The Regulated Leader: Educator Wellbeing & Leadership in Practice

The Regulated Leader: Educator Wellbeing & Leadership in Practice
​Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th October 2026
Sydney Travelodge Mascot
289 King Street, Mascot
NSW 2040
$1299
A two-day immersive professional development experience for early childhood educators, leaders, and centre managers focused on:
  • Educator wellbeing and emotional regulation
  • Emotional intelligence in leadership and practice
  • Understanding your personality as an educator and leader
  • Attachment-based relationships in early childhood
  • Leadership identity and team culture
  • Practical, real-world NQF-informed application

WHAT’S INCLUDED
  • 2-day immersive leadership conference (Saturday & Sunday)
  • All conference workshops and facilitated sessions
  • Morning tea, lunch, and afternoon refreshments (both days)
  • Saturday evening dinner (networking + connection)
  • Conference materials and resources
  • Reflective tools and implementation planning guides

SATURDAY — WELLBEING, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE & LEADERSHIP FOUNDATIONS
9:00am – 5:00pm - Conference Day 1
9:00am – 9:30am — REGISTRATION & WELCOME
  • Arrival and check-in
  • Welcome refreshments
  • Introduction to conference themes

9:30am – 10:30am — EDUCATOR WELLBEING & REGULATION
  • Emotional regulation for educators and leaders
  • Preventing burnout in early childhood practice
  • Co-regulation and calm leadership

10:45am – 11:45am — EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN PRACTICE
  • Understanding emotional responses in self and children
  • Respond vs react in professional settings
  • Building emotional literacy in teams

11:45am – 12:45pm — LUNCH
12:45pm – 1:45pm — UNDERSTANDING YOUR LEADERSHIP PERSONALITY
  • Your identity as an educator and leader
  • Strengths, triggers, and patterns
  • Leading authentically rather than reactively

2:00pm – 3:00pm — RELATIONSHIPS & ATTACHMENT IN PRACTICE
  • Secure relationships in early childhood settings
  • Emotional safety for children and staff
  • Behaviour as communication

3:00pm – 3:30pm — AFTERNOON TEA
3:30pm – 5:00pm — LEADERSHIP & TEAM CULTURE
  • Building emotionally safe teams
  • Staff wellbeing and retention
  • Leadership presence and communication style

6:00pm – 8:00pm — NETWORKING DINNER
  • Shared dinner experience
  • Connection and reflection conversations
  • Drinks included (wine/beer/soft drinks available)
  • Informal peer networking

SUNDAY — IMPLEMENTATION, PRACTICE & LEADERSHIP IN ACTION
9:00am – 4:00pm 
Conference Day 2
OPTIONAL — 8:00am – 8:45am WELLNESS WALK
  • Gentle guided walk
  • Grounding, reflection, and connection
  • Optional participation

9:00am – 9:15am — WELCOME BACK
  • Reconnection and grounding
  • Day two overview

9:15am – 10:15am — ENVIRONMENT & WELLBEING DESIGN
  • Environment as the “third educator”
  • Designing calm, responsive learning spaces
  • Supporting regulation through environment

10:15am – 11:15am — CREATIVE EXPRESSION & CHILDREN’S VOICE
  • Emotional expression through play and art
  • Understanding behaviour beyond behaviour
  • Supporting voice, identity, and communication

11:15am – 11:45am — MORNING TEA
11:45am – 12:45pm — LEADERSHIP SYSTEMS & PRACTICAL NQF APPLICATION
  • Embedding consistent practice in services
  • Reflection as a leadership tool
  • Simple systems for quality improvement

12:45pm – 1:45pm — LUNCH
1:45pm – 2:45pm — ACTION PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION
  • What will you change in your service?
  • Leadership commitments
  • Practical next steps for Monday

2:45pm – 3:30pm — INTEGRATION & CLOSING CIRCLE
  • Reflection on growth and learning
  • Emotional integration
  • Leadership identity grounding

3:30pm – 4:00pm — FINAL CLOSURE
  • Final reflections
  • Connection and departure
About Your Facilitator - Kelly Hallas