Let’s Talk Pedagogy

In this episode, Belinda Rouhan chats with Ash Phthalo, an OSHC educator at Erskineville, about embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into everyday practice. Ash shares their journey from uncertainty to confidence, highlighting a common barrier for educators, the fear of ‘getting it wrong’ and how taking small, intentional steps can build both knowledge and capability.  The...

In Part 1 of this episode, we explore intentional play-based learning in middle childhood, highlighting what play and play-based learning is and what play isn’t, how environments, resources and the educator mindset shape meaningful learning experiences. Intentional play-based learning is positioned as a child-centred approach where curiosity, creativity and exploration drive learning, moving away...

In Part 1 of this episode, we explored intentional play-based learning in middle childhood, highlighting what play and play-based learning is and what it isn’t. Play-based learning was positioned as a child-centred approach in which curiosity, creativity and exploration drive learning and intentionally moving away from directive, adult-led practices.  The episode described educators as facilitator...

In this episode, we explore child-led and inquiry-based learning in the preschool years, where children’s ideas, questions and interests shape the curriculum.  When children are central as co-contributors and collaborators, we honour their curiosity and capacity to construct knowledge. Through research, we value discussions and rich dialogue, problem-solving and creative exploration skills and opp...

When infants and toddlers feel safe, they play, and when they play, they learn.   In this episode, we explore what intentional play-based learning looks like alongside children from birth to three years, and how deeply it is woven into relationships, care and everyday moments.   For infants and toddlers, play doesn’t begin with learning experiences or resources. Rather, it begins with emotional sa...

Practitioner inquiry is often misunderstood; seen as complex, academic or something extra to fit into already busy days. In this episode, we gently reframe what inquiry really is and why it matters so deeply across all age groups.   At its heart, practitioner inquiry is about noticing, wondering, reflecting together and responding intentionally. It’s not about having the answers, rather about bein...

In this episode, we explore what children’s rights and empowerment look like at Gowrie NSW for our children aged birth through to 12 years.   Empowerment means children are active participants in what happens to, for and with them. For babies and toddlers, this isn’t about big decisions or special ‘activities’, rather it is about pace, touch, invitation and meaningful experiences where individual...

In this episode, we explore Playwork and what it means for Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) services. At its core, Playwork recognises play as freely chosen, personally directed and essential to children and young people’s wellbeing and development.  Join Belinda as she delves deep into Playwork and explains how Playwork has challenged her own thinking, expectations and biases. Discovering Playwor...

In this episode, we explore Primary Educator Relationships, through the lens of respectful relationships.  For infants and toddlers, Primary Educator Relationships are not about structure alone. They are about creating emotional safety through consistent, respectful and attuned relationships.  We unpack why the birth to three-year age group is such a critical period, particularly during the first...

In this episode, we introduce the purpose and vision behind the Gowrie NSW Education Hub podcast, Let’s Talk Pedagogy, and why creating space to talk deeply about pedagogy matters now more than ever.  We explore what pedagogy really means in early childhood education, its history, purpose, and the role it plays in shaping meaningful, ethical, and responsive practice. This episode invites you to lo...