Anxiety-Informed Practice
Helping Worried Children Thrive in Group Settings
– by Bec Warr and Connie Borg
Child Australia
Understanding the distinction between everyday anxiety, which is a normal part of development, and persistent anxiety that hampers a child’s ability to engage, learn, and build connections with others is crucial. By exploring effective strategies, we can support children’s participation, create a sense of belonging, and strengthen their relationships with peers in group settings. Furthermore, incorporating regulation tools and calming techniques into daily routines can boost emotional well-being and significantly alleviate anxiety.
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Bec holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Children and Family Studies), Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care and Certificate IV in Government Statutory Compliance. After working as an Early Childhood Educator and a Community Liaison Officer in education, Bec commenced employment with the Department of Communities and worked in various roles within the Education and Care Regulatory Unit (ECRU) for over 16 years.
Bec has a wealth of experience with legislative/compliance requirements, investigation processes and quality assurance surrounding service delivery and the Assessment and Rating process. She has also worked in regional and remote areas across WA. After building a rich network of relationships within the early childhood sector, Bec now seeks to provide professional support to services and the early childhood community through training, consultancy and mentoring.
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Connie has over 25 years’ experience in a variety of community and education and care services, specialising in infants and toddlers. Along with strong community involvement, Connie believes support and guidance to build educator capacity is the best way to drive quality sustainable practice.
Connie has been with Child Australia for over three years and is passionate about the professional development and growth of educators in the Early Education and Care sector.
A Secret to Sucess
– by Andrea Broughton
Early Childhood Outreach
The A SECRET framework is the invention of Dr Lucy-Jane Miller of the STAR institute for SPD in Colorado, USA.
Since 2019, the A SECRET framework has been presented, by Early Childhood Outreach, to educators all across Victoria through the School Readiness Funding package and Innovative Solutions funding. Many centres have learnt how to collaborate internally and externally in order to create success using the knowledge they have of the individual child, or group of children. This process was designed originally for children who are experiencing significant difficulty remaining regulated in an environment due to Sensory Processing Difficulties/Disorder, but can be applied to any person with sensory differences whether they are due to Neurodivergence, impacts of trauma, FASD or brain injury.
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Andrea has a background in Education and Early Intervention. She has a passion for creating Neurodiversity-affirming communities by raising awareness of the challenges and opportunities which can be present for Neurodivergent individuals. She combined her professional knowledge and personal experience with her passion when she founded Early Childhood Outreach – an Inclusion Consultancy offering a range of coaching and training supports online and face to face to educators across Metro and rural Australia, and Internationally.
A Calm Brain is a Thinking Brain
Connecting Neuroscience to the Design of the Learning Environment
– by Dr Kathryn Murra
Future Strong Education Consultancy
Discover how to create early childhood learning environments that support calm, connection, and deep thinking in this engaging 45-minute session. “A Calm Brain is a Thinking Brain” explores the revolutionary Brain-SET Environments Formula®, a neuroscience-based framework that helps educators design specifically curated spaces where children experience a sense of safe, are emotionally connected, and inspired to learn. Learn practical strategies to organize classrooms with intentional layouts, soothing sensory elements, and open-ended materials that foster creativity, self-regulation, collaboration and learning. See real examples of transformed environments from across the world and gain tools to calm the classroom and boost engagement. Perfect for early childhood educators seeking to enhance wellbeing and cognitive growth through thoughtful environment design that supports the developing brain.
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Dr Kathryn Murray is passionate about creating opportunities to give children the best possible start in life. She is proud to be the founder of Future Strong Education Consultancy, based in Australia. She is the creator of the original Brain-SET Environments Formula®, an early childhood pedagogy. Kathryn works globally and is grateful to have had the opportunity to support children, educators, teams, leaders and parents to be all they can be.