny area of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast hinterland.

Although the group ultimately chose the democratic Sudbury Valley model as the best fit at the time, Montessori remained a point of fascination for Derek. Years later, extended conversations with the mother of a boarding student deepened his appreciation for Dr Maria Montessori’s philosophy and its enduring relevance.

With a professional background spanning two decades in banking, Derek has served as a founding director, chair, treasurer or secretary for a range of not-for-profit organisations and cooperatives. These include Queensland Crime Stoppers, an arts cooperative, a retail health food shop and the cooperative that established and operated his school.

Derek has also built and grown his own small gardening business. His experience attending conferences and visiting schools across Australia and overseas has reinforced his strong belief in educational choice—empowering parents and children to select an approach that aligns with their learning needs and values.

Derek and his wife have been happily married since 1977. Together, they have raised five independent and individual adult sons and now enjoy spending time with their grandchildren.

Derek is delighted to support Montessori Australia, helping to build awareness of Montessori education and contributing to the continued growth of the Montessori movement across Australia.

Fresh perspectives. Meaningful connections.

Created for parents, teachers and educational leaders across the globe, these engaging sessions offer practical insights and fresh perspectives to help you support children’s learning, development and wellbeing.

Drawing on our guests’ experiences, we will explore how Montessori principles can strengthen relationships, inspire purposeful learning and contribute to a kinder, brighter world.

Whether you are new to Montessori or looking to deepen your existing knowledge, you’ll leave with meaningful ideas that can be applied at home, in the classroom or across your educational community.

Who should attend?

Montessori Guides and educators
School and early learning leaders
Parents and caregivers
Montessori program administrators
Educators interested in self-directed and democratic education
Anyone interested in play, student agency or educational choice

What’s included?

An introduction to self-directed play in a democratic Sudbury-model environment
Examples of play, learning and later pathways
Insights into School Meeting and peer accountability
Ideas for supporting meaningful freedom and student agency
A personalised certificate of attendance
The opportunity to connect with the global Montessori Australia community

Included with your registration

Certificate of attendance

Participants who attend the workshop will receive a personalised Montessori Australia certificate of attendance. You must register to ensure your certificate is generated.

Workshop cost

Free

Registration is required

Join us on the evening

Watch live on YouTube

Open the livestream and select “Notify Me” to receive an email notification when we go live.

Livestream link coming soon

Places may be limited, so register early to secure your spot.

Presented by Montessori Australia

People • Purpose • Possibilities

Contact the host of Montessori Australia Presents: Play as the Child’s Work: Self-Directed Play and Democracy Beyond the Prepared Environment

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