Our fifth national conference welcomed 152 hub leaders, school leadership, support coordinators, support agency managers and special guests across the network to Melbourne. Attendees had the opportunity to connect and collaborate across the 2 ½ day program visiting community hubs, local sites and at the conference venue, RACV City Club. Keynote speakers and presentations from the network energised and inspired us all. Attendees reflected feeling welcomed, empowered, motivated and connected.
To see some photos from across the two days, click here.
Conference keynote speakers
We were excited to have Daniel Teitelbaum and Lucy Truelson as our keynote speakers. Daniel and Lucy were invited to share, inspire and influence the network and to encourage new ways of connecting with others.
Daniel Teitelbaum – Playful Thinking
Daniel taught us how easy it is to incorporate little elements of play into everything we do – how it helps us grow, learn and thrive. He also reminded us that play is a universal language. Given our hubs connect with culturally and linguistically diverse communities, the wonderful thing about play is that it speaks every language.
Lucy Truelson – Melbourne Zoo
As an elephant project officer at Melbourne Zoo, Lucy taught us about the similarities between creating social cohesion amongst animals and humans and offered us a unique perspective into different methods of working to achieve a common goal, and adapting one’s approach to who you are working with, rather than the system you’re working within.
Principals panel
School principals took part in a panel discussion where they discussed the value, they see in having a community hub in their school and in their community. It was wonderful to hear reflections from the panel including: “Hubs in schools are vital”, “hubs give people a voice” and “hubs are about, for and grow community”.
Facilitator: Laban Toose – Sunbury Heights Primary School, VIC
Panel members: Julie Murphy – Elizabeth Vale Primary School, SA, Darrell Sard – Kelso State School, QLD, Debbie Cottier – Springvale Rise Primary School, VIC, Alison Bretag – St Dominic’s Primary School, VIC, Harold Cosier – Wollongong Public School, NSW
Hub leader presentations
Hub leaders, support coordinators and school staff presented their programs and initiatives focusing on the pillars of the hubs program: engagement, early childhood, English and vocational pathways. It was an opportunity to share knowledge, showcase skills and experience and learn together as a network.
To help you find a particular speaker and view their slides, see the list of titles below with the time they appear in the video.
Community engagement: welcoming family Mei Hsin – Stevensville Primary School, VIC (0:00 – 13:14)
Celebrating connection – a collaborative partnership between Dandenong South and Springvale Rise hubs Regina Moore – Dandenong South Primary School and Julie Raciti – Springvale Rise Primary School, VIC (13:14 – 20:58)
Engagement through song Bahareh Bidabin – Acacia Ridge State School, Mandy Cox – Communify, Louise Armstrong – Grand Avenue State School, Jo Franolich – Zillmere State School and Paola Caballero – Inala State School, QLD (20:58 – 32:23)
Sunbury Heights Koorie Playgroup
Silvia Amici – Hume City Council, Sharon Ramunno – Sunbury Heights Primary School and Raquel Stewart – Sunbury Aboriginal Corporation, VIC (0:00 – 12:47)
Language and culture
Liz Arcus – St Georges Road Primary School, VIC (12:47 – 25:05)
Paediatricians in primary schools
Cass Beckham and Vicky Haynes – Truganina South Primary School, Anna Cartwright – Paediatric registrar, Werribee Mercy Hospital, VIC (25:05 – 39:46)
Swimming program
Helen Grdic – Heckenberg Public School, Silvana Lofaro – Hoxton Park Public School and Nivek Aoun – Marsden Road Public School, NSW (0:00 – 13:31)
Writing our stories
Liesl Shipard – Salisbury Primary School and Carole Smith – St Augustine’s Parish School, SA (13:31 – 24:19)
Unpacking possibilities: going beyond the four pillars of community hubs
Regina Moore – Dandenong South Primary School and Glenis Cheyne – Holy Family Primary School Doveton, VIC (24:19 – 39:40)
Reclink’s dance fitness
Sivananthini Suresan – Bert Oldfield Public School and Seetha Srinivasan – Rydalmere Public School, NSW (The recording is not available on request from hub participants)
Employment pathways – The Social Outfit
Jane Poi-Terekia – Granville Public School and Kimberley Massey – Westmead Public School, NSW (0:00 – 10:17)
Building relationships with volunteers
Maureen Leahy – Meadows Primary School, VIC (10:17 – 18:08)
‘Learning from leaders’ webinar series