Learn Play Thrive Early Education Podcast
Welcome to the Learn Play Thrive Early Eduction podcast! Join us for expert insights and interviews, practical tips and inspiring stories in Early Childhood Education and Care. Whether you are an educator or leader in the sector, this podcast is your go-to resource to discover strategies to foster learning, promote play and empower young minds to thrive.
Learn Play Thrive – A podcast for early childhood educators & sector leaders.
Pedagogy insights, play-based learning ideas, quality practices, and professional growth for early childhood educators.
Episodes
172 episodes
S2E7 Little Library: The Thing About Christmas
Celebrate the true spirit of Christmas in this episode of the Learn Play Thrive Little Library! Join host Linda Harrison as she sits down with award-winning illustrator Briony Stewart to discuss her 2026 CBCA Honour-winning picture book 'The Th...
Strengthening Professional Identity and Educator Wellbeing
In this episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast, host Simone Brand sits down with early childhood teacher, advocate, and play therapist in training -- Emma Rattenbury. Bringing over 20 years of sector experience, Emma tackles the critical chal...
Road Safety in Early Education #6: Making Road Safety Musical
Music and movement take centre stage in this episode of Learn Play Thrive, as host Linda Harrison chats with Amanda Menzies and Bec Dunn from Macquarie University's Kids and Traffic program. Grounded in EYLF V2.0, the discussion highlights how ...
Why Health Literacy Starts in the Early Years
In this episode of Learn Play Thrive, host Simone Brand sits down with Lisa Woodward and Michelle Weisbaum from Life Ed Australia—the powerhouse team behind the iconic Healthy Harold programs—to explore the evolving landscape of health, wellbei...
Play Provocations #10: Sensory Play
In this episode of Play Provocations, host Linda Harrison is joined by lead early childhood educator Michelle Jackson to explore the vital role of sensory play as a cornerstone of early learning. Grounded in research, the conversation highlight...
Tamworth Pedagogy in Practice: Early Education Conference Panel
In this special panel episode recorded live at the Pedagogy in Practice: Early Education Conference in Tamworth, the Learn Play Thrive podcast brings together four leading voices in early childhood education to explore the small, intentional de...
Navigating the NQS #11: Standard 5.2 - Relationships between children
In this episode of Navigating the NQS, host Simone Brand dives into Quality Area 5, Standard 5.2 to explore how early childhood settings support children in building sensitive, responsive peer relationships. Moving beyond basic group work, Simo...
Attracting, Sustaining and Preparing Quality Teachers in Early Childhood
In this episode of Learn Play Thrive, host Simone Brand sits down with leading researcher Professor Sandie Wong to unpack groundbreaking ARC-funded research on the early childhood workforce crisis. Moving beyond stereotypes that undervalue earl...
S2E6 Little Library: My Nonno Loves
In this episode of Learn Play Thrive’s Little Library, host Linda Harrison sits down with acclaimed children's author Adelle Frittitta to discuss her heartwarming picture book 'My Nonno Loves'—a 2026 CBCA shortlisted title in the Early Childhoo...
Embedding Diverse Languages in ECEC
In this episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast, host Simone Brand sits down with Amanda MacDonald, Early Learning Specialist at Education Services Australia (ESA). They discuss the national expansion of Early Learning Languages Austra...
Road Safety in Early Education #5: Early Numeracy in Everyday Travel
In this episode of the Learn Play Thrive mini-series on Road Safety in Early Education, we welcome back Amanda Menzies and Bec Dunn from Kids and Traffic—the Early Childhood Road Safety Education Program at Macquarie University. We expl...
Celebrating Early Learning Matters Week 2026
In this special feature episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast celebrating Early Learning Matters Week 2026, host Simone Brand chats with three distinguished early childhood leaders—Mary-Louise Clifford (Nominated Supervisor, Glenning Valley ...
Play Provocations #9: Construction Play
In this inspiring episode of our Play Provocations mini-series, host Linda Harrison is joined by lead early childhood educator Michelle Jackson to explore how intentional environmental design can elevate construction play into a rich hub for cr...
Bush Kindy Australia
In this episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast, host Simone Brand sits down with Bec Burch, the visionary founder of Bush Kindy Australia. As Australia’s leading provider of Bush Kindy Leader Training and nature pedagogy professional developm...
S2E5 Little Library: Ships In The Field with Susanne Gervay
In this episode of Learn Play Thrive’s Little Library mini-series, host Linda Harrison sits down with Order of Australia honoree and award-winning author Susanne Gervay to explore her moving picture book, 'Ships in the Field'. Drawing f...
Connecting the Dots Between Music and Self-regulation
In this episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast, we welcome Amelia, former Early Learning Music Specialist at International Grammar School and founder of Rhymey. After witnessing firsthand how intentional musical moments can instantly transfor...
Navigating the NQS #10: Standard 5.1 - Relationships between educators and children
Welcome back to the Navigating the NQS podcast mini-series with host Simone Brand! In this episode, Simone dives straight into the absolute heart of daily early childhood practice - Quality Area 5, Standard 5.1. Simone unpacks the d...
Building Sustainable Quality at Gilgandra Preschool
In this inspiring episode, Simone sits down with the leadership and pedagogical powerhouse team from Gilgandra Preschool. Together, they share how they have pioneered a model of "adaptive quality" that is responsive to changing rural/regional/r...
Road Safety in Early Education #4: Language, literacy & learning
Welcome back to the Road Safety in Early Education podcast mini-series! In this episode, we reframe the local streetscape as a giant, interactive picture book, demonstrating how road safety education naturally drives early language and literacy...
Creating a Culture of Sustainability in ECEC
Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast! In this episode, host Simone Brand sits down with Dorothée Seeto, Director of Endless Play Studio. Many early childhood services find themselves stuck, scattered, or depen...
Play Provocations #8: Digital Play
Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Play Provocations podcast mini-series with host Linda Harrison! In this episode, Linda is joined by Dr. Kate Highfield, Head of School for the School of Teacher Education at the University of Canberra. As a...
Beyond Attachment: Using Theories with Infants and Toddlers
In this episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast, host Simone Brand invites listeners to journey into the intentional heart of infant and toddler pedagogy alongside two leading academics and sector voices - Andi Salamon from the University of C...
S2E4 Little Library: Mr Huff
Welcome to a brand-new episode of Learn Play Thrive’s Little Library mini-series, where host Linda Harrison is joined by Linda Stock—a qualified early childhood educator, therapeutic practitioner, and university lecturer specialising in childre...
Building Resilience and Tackling Anxiety in Young Children
In this episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast, host Simone Brand sits down with Dr. Kaylene Henderson—a medically trained child and adolescent psychiatrist, parenting specialist, and one of Australia’s most trusted early childhood experts. K...
Navigating the NQS #9: Standard 4.2 Professionalism
What takes an early childhood service from a group of people working in the same building to a collaborative, ethical community of practice? In this episode of our Navigating the NQS mini-series, host Simone Brand dives straight into the heart ...
