The Association of Graduates in Early Childhood Studies

⭐️ August inForm is here!

📩 Check your email for the latest happenings at AGECS, sector news, free opportunities, resources and ways to support AGECS.

Haven't signed up yet? It's completely free!

2 more weeks to book for our upcoming FREE professional learning with Dr Chris Speldewinde 🌿

🌱 FREE Online Professional Learning Event

How do you assess outcomes in bush kinder?

Join us on Monday, August 3, 6PM, for a special presentation with Dr Chris Speldewinde, sharing the outcomes of his AGECS Fellowship project – a meaningful collaboration with bush kinder educators across Australia.

Together, they’ve developed the Bush Kinder Assessment Tool (BKAT), a practical, EYLF-aligned tool co-designed by educators, for educators, to help capture and report the rich learning that happens in nature-based settings.

If you've ever found it tricky to put into words what children are truly learning out in the bush, this one's for you.

️🗓️ Monday, August 3 | 6:00pm AEST
🎟️ Free to attend
💻 Online via Zoom
✅ Open to teachers, educators, pre-service teachers, service leaders, tertiary educators, and anyone passionate about quality outdoor and nature-based education

🔗 Book early to secure your spot.
https://www.trybooking.com/DNMAH

About the speaker:
Dr Chris Speldewinde is a Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at Southern Cross University. Based in Victoria, Australia, he has lived with his family and worked on the Surf Coast for over 25 years. He completed his PhD in 2022 at Deakin University titled STEM teaching and learning in Bush Kinders: An ethnographic study. His research background focusses on nature-based education approaches and STEM teaching and learning in early childhood education. His current research interests are assessment of children’s learning, teacher professional learning and curriculum and pedagogy. He is Deputy Editor of the Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education.

This event is brought to you by the Association of Graduates in Early Childhood Studies (AGECS), a non-profit charity dedicated to supporting ECEC professionals through free professional development opportunities and resources.

⚠️ 1 week to go - applications close July 26!

This is your final week to apply for the AGECS Fellowship Program for Leadership and Change.

✅ More details at agecs.org.au/fellowship-program

Share this with someone who needs to see it. 👇

⏳ 3 weeks to go!

💰Up to $10,000 in funding. A 6–12 month self-directed project. The chance to lead change in early childhood education.

📖 Fellowship recipients are supported to share their learnings through a published article in AUDAX’s biannual journal and a presentation to the ECEC community.

💡 Don't let this opportunity pass. Start or finalise your application today.

📝 Past recipients have pursued activities such as accreditation with specific learning programs (e.g., The Pyramid Model, Circle of Security, ECQRS-EC training), international study tours (e.g., Forest Kindergartens, Reggio Emilia), or funding certification of therapy animals for their participation in early learning programs. Have another idea? Now is the chance to bring them to life.

🗓️ Applications close July 26, 11:59 PM AEST.

✅ More details at agecs.org.au/fellowship-program

⭐️ July inForm is here!

📩 Check your email for the latest happenings at AGECS (including our upcoming free professional learning event and Fellowship Program), sector news, free opportunities, resources and ways to support AGECS.


Haven't signed up yet? It's completely free!

🌱 FREE Online Professional Learning Event

How do you assess outcomes in bush kinder?

Join us on Monday, August 3, 6PM, for a special presentation with Dr Chris Speldewinde, sharing the outcomes of his AGECS Fellowship project – a meaningful collaboration with bush kinder educators across Australia.

Together, they’ve developed the Bush Kinder Assessment Tool (BKAT), a practical, EYLF-aligned tool co-designed by educators, for educators, to help capture and report the rich learning that happens in nature-based settings.

If you've ever found it tricky to put into words what children are truly learning out in the bush, this one's for you.

️🗓️ Monday, August 3 | 6:00pm AEST
🎟️ Free to attend
💻 Online via Zoom
✅ Open to teachers, educators, pre-service teachers, service leaders, tertiary educators, and anyone passionate about quality outdoor and nature-based education

🔗 Book early to secure your spot.
https://www.trybooking.com/DNMAH

About the speaker:
Dr Chris Speldewinde is a Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at Southern Cross University. Based in Victoria, Australia, he has lived with his family and worked on the Surf Coast for over 25 years. He completed his PhD in 2022 at Deakin University titled STEM teaching and learning in Bush Kinders: An ethnographic study. His research background focusses on nature-based education approaches and STEM teaching and learning in early childhood education. His current research interests are assessment of children’s learning, teacher professional learning and curriculum and pedagogy. He is Deputy Editor of the Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education.

This event is brought to you by the Association of Graduates in Early Childhood Studies (AGECS), a non-profit charity dedicated to supporting ECEC professionals through free professional development opportunities and resources.

⏳ 5 weeks to go!

Have you started your AGECS Fellowship application yet?

The AGECS Fellowship Program for Leadership and Change is your opportunity to bring your early childhood vision to life. Receive grants of up to $10,000 to fund a project that creates real impact in early childhood education.

💡 Not sure where to start? Past recipients have pursued activities such as accreditation with specific learning programs (e.g., The Pyramid Model, Circle of Security, ECQRS-EC training), international study tours (e.g., Forest Kindergartens, Reggio Emilia), or funding certification of therapy animals for their participation in early learning programs.

🗓️ Applications close July 26, 11:59 PM AEST.

✅ Apply through https://agecs.org.au/fellowship-program/

Know someone with a brilliant idea? Tag a colleague in the comments section! ⬇️

At AGECS, it is our mission to provide free resources to support your teaching. We have compiled all resources from last year's monthly inForm ranging from podcasts, posters, lesson plans to include in your toolkit. Access all 19 resources here:

https://agecs.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2025-inForm-Resources.pdf

You can also access our compilation from 2023 and 2024 on our website: https://agecs.org.au/free-resources/

⭐️ June inForm is here!

📩 Check your email for the latest happenings at AGECS, sector news, free opportunities, resources and ways to support AGECS.

In this inForm, you will also be able to read a previous Fellowship recipient's project. If you're thinking about applying for the Fellowship Program, we hope this article inspires you.

Haven't signed up yet? It's completely free. Go to this link to subscribe: tinyurl.com/subscribeinform

🌟 Last night we had the pleasure of hosting Professor Nicola Yelland for our professional learning event. Thank you to everyone who joined us!

🎥 Missed it? A recording of the event is now available exclusively to AGECS members. Head to our website to watch it back: https://agecs.org.au/professional-learning/

Not yet a member? Now is the perfect time to join AGECS and gain access to recordings, resources, and more - all while supporting our non-profit mission to bring free professional development to the early childhood education community. Sign up today.

📅 And save the date - our next online event is just around the corner!

On Monday, August 3 at 6:00 PM, Dr Chris Speldewinde will be sharing his findings on the newly created Bush Kinder Assessment Tool (BKAT) and exploring how to assess children's outcomes.

Bookings will open one month in advance. Keep an eye on our page so you don't miss out.

We hope to see you there 🌿