Last week, OMEP Australia had the privilege of attending the 2025 Early Childhood Australia (ECA) Conference in Brisbane. The conference theme: Realising the vision: An integrated future for the early years brought together thought leaders, educators, and advocates in the early childhood sector, offering a platform for discussion, learning, and collaboration.
Key Themes and Takeaways
The conference’s keynote presentations were insightful and covered diverse themes:
- Celebrating and supporting the workforce
- Play in curriculum, pedagogy and praxis
- Welcoming transdisciplinary practice
- Leading a sustainable future
- Future directions in digital technologies
A key highlight of our presence at the conference was the launch of OMEP Australia’s new resource, aimed at embedding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into early childhood education. This resource was developed to support educators in integrating sustainability practices and global citizenship into their everyday teaching. The response to the launch was overwhelmingly positive, and we were thrilled to see educators engaging with the material and thinking deeply about how to incorporate the SDGs into their own curricula.
The conference itself provided a wealth of knowledge-sharing opportunities, with diverse sessions covering everything from innovative teaching practices to the latest research in child development. As participants, we had the opportunity to network with other professionals in the field, sharing insights and experiences that will undoubtedly enhance the work we do at OMEP Australia.
Attending conferences like this not only increases our understanding of current trends in early childhood education but also strengthens our connections with educators across the country. The experience has reinvigorated our commitment to advocating for children’s rights and sustainability through early education. We are excited to continue these conversations and partnerships, ensuring that Australia’s youngest learners are empowered to create a more sustainable and equitable future.
Networking and Professional Growth
Attending the conference allowed us to not only share OMEP Australia’s mission and initiatives but also to connect with passionate educators and industry leaders. The networking opportunities were invaluable, providing a platform to collaborate on future projects and build partnerships that will strengthen early childhood education in Australia.
Looking Forward
We left the ECA Conference invigorated and ready to continue our work advocating for children’s rights, sustainability, and high-quality education. We are excited to see how our new SDG resource will be used by educators across Australia to empower children to think critically about the world and their role in creating a better future.
