SDN Children's Services Conference 2008

From one stop shops to places of encounter: Rethinking early childhood services

Friday 12 September

Around 300 early childhood workers, practitioners, students, policy makers and academics stood side-by-side at SDN's conference on Friday 12 September to contribute to the rethinking of early childhood services in Australia.

The huge interest in SDN's conference, From one stop shops to places of encounter: rethinking early childhood services, demonstrated the commitment of the sector to find a new way forward for children's services in Australia. It also showed a willingness to participate in opportunities to learn and share ideas on what early childhood services should be.

Delegates were inspired by the range of presenters and treated to the internationally respected early childhood thinker and inaugural SDN Lady Fairfax Scholar, Professor Peter Moss from the University of London.

Professor Moss' presentation encouraged rethinking of current practices in Australia and offered alternative ideas about early childhood services, incorporating examples from around the world.

The four streams addressed on the day - Rethinking Families, Rethinking Children, Rethinking Communities and Rethinking the Workplace offered insights into key areas of the early childhood field and provided an opportunity for delegates to contribute to recommendations that will be put to the Federal Government.

Click here for SDN's conference recommendations to Government.

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