2025 Early Years Matters Conference

Dr Catherine Hamm is a settler to the Kulin Nation and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education. Catherine's teaching, post-qualitative research and writing foreground First Nations worldviews and engage with critical perspectives of early childhood studies, philosophies, pedagogies and curriculum. 

Catherine's work activates her committment to respectfully foreground First Nations worldviews in early childhood studies. Her research projects with Associate Professor Jeanne Marie Iorio (The University of Melbourne) "Out and About- www.goingoutandabout.net and "Learning with Place" - www.learningwithplace.org seeks to generate and document innovative pedagogies that support children, teachers and communities to build ongoing relationships with their local places and multispecies communities. 

Catherine is also a member of the Global Childhoods research hub, the First Nations in Education research hub, and the Common Worlds Research Collective.                            

Ron Rapee is Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Macquarie University where he was the Founding Director of the Centre for Emotional Health. Professor Rapee's research specializes in mental health, especially in anxiety and related disorders across the lifespan. He has created models of the development of mental disorders and has used these theories to produce evidence-based treatment programs. 

One of his best known programs, Cool Kids, is used in over 25 countries and translated into more than a dozen languages. Currently, Professor Rapee has been engaged by the Australian Department of Education to develop a tool to identify students across all Australian schools who may be struggling with their mental health. Professor Rapee has been honoured by awards from both scientific and consumer groups, including the Distinguished Career Award from the Australian Association for CBT and the Distinguished Contribution to Science Award from the Australian Psychological Society. 

He was awarded an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship in 2015 and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2012 for his contributions to clinical psychology, especially among young people.

Dr. Ariel Liddicut is an Early Childhood Teacher, Consultant, and Academic specialising in gender-inclusive education. Her doctoral research, ”When I was three, I told them I was a girl": Australian Early Childhood Teachers’ Gendered Perspectives, Experiences, and Pedagogy, provides a comprehensive overview of gendered practices in early childhood education across Australia. Her study includes a case study amplifying the voice of a young trans child, offering valuable insights into inclusive pedagogical approaches.

Passionate about social justice and inclusive practice, Ariel advocates for the transformative power of high-quality early childhood education in supporting children's identities and well-being. Through her professional development workshops, she promotes gender-expansive education, fostering safe and equitable learning environments for children of all genders. 

Hyahno Moser is a father of 4 children, a childhood advocate, program director, community development worker, adventure therapist, youth worker and outdoor educator. He has worked in support of children for over 20 years, connecting them with nature, with each other, with freedom, friends, fun, challenge and mastery.

Hyahno stands in support of children, their human rights for freedom, agency, self-expression and to be able to play outdoors where they live. Hyahno has an unwavering focus and dedication to this cause and measures all areas of society from this perspective.

“Like all adults, I took it for granted that the outdoor free play, highly social neighbourhood-centric-childhoods, of which I continue to benefit immensely, would always be there, for all children, for all time. It is time to shine a bright light on the value of being able to play where you live regularly, and reimagine our neighbourhoods as places for children to grow super happy, healthy and strong. We can’t ignore the shrunken children’s horizons anymore. 

I am trying to live up to the trust bestowed on me by my children, by all children, to provide the conditions for them to grow and develop on all sides. In this regard, play is of the highest priority. I believe this to be the mark of sustainable civil society. I believe this to be not-negotiable, and a prerequisite for all levels of child-governance from parenting to policy.”  

Lou trained as an Occupational Therapist where her first interest developed in paediatrics as a student on placement. Lou has worked her entire career in paediatrics with a focus on children with disabilities. Much of this time was spent working for the Royal Guide Dogs, Noah's Ark Inc. in Victoria and Yooralla Early Childhood Intervention programs.

Today Lou is the Training Manager for Noah's Ark Inc. based in Victoria, Australia. In the last few years at Noah's Ark, she has worked alongside researchers and other professionals in the field to create the Best Practice in Early Childhood Intervention™ (ECI) course. This face-to-face training has been delivered to ECI professionals throughout Australia, Singapore and New Zealand. She also coordinates the Key Worker Online Course™ which reaches Australian and international participants every year. She has presented papers at Early Childhood Intervention conferences in Australia and was a keynote speaker for the 2008 and 2024 early childhood intervention conference in Malaysia. Her interests remain passionate about pursuing the best outcomes for families of all children including those with a disability.

Graduate Diploma (Reading Education) | Diploma of Teaching

Michele has over 30 years of experience working in schools, both as a classroom teacher and in positions of educational leadership. She has also been a trainer for numerous organisations, supporting teachers with professional learning.

Michele uses her knowledge of change management strategies to assist schools in improving processes and embracing opportunities for students. She brings an appreciation of the pivotal role families and carers play in enhancing educational outcomes for children and young people.

The Tuning into Kids parenting program is a powerful tool for enhancing emotional intelligence and fostering healthy parent-child relationships. Empirical evidence underscores its benefits for parenting practices, children’s well-being, and broader developmental outcomes. By equipping parents with emotion coaching skills, Tuning into Kids creates nurturing environments that support emotional growth and resilience. 

If you have any questions about the Early Years Matters Conference, please email: eyconference@wyndham.vic.gov.au