Event Registration

Early Childhood Conference 2026 (TUT) - Little People, Big Feelings
Supporting Behaviour Without Burning Out!

80 places available

Start:  Friday 21 August 2026 - 8.45am

Finish: Friday 21 August 2026 - 3.30pm

Location:  SSTUWA building, 1 West Street, West Perth WA 6005 (off Thomas Street)

About the conference

Children's behaviour is communication but the messages behind it are becoming increasingly complex. Early childhood educators are navigating heightened emotions, anxiety, dysregulation, and challenging behaviours in classrooms that are already demanding and fast-paced.

Little People, Big Feelings is a practical and reflective conference designed for early childhood educators who want to better understand why children behave the way they do and how to respond with confidence, consistency and compassion.

Join our event and be inspired by a range of incredible speakers and workshop presenters. The one-day event will provide you with the opportunity to learn, listen, collaborate and explore how big feelings show up as behaviour, and what it means for teaching, learning and wellbeing. Most importantly, how to respond to challenging behaviour without burning out. 

Guest Speakers

Minister Sabine Winton, Minister for Education of Western Australia
Matt Jarman, President SSTUWA

Keynote Speaker

Dr Andrew Leech - General Practitioner, Director  - The Garden Family Medical Clinic
*WINNER 2023 WA GP OF THE YEAR AWARD*

An award-winning general practitioner and Director and Founder of The Garden Family Medical Clinic, Andrew specialises in child health. He was named GP of the Year in Western Australia for his efforts in campaigning and advocating for child and adolescent mental health.

Author of Calm Kids, Happy Hearts, Andrew offers support for those concerned about children's mental health. He provides practical, evidence-based strategies to help navigate the complexities of childhood anxiety and behaviour. 

Read more about Andrew Leech

Featured Workshop

Tarun Stevenson, Behaviour Management and Leadership Consultant - Calmer Classrooms, Queensland

Based in Brisbane, Tarun Stevenson is an established consultant who works with teachers and adminstration teams in Behaviour Management and Leadership Development.

Tarun is a highly engaging speaker and is passionate about equipping teachers and school leadership teams with tools to effectively connect, communicate and mange students with confidence, care and socially just practice. He is an exceptional presenter with the ability to connect with educatiors, to challenge them and provide practical strategies that work!

Breakout Workshops

Choose your preferred workshop as you continue to work with the theme Little People, Big Feelings. Choose one of three options. You will be sent an email to make your selection.

Closing Hospitality - Drinks and Nibbles

Costs

$ 130 : Members
$ 265 : Non-Members

Hospitality

Morning tea and lunch provided.

Nominated Audience

Early Childhood Educators - Members and Non-Members

Trade union training leave - Schools

Members in schools and TAFE colleges are eligible for five days of paid leave per year to attend trade union training (TUT).

To comply with TUT leave requirements applicants must:

• Submit applications to DoE/principal four weeks prior to the event.
• Provide DoE/principal with a printed copy of the course program attached to this form.
• Be nominated by the SSTUWA. See “nominated audience” on the attached course program.

The school will not be charged for the salary of the person attending trade union training - this is covered by the DoE.  However, if a relief teacher is required, this is funded through the school's one line budget.

For school administration
When processing TUT leave applications:

• Ensure staff attending training have selected TUT Leave in HRMIS.
• Project code 1471 will be generated within the payment system.

Professional Standards for Teachers in Western Australia

This training relates to the following standards :

Standard 1 – Know students and how they learn
Standard 4 – Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments
Standard 6 – Engage in professional learning
Standard 7 – Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community