How to Embed PD into Practice: Lessons from ‘Excellent’ Services and the Latest Research
25
2:00 AM - 3:00 AM
The sector is investing more than ever in professional development, yet so often the learning doesn't quite make it into daily practice. Hours get logged, certificates get filed, and the question remains: what actually changed for our children, our team, and our families?
Knowledge transfer in ECEC isn't just about delivering more PD. It's about creating the conditions for learning to take root, ripple amongst a team, and meaningfully shift the experience children have every day. And that takes intentional leadership.
We're joined by Dr Susan Sharpe, whose research into successful knowledge transfer uncovered what sets ‘excellent’ services apart when it comes to turning learning into lasting practice. In this warm, practical conversation, Dr Susan will explore how leaders (and educators without formal leadership titles) can move beyond performative PD and build genuine, sustained uplift in practice.
Together, Dr Susan and Hayden will explore:
- Why PD so often doesn't translate — the hidden barriers that stop knowledge from becoming practice, and what common "barriers" services encounter
- The five pillars of Meta-Strategic Leadership — a research-backed framework used by excellent-rated services to make learning stick: Vision, Shared Beliefs/Values/Identity, Configuration Design, Systems of Action, and Sustaining Knowledge
- Where to start — practical first moves for both educators and leaders wanting to create a ripple effect, even amidst the noise and competing demands
Who this is for:
- Service leaders and aspiring leaders who want their investment in PD to genuinely show up in practice
- Educators who want to take ownership of their own learning journey, even without formal leadership support
- Executives and Operations Managers shaping learning and development strategy across multiple services
Speakers
Dr Susan Sharpe
Education and Research Advisor at C&K
Dr Susan Sharpe serves as Education and Research Advisor at C&K, bringing over 30 years of experience in Early Childhood Education and Care. Her diverse career includes roles as a teacher, trainer, regulatory officer, and education consultant across Australia and the Middle East. She has worked with multiple universities as a casual academic, the Queensland Department of Education, and Early Childhood Australia. Her expertise spans teaching in international schools, education reform projects in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and specialisations in assessment, educator wellbeing, and professional development. Beyond her professional life, she values her roles as mother, wife, sister, and colleague.
Hayden Rolls
Head of Partnerships, Mana
My journey into education began with my first career as an OSHC Educator, where I discovered a passion for mentoring children. I then went on to study a Bachelor of Business Leadership and Commerce at Macquarie University, before joining Deloitte's strategy consulting team, with a focus on the education sector. A key highlight was leading the implementation planning for the Mental Health in Primary Schools Program across Victoria. Following this, I completed my Master's in Applied Positive Psychology at the University of Melbourne, where my research centred on positive education for children. My research was published in the International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, in collaboration with Smiling Mind (one of Australia's leading digital mental health providers for youth). This journey at the intersection of early education and technology ultimately led me to Mana - where our AI native child development platform seeks to empower educators and families to give every child an extraordinary start to life.
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25
2:00 AM - 3:00 AM