Learn Play Thrive Early Education Podcast

In this second episode of Building Your Village—a special 10-part mini-series for the Learn Play Thrive podcast—host Simone Brand rejoins Kathryn Stoneman and Harriet Blannin-Ferguson from The Village Collective to deliver a practical "how-to" guide on intentionally constructing a support network during pregnancy. The discussion challenges the common habit of shifting focus toward suppor...

In this episode of the Learn Play Thrive: Early Education podcast, we welcome Dr. Claire Warden and tackle the thought-provoking question - "Is nature overrated?" Claire reframes the conversation by challenging how we define nature, arguing that viewing it as an external destination rather than an integral part of human existence creates an artificial divide. Drawing on Tim Ingold’s conc...

In this episode of Navigating the NQS, host Simone Brand continues the journey through Quality Area 6: Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities, taking a deep dive into Standard 6.2 (Collaborative Partnerships). Expanding the focus outward from family relationships to the broader community ecosystem, Simone explores how establishing strong inter-agency networks, local connections,...

In this episode of Learn Play Thrive, host Simone Brand welcomes Madeleine Jaine Lobsey, certified AuDHD coach, keynote speaker, advocate, and founder of Wondiverse. Diagnosed as AuDHD at 48, Madeleine draws on her deep lived experience and extensive background in the arts and community programs to help families, workplaces, and early childhood settings better understand neurodivergence. The discu...

In this episode of Learn Play Thrive’s Little Library, host Linda Harrison welcomes multi-talented author Anne Donaldson to celebrate her CBCA award-winning picture book, Derek (illustrated by Matt Shanks and published by Little Hare). The conversation delves into the charming world of Derek, a curious goldfish in a pet shop whose quest to answer life's big scientific questions leads to a dee...

In this episode of Learn Play Thrive, host Simone Brand welcomes back Pedagogical Coordinator Clare Comedoy for part two of an insightful discussion on infant and toddler pedagogy, focusing on the spaces we curate for our youngest learners. Clare breaks down why there is no single "recipe" for designing the perfect early childhood room, highlighting how architectural features, natural li...

In this debut episode of Building Your Village—an exclusive 10-part mini-series for the Learn Play Thrive podcast—host Simone Brand introduces Kathryn Stoneman (birth and postpartum doula) and Harriet Blannin-Ferguson (midwife, IBCLC lactation consultant, and early years nurse), the founders of The Village Collective. Together, they address the modern landscape of motherhood, exploring why so many...

In this episode of Learn Play Thrive, host Simone Brand welcomes Pedagogical Coordinator Clare Comedoy to explore the profound impact physical and relational environments have on infants and toddlers. Clare shares her deep perspective on early childhood pedagogy, unpacking why room design and learning spaces go far beyond basic setup and aesthetics. Together, they discuss how environments shape a...

Welcome back to our Road Safety in Early Education mini-series. where host Linda Harrison chats with road safety education experts Amanda Menzies and Bec Dunn from Kids and Traffic., In this epsiode, we explore how digital technology—when guided by intentional pedagogy and aligned with the Early Childhood Australia (ECA) Statement on Young Children and Digital Technologies—can serve as a powerful,...

In this special compilation episode of Learn Play Thrive, we head straight to the floor of the Semann and Slattery InspireX Conference. Host Simone Brand captures game-changing insights and passionate reflections from sector leaders and early childhood educators. Co-founder Anthony Semann kicks off the episode with a powerful challenge, asking us to consider what children might say if we truly lis...

Welcome back to Navigating the NQS, the National Quality Standard breakdown for licensed Early Childhood Education and Care settings in Australia. In this episode, host Simone Brand shifts our focus to Quality Area 6 - 'Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities', diving deep into Standard 6.1—Supportive relationships with families. Simone explores how moving beyond one-way...

Host Simone Brand sits down with Dina Petrakis, CEO of Ethnic Community Services (ECS), to dive into the vital role of cultural inclusion in early childhood education. Drawing on over 20 years of leadership in social justice, international aid, and refugee support, Dina shares her passion for empowering culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities and advocating for equitable access ac...

Celebrate the true spirit of Christmas in this episode of the Learn Play Thrive Little Library! Join host Linda Harrison as she sits down with award-winning illustrator Briony Stewart to discuss her 2026 CBCA Honour-winning picture book 'The Thing About Christmas' (authored by Jo Dabrowski, published by Little Book Press). The episode explores how this heartwarming, inclusive picture boo...

In this episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast, host Simone Brand sits down with early childhood teacher, advocate, and play therapist in training -- Emma Rattenbury. Bringing over 20 years of sector experience, Emma tackles the critical challenge of building a strong professional identity in early childhood education. The conversation dives deep into why a robust professional self-image is esse...

Music and movement take centre stage in this episode of Learn Play Thrive, as host Linda Harrison chats with Amanda Menzies and Bec Dunn from Macquarie University's Kids and Traffic program. Grounded in EYLF V2.0, the discussion highlights how educators can use the core elements of music—beat, tempo and timbre—to help children embody important road safety concepts through pretend play. From p...

In this episode of Learn Play Thrive, host Simone Brand sits down with Lisa Woodward and Michelle Weisbaum from Life Ed Australia—the powerhouse team behind the iconic Healthy Harold programs—to explore the evolving landscape of health, wellbeing, and innovation in early childhood. Together, they unpack what health literacy looks like in action for young children today. The discussion highlights t...

In this episode of Play Provocations, host Linda Harrison is joined by lead early childhood educator Michelle Jackson to explore the vital role of sensory play as a cornerstone of early learning. Grounded in research, the conversation highlights how intentional, open-ended sensory experiences form the neural baseline for children's holistic development.  Linda and Michelle discuss the importa...

In this special panel episode recorded live at the Pedagogy in Practice: Early Education Conference in Tamworth, the Learn Play Thrive podcast brings together four leading voices in early childhood education to explore the small, intentional decisions that shape transformative practice.  Consultant Kirsty Liljegren of The Creative Collection follows with an inspiring look at how educators can make...

In this episode of Navigating the NQS, host Simone Brand dives into Quality Area 5, Standard 5.2 to explore how early childhood settings support children in building sensitive, responsive peer relationships. Moving beyond basic group work, Simone breaks down Element 5.2.1 on collaborative learning, highlighting how educators can foster peer mentorship and facilitate long-term, child-led inquiry pr...

In this episode of Learn Play Thrive, host Simone Brand sits down with leading researcher Professor Sandie Wong to unpack groundbreaking ARC-funded research on the early childhood workforce crisis. Moving beyond stereotypes that undervalue early childhood education, Professor Wong provides hard evidence on the immense complexity, rapid task-switching, and specialised skills required of educators—h...

In this episode of Learn Play Thrive’s Little Library, host Linda Harrison sits down with acclaimed children's author Adelle Frittitta to discuss her heartwarming picture book 'My Nonno Loves'—a 2026 CBCA shortlisted title in the Early Childhood category.  This story explores intergenerational relationships and the non-verbal, everyday ways families communicate love across language...

In this episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast, host Simone Brand sits down with Amanda MacDonald, Early Learning Specialist at Education Services Australia (ESA). They discuss the national expansion of Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA), a government-backed, play-based digital language program into Foundation to Year 2 classrooms. Amanda shares how ELLA’s suite of 11 immersive, curriculu...

In this episode of the Learn Play Thrive mini-series on Road Safety in Early Education, we welcome back Amanda Menzies and Bec Dunn from Kids and Traffic—the Early Childhood Road Safety Education Program at Macquarie University. We explore how everyday travel and road safety education provide a meaningful context to spark children's early numeracy understandings. From tallying travel modes us...

In this special feature episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast celebrating Early Learning Matters Week 2026, host Simone Brand chats with three distinguished early childhood leaders—Mary-Louise Clifford (Nominated Supervisor, Glenning Valley Child Care Centre), alongside Kylie Wade (Director) and Ella Peers (Educational Leader) from Highland Grove Preschool. Together, they unpack the foundationa...

In this inspiring episode of our Play Provocations mini-series, host Linda Harrison is joined by lead early childhood educator Michelle Jackson to explore how intentional environmental design can elevate construction play into a rich hub for creativity, engineering, and storytelling.  Together, they unpack the pedagogical power of construction play—highlighting how manipulating open-ended mediums...