Mana

**Child safety is on everyone’s mind. This series is about moving beyond concern into evidence-based solutions that protect children.**

Join Mana CEO & Founder Himal Randeniya for the first instalment in a thought-provoking 3-part series examining child safety in early childhood education.

This webinar explores why competent, vetted and well-trained staff are one of the most powerful safeguards for children, and why checks, ratios, and policies alone are not enough.

Together, we’ll examine how child safety is shaped by everyday decisions, team culture, supervision and the confidence of educators to recognise risk and act early.

This session goes beyond compliance to focus on what truly protects children in practice.

**You’ll gain:**

*   A clearer understanding of where traditional safeguards help and where they fall short
*   Practical ways to strengthen workforce capability through training and supervision
*   Language and confidence to lead safer, more vigilant teams

**This session is designed for ECE leaders including:**

*   Centre Managers & Directors
*   Area Managers
*   Educational Leaders & Head Teachers
*   Operational & Compliance Managers
*   Centre Owners


Rethinking child safety together: empowering the people around children 

This practical, hands-on session will show you how to use Mana to document and track individual planning cycles using the Australian EYLF framework, ensuring every child has an active and ongoing cycle of planning throughout the year.

**What we'll cover:**

*   Getting your Mana account ready for the new year
*   Personalising your Mana for the centre
*   Completing and tracking cycles for individual children

**Who should attend:** This session is ideal for centre managers, educational leaders, and anyone responsible for programming and documentation at your service. Bring your questions—we'll have dedicated time for Q\&A and can walk through scenarios specific to your centre.


Setting up high quality cycles of planning with Mana

Join neuroscience educator [Nathan Wallis](https://www.nathanwallis.com/) and Mana CEO Himal for an engaging fireside discussion that will transform how you communicate the value of early childhood education.

Discover the compelling brain science behind why the first 1000 days matter and why quality ECE during this critical window creates lasting outcomes for children. This isn't about teaching letters and numbers; it's about understanding how safe, loving, and interactive environments literally build better brains.

**Perfect for ECE leaders including:**

*   Centre Managers & Directors
*   Area Managers
*   Educational Leaders & Head Teachers
*   Operational & Compliance Managers
*   Centre Owners

**What you'll take away:**

*   Clear, science-backed talking points to share with families about their child's development
*   Insights into how everyday interactions in your centre shape brain architecture
*   Practical language to communicate the profound impact of quality ECE
*   Confidence to advocate for the critical importance of your work

Walk away equipped to inspire families, your team, and your community with the neuroscience that proves what you already know: your work changes lives.

**Part 1 of a 3-part Brain Development Series with Nathan Wallis**


Great starts build great brains: the power of ECE in the first 1000 days

Does doing observations feel like 'ticking a box' versus something meaningful to your teaching?We feel you — it's a common challenge.

Sithmi Rajapaksa (ECT with ~10yrs experience and Mana's Support Lead) will walk through:

✅ Why the cycle matters and current challenges

✅ Moving from observation to reflection to planning with confidence

✅ Understanding each step: observe, assess, plan, implement, evaluate

Perfect whether you're new to the sector or need a refresher 💜


Is it time to reflect on your cycle of planning?

Early childhood education is facing a retention crisis, yet many leadership responses fail to address the real drivers behind educator burnout and attrition.

Recent Australian research highlights a growing pattern of **work intensification in ECE**: rising non-contact workloads, unpaid hours, constant task-switching and limited time for meaningful work with children.

These pressures don’t just affect educator wellbeing: they directly impact service quality, sustainability and long-term workforce stability.

In this webinar, **Mana’s CEO and Founder** draws on current sector research and real-world experience to unpack:

*   What a *typical day* in ECE actually looks like for educators and leaders
*   How workload demands have quietly expanded beyond what roles were designed for
*   Why unpaid work and constant interruptions are becoming normalised
*   The link between work intensification, educator wellbeing and retention outcomes
*   What executives and owners often misunderstand, and how that misalignment shows up in decision-making

This session moves beyond surface-level solutions and focuses on the structural issues leaders, managers and owners *can* influence.

This is a practical, evidence-informed conversation for owners, operators and senior leaders and managers who want to improve retention by first understanding the lived reality of their workforce.


Shaping ECE for the next generation: addressing work intensification, retention and wellbeing

If you're thinking hard about your 2026 strategy, this one's for you. The sector is feeling the pressure. With occupancy concerns rising and competition intensifying, early childhood services are asking: how do we demonstrate our value and keep families choosing us?

Join **Ash Sachdev**, **CEO** of [**Care for Kids**](https://www.careforkids.com.au/), and **Karen Mills**, **Head of Operations** at [**AMIGA Montessori**](https://amiga-montessori.com.au/), for an honest conversation about what's working right now. Ash will share the macro trends his team are seeing across the sector around occupancy, plus what top-performing services are doing differently. Karen will bring it to ground level with the operational strategies that help centres communicate the real value children derive from quality early education, and the importance of sharing why we do what we do to help families connect with your service on a deeper level.

When families are weighing their options more carefully than ever, the centres that thrive are the ones who can elevate the conversation beyond cost to what quality ECE actually means for children's development, wellbeing and future. This isn't about adding more to your plate. It's about focusing on what actually moves the needle when budgets are tight and parents are asking harder questions about where their children spend their days.

**What we'll cover**

• The occupancy trends shaping 2026

• What high-performing centres are doing well right now

• How to clearly show families the real value of quality ECE

• Simple ways to boost tour bookings and tour impact

• How to create genuine connection on every tour

• Why quality practice is your strongest business lever

• The marketing approaches families actually respond to today

Walk away with actionable strategies from operators who are navigating this environment right now, not theoretical advice from the sidelines.


ECE market pulse: how services are strengthening occupancy and quality in 2026

As a leader in early childhood education, you're used to holding it all together: supporting your team, managing operations, navigating compliance and ensuring quality outcomes. But when was the last time you checked in with yourself?

Join us for an honest conversation with **Jo Maloney**, founder of [**Conscious Positivity**](https://www.consciouspositivity.com.au/) and author of [**Wellbeing Science in Early Childhood Education**](https://www.essentialresources.com.au/Store/Product/Detail/TS0317), as she shares practical strategies to prioritise your own wellbeing in a role that demands so much.

After 30 years supporting leaders in the sector, Jo understands the unique pressures of your position: the weight of responsibility, the constant problem-solving and the challenge of modelling wellbeing while running at capacity.

In this fireside chat with **Hayden Rolls, Mana's Head of Partnerships**, we'll explore:

*   Why self-compassion is a leadership skill, not a luxury
*   What burnout really is (beyond emotional exhaustion) and identifying the protective factors that help teams stay energised and effective
*   Science-backed practices that fit into your already-full schedule
*   How to lead with wellbeing as a strategic priority, not just a nice-to-have
*   Managing burnout and compassion fatigue at the leadership level

This isn't about adding another initiative to your workload. It's about sustainable leadership that allows you to stay in the sector for the long haul.

Whether you're an Educational Leader, Centre Manager, Operations Manager or Area Manager, this session will give you permission to lead from a place of strength, not depletion.


Caring for the carers: A self-compassion reset for ECE leaders

The early childhood sector is at a turning point. Rising documentation demands, workforce pressures, and increasing expectations are pushing traditional approaches to their limits, while AI is quietly reshaping what's possible.

✨ Join our FREE webinar exploring how AI could transform early childhood education and what it means for educators, leaders, and the children we serve.

Anya Bonan (Chief of Staff, Mana) and Hayden Rolls (Head of Partnerships, Mana) will unpack:

✅ Why traditional fixes (more non-contact time, more photos, more training) aren't solving the root problems

✅ What AI actually is, and why the last 18 months represent a once-in-a-generation shift for education

✅ Which educator tasks could be automated, and which human skills become more essential than ever

✅ What "AI-native" systems mean for the future of documentation, family engagement, and professional practice

✅ How to evaluate trust, safety, and data security as AI tools enter ECE settings

✅ Exploration of key mindsets required to lay the foundation for successful AI adoption across services

Perfect for educators and leaders who want to understand the AI landscape, explore what's on the horizon, and prepare their teams for the changes ahead 💜


Reimagining what is possible in ECE in the AI age

Is it time to reflect on your Cycle of Planning?

Do your summative assessments truly communicate the value of your program — or do they feel like another document that families just skim over?

✨ Join our FREE webinar on how to deliver summative assessments that families genuinely connect with — and that showcase your centre’s professional practice.

Himal Randeniya (CEO and Founder of Mana) and Nesha Hutchinson (Vice President of Australian Childcare Alliance) will unpack:

✅ The difference between *formative* and *summative* assessments — and how each supports learning

✅ When to use *ipsative* (individual progress) vs *normative* (comparison to others) approaches to track development meaningfully

✅ How the way you communicate assessment shapes family perceptions and your centre’s professional identity

Perfect for educators and leaders who want to strengthen communication with families and reframe summative assessments as a tool for connection and impact 💜


How to deliver summative assessments that families actually value

Montessori is one of the most widely recognised but also most misunderstood approaches in early childhood education. Too often, the name is used without the depth of understanding or daily practice that gives the pedagogy its power.

In this relaxed, podcast-style webinar, **Hayden Rolls** (Head of Partnerships, Mana) is joined by **Jessica Langford**, Community Coordinator at SA Montessori for a thoughtful conversation on what *meaningful* Montessori looks like in practice, and how the holistic combination of pedagogical theory and applied practice contribute to outcomes for children.

In Jessica's role at SA Montessori, she mentors over 100 educators and has developed nationally recognised resources like *Montessori & the NQS* and *Montessori & the EYLF,* now used in more than 170 centres across Australia. She recently received a 2025 Innovator Award from Montessori Australia for her contributions to Montessori education through teaching, leadership, and innovation.

Lightly guided and intentionally conversational, this session offers space for nuance, reflection and the realities of leading Montessori practice in today’s ECE landscape.

Whether you’re deeply embedded in Montessori or questioning what meaningful implementation really requires, this webinar is an invitation to slow down and reconnect with the purpose behind the pedagogy.

**This session will explore:**

*   What Montessori *is,* and what it isn’t, when applied with integrity
*   What strong Montessori practice looks and feels like day to day
*   Why theory without practice (and practice without theory) falls short
*   How meaningful Montessori supports children, educators, and communities

**Who this webinar is for**

*   Montessori educators and leaders
*   Centre owners and pedagogical leaders
*   Educators curious about Montessori beyond the label


Meaningful Montessori: Putting pedagogy into practice 

Join [Nathan Wallis](https://www.nathanwallis.com/) and Mana CEO Himal for the second conversation in our brain development series, this time exploring the complete picture of how children's brains develop and what this means for your leadership in ECE.

Understanding the stages of brain development isn't just fascinating science, it's essential knowledge that empowers you to guide your team and educate families with confidence. This session takes a "train the trainer" approach, equipping you with practical insights you can immediately share with your educators and the families you serve.

**Perfect for ECE leaders including:**

*   Centre Managers & Directors
*   Area Managers
*   Educational Leaders & Head Teachers
*   Operational & Compliance Managers
*   Centre Owners

**What you'll take away:**

*   Practical coaching points to help your team understand children's behaviour and development
*   Communication strategies to help families make sense of what's happening in their child's brain
*   Simple explanations of complex neuroscience that you can pass on to others
*   Tips that make supporting children (and their families) easier and more effective

This isn't just professional development for you—it's knowledge you'll use to uplift your entire team and strengthen relationships with families.

**Part 2 of our 3-part Brain Development Series with Nathan Wallis**


From science to practice: leadership lessons from the developing brain

Join [Nathan Wallis](https://www.nathanwallis.com/) and Mana CEO Himal for the final conversation in our brain development series, exploring why play-based learning isn't just best practice, it's brain science.

This session is designed for pedagogical leaders who shape the learning environments in their centres. Discover the neuroscience behind why free play between ages 2-5 is critical for developing creativity, problem-solving, and genuine engagement and how to translate this understanding into your programming and curriculum decisions.

**Perfect for ECE pedagogical leaders including:**

*   Educational Leaders & Heads of Pedagogy
*   Room Leaders & Head Teachers
*   Heads of Curriculum
*   Centre Managers & Directors
*   Anyone responsible for programming decisions

**What you'll take away:**

*   The brain science that proves play-based learning works (and why formal academics can wait)
*   How to think about play from a programming perspective for 2-5 year olds
*   Practical insights for creating environments that develop creativity and problem-solving
*   Confidence to advocate for child-led, play-based approaches with families and stakeholders
*   Understanding of how engagement drives learning outcomes

Walk away equipped to defend and refine your play-based programs with compelling neuroscience and practical application strategies.

**Part 3 of our 3-part Brain Development Series with Nathan Wallis**
