Show Notes
In this episode of Learn Play Thrive, host Simone Brand sits down with Andrew Paterson, CEO of Family Day Care Australia (FDCA). With over a decade of leadership at the national peak body, Andrew pulls back the curtain on the unique strengths of the family day care (FDC) model and how it serves as a high-quality pillar of the early childhood sector. We dive into FDCA’s pivotal role as a fierce advocate for quality across the sector, discussing how they represent members in national forum to s...
More from Learn Play Thrive Early Education Podcast
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 discussion explores the immense cognitive, emotional, and administrative load carried by parents of ne...
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 deeper, emotional journey about courage, loneliness, and finding connection. Aligned with EYLF V2.0, the ...
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 light, room shape, and community context shape physical environments. Together, they discuss how educators ca...
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 women feel isolated in today's fragmented healthcare and social systems. This introductory episo...
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 young child’s sense of belonging and wellbeing, communicate a teaching team's core values, and fo...