What is this a taster for?

Our professional development forums, coming to Perth and Brisbane in mid-2025, are designed for educators and professionals who support the healthy development and learning of children.

These forums focus on the growing challenges of emotional regulation in children. You’ll dive into topics like:

- Why emotional regulation is more critical than ever.
- How the outdoors, movement, play, and connection support self-regulation and co-regulation.
- Practical tools to help children feel calm, connected, and ready to learn.

This free taster session offers a sneak peek into the key ideas and tools explored in the full forums. It’s your chance to meet the presenters, ask questions, and get inspired about how we can support children’s emotional well-being before tackling educational goals.

Join us for this short session to start discovering why regulation before education is the foundation for healthy learning and development.

Speakers:

Madeline Avci
jumpupforkids.com.au
Madeline is the founder of Jump Up For Kids, South East Queensland's only Outdoor Paediatric Occupational Therapy practice. With a deep passion for children's well-being, she advocates for a balanced approach to child development, emphasising the importance of being outdoors, play, movement and real-life connections. Through her professional practice and personal experience as a parent, Madeline witnesses the sheer delight in the children's faces as they conquer the challenges presented by nature.

Drawing on over 30 years of expertise in Occupational Therapy, teaching, running backpacker's hostels and parenting, Madeline has channeled her knowledge into Jump Up For Kids. The organisation strives to provide children and their families with a 'just right' experience in a world that often feels rushed and stressful. Through a range of service, including outdoor OT, outdoor play programs, professional development initiatives and inter-sector collaboration, Jump Up For Kids empowers children, families and communities to cultivate independence and resilience in their daily lives.

Madeline's dedication and expertise make a profound impact on the lives of those she serves, learning a lasting legacy of support and enrichment.

Cath Fitzhardinge
https://www.cathfitzot.com.au/
Cath is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience working in rural, remote and urban settings. She understands that meaningful access to nature is essential for humans to thrive and is a critical determinant of health and wellbeing. Cath supports children, families, schools and organisations to embrace nature connection, health and wellbeing through meaningful occupation (e.g. nature play) to foster resilience, confidence, curiosity and kindness.

Cath is completing a Masters of Philosophy (Arts & Sciences) at Notre Dame University Australia where she is researching play opportunities and the utilisation of an intentionally designed nature play space in a primary school setting to support children’s health, wellbeing and learning.

Having grown up in small West Australian country towns, Cath deeply values the richness and connection that being, and playing outdoors brings to children, particularly to those living in busy urban environments. Cath shares this passion with her children, their friends and all the children and families she works with, and is so grateful to be living, playing and learning on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja (Perth, WA).

Daniel Burton
www.educatedbynature.com
Daniel is the CEO and co-founder of Educated by Nature, a world leader in play-based nature education since its establishment in 2014. With a background as a qualified primary school teacher, education consultant, rites of passage facilitator, musical theatre artist and passionate nature connection mentor, Daniel plays a pivotal role in shaping the organisation's vision and initiatives.

Drawing from over ten years of experience working with thousands of Australian children, Educated by Nature has developed a suite of research-based pedagogies aimed at bringing education outdoors and has gained international acclaim for its innovative approach to outdoor learning. Daniel aims to be a thought leader, sharing expertise through workshops, speaking engagements, and consultation sessions in Australia and further afield.

Daniel's passion for nature and commitment to holistic education shines through in his work. He combines current research with practical examples, drawing on a lifetime of learning and experience to provide comprehensive programs and transformative experiences for educators, parents, and children alike. Through Educated by Nature, Daniel continues to advocate for the importance of play and outdoor learning, empowering individuals to explore, discover, and thrive in nature's classroom.

Daniel is proud to be an Academic Sessional Teacher with Victoria University, a committee member for the Play Matters Collective, The Australian Forest School Association and the Chairperson of Mind the Change Inc.