The Empowered and Resilient Educator

Monday 29th June 2026
6:00pm - 8:00pm New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria
6:00pm - 8:00pm Western Australia
​Tuesday 30th June 2026
6:30pm - 8:30pm New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria
6:00pm - 8:00pm South Australia, Northern Territory

The Empowered and Resilient Educator
Strengthening wellbeing, resilience, connection, and emotional safety in self, teams, and children

COURSE OVERVIEW
This two-hour interactive course supports early childhood educators to explore eight evidence-informed wellbeing and positive psychology pillars:​
  • Gratitude
  • Kindness
  • Joy
  • Play
  • Connectivity
  • Positive Psychology
  • Purpose
  • Goals
The course also explores how these pillars help build and support resilience within:
  1. Personal wellbeing (self)
  2. Professional relationships and team culture
  3. Children’s emotional wellbeing and development
Educators will develop practical strategies to:
  • strengthen emotional wellbeing and resilience
  • support nervous system regulation and emotional safety
  • build connected and supportive team cultures
  • embed resilience-building practices into everyday classroom experiences
  • model healthy coping, relationships, and emotional awareness for children
The course blends reflection, practical application, positive psychology, and real-world early childhood examples.

COURSE STRUCTURE
Welcome & Framing
Focus: Why educator wellbeing and resilience matter
Explore:
  • the connection between educator wellbeing and child wellbeing
  • emotional regulation and co-regulation
  • resilience as something that can be supported and strengthened
  • how emotionally safe environments support learning, behaviour, and relationships
Key Message:
“Children learn emotional regulation, resilience, and connection through relationships, modelling, and environment.”

LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of the course, educators will:
  • understand the 8 pillars of wellbeing and positive psychology
  • recognise the connection between wellbeing, resilience, and relationships
  • identify practical ways to support resilience within themselves
  • strengthen emotionally safe and connected team cultures
  • embed resilience-building practices into classroom environments
  • support children’s emotional wellbeing through co-regulation, connection, and strengths-based practice

The 8 Pillars Overview (Foundation)
Introduction:
  • Gratitude
  • Kindness
  • Joy
  • Play
  • Connectivity
  • Positive Psychology
  • Purpose
  • Goals
Focus:
How each pillar contributes to:
  • emotional wellbeing
  • resilience
  • connection
  • coping skills
  • psychological safety
Activity:
Participants identify:
  • one pillar that currently supports their resilience
  • one pillar they would like to strengthen personally or professionally

LAYER ONE — SELF
Personal Wellbeing & Resilience
Focus:“How do we support resilience within ourselves?”
Explore:
  • stress, emotional exhaustion, and educator wellbeing
  • self-awareness and emotional regulation
  • nervous system support strategies
  • maintaining wellbeing during challenging periods
  • protective factors that strengthen resilience
Practical Examples:
  • gratitude and reflection practices
  • realistic goal setting
  • supportive self-talk and self-kindness
  • creating moments of joy and recovery
  • reconnecting with purpose during difficult days
Activity:
Personal Wellbeing & Resilience Reflection
  • What currently supports my wellbeing?
  • What drains my emotional energy?
  • Which pillar helps me feel most grounded?
  • One resilience-supporting action I can implement this week

LAYER TWO — TEAM
Building Resilient Teams & Workplace Culture
Focus:
“How do we create resilient, emotionally safe teams?”
Explore:
  • psychological safety in teams
  • supportive communication
  • collective resilience
  • strengths-based workplace culture
  • connection and belonging within teams
Practical Applications:
  • team gratitude rituals
  • kindness and encouragement practices
  • strengths-focused feedback
  • reflective team discussions
  • collaborative problem-solving
  • creating safe spaces for emotional support
Discussion:
What helps teams remain connected and resilient during stress, change, or challenge?
Activity: Team Culture Creation

LAYER THREE — CHILDREN
Supporting Resilience in Children Through Everyday Practice
Focus: “How do children build resilience through relationships and environment?”
Explore:
  • co-regulation and emotional safety
  • resilience-building through play and connection
  • secure relationships as protective factors
  • helping children develop coping skills and confidence
  • modelling emotional awareness and problem-solving
Classroom Applications:
  • gratitude circles and emotional check-ins
  • strengths-based language
  • play opportunities for emotional expression
  • supporting children through challenges rather than rescuing immediately
  • encouraging persistence and problem-solving
  • helping children identify emotions safely
  • creating predictable and emotionally safe environments
Activity: Scenario Reflection

Integration & Action Planning
Focus:
Embedding wellbeing and resilience into daily practice
Closing Reflections