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Episode 3: The Catalyst Effect - Why Early Childhood Educators Hold the Key to Sustainable Futures

Series: The First 2,000 Days: Building Brain Architecture and Sustainable Futures

Welcome to the final episode in our series exploring how child development and sustainability are the same story viewed from different angles.

Over the past two episodes, we've examined the extraordinary neuroscience of the grounding years and the troubling extinction of outdoor childhood. Today, we bring these threads together to reveal why early childhood educators have such extraordinary leverage to create sustainable futures.

In this episode:

We begin with a deceptively simple question: When does a person's capacity to care about the planet actually begin? The answer might surprise you. Through the story of Joseph and his shadow investigation, we explore what a catalytic effect actually means and how quality early childhood practice, when situated in relationship with the natural world, is already the most powerful form of sustainability education possible.

We address the misconception that holds many educators back, revealing the three interconnected domains of sustainability and why you're already working across all of them every single day. From growing vegetables to the ripple effects that extend far beyond your garden gate, we examine how your influence accelerates change at multiple levels.

We tackle practical concerns head-on. What if you don't feel confident about your own relationship with nature? Where do you start when global challenges feel overwhelming? How can one educator possibly make a difference? And we share stories that demonstrate just how powerful children are as change agents right now, including Bronwyn's son requesting a water tank for his fourth birthday and a child who convinced a cafe owner to replace plastic straws within one week.

Why This Matters:

Your daily choices are creating ripples that extend well beyond what's immediately visible. Every interaction where you model curiosity, every moment you encourage gentle handling of living creatures, every experience where children work together to care for growing things, you're simultaneously building cognitive, social, emotional, and environmental capacities.

The Message:

You are not just preparing children for school or providing care while families work. You are architects of possibility, working during the years when foundations are laid that will support or limit what becomes possible across

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For more information about Lili-Ann Kriegler, go to:

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https://www.kriegler-education.com

+61438489032

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I respect the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land of the Kulin Nation groups, the Boonwurrung and Bunurong people, where I live, learn, and work.

Lili-Ann Kriegler (B. A Hons, H. Dip. Ed, M.Ed.) is an award-winning author and Melbourne-based education consultant. Her books are 'The Power of Play' for educators and 'Roots and Wings' for parents. Lili-Ann’ is a leader in early childhood education (birth to years), leadership and optimising human thinking and cognition. She runs her consultancy, Kriegler-Education. She is passionate about the early childhood sector and believes in the transformational power of education.
Find out more at https://www.kriegler-education.com.

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Series: The First 2,000 Days: Building Brain Architecture and Sustainable Futures

This is the second episode of three: The Extinction of Experience - Why Nature Connection Matters for Sustainable Futures

Listen to our series exploring how child development and sustainability are the same story viewed from different angles.

In the last episode, we examined the extraordinary neuroscience of the grounding years. Today we explore a troubling pattern: the outdoor childhood is vanishing, and this compression is happening during the exact same critical window when children's brains are most malleable.

In this episode:

We reveal the stark statistics behind what environmental educator Robert Pyle calls "the extinction of experience" and why this self-perpetuating cycle threatens environmental futures. From sensory richness to loose parts play, we explore what children actually lose when they lose contact with nature—and it's far more than just fresh air and exercise.

We examine the concept of biophilia versus biophobia, and why the same critical window that matters for brain development also matters for nature connection. Through compelling research and Bronwyn's own childhood stories of camping in the Flinders Ranges, we discover why people protect what they love—and they love what they've experienced directly during this formative window.

We address what works and what doesn't, including the problem of premature abstraction and why teaching four-year-olds about melting ice caps can create anxiety rather than connection. Then we explore the alternative: a developmentally appropriate nature connection that builds love first, with knowledge following naturally.

Why This Matters:

With children spending 40 to 50 hours a week in early childhood settings, your outdoor space, your comfort with insects, and your willingness to let children get muddy are shaping whether children develop biophilia or biophobia during the window when their relationship with nature is forming.

The Message:

Every opportunity you provide for children to experience themselves as part of nature, not separate from it, plants seeds that may grow into environmental stewardship—and planetary regeneration—for decades to come.

Next Episode: The Catalyst Effect - Why Early Childhood Educators Hold the Key to Sustainable Futures

Connect with us:

• Project Sustainability Collective website www.projectsustainabilitycollective.com.au
• Early Years Sustainability Facebook G

Support the show

Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to this podcast so you can receive valuable insights and discussions in the future!

For more information about Lili-Ann Kriegler, go to:

Kriegler-Education

https://www.kriegler-education.com

+61438489032

Follow Lili-Ann

I respect the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land of the Kulin Nation groups, the Boonwurrung and Bunurong people, where I live, learn, and work.

Lili-Ann Kriegler (B. A Hons, H. Dip. Ed, M.Ed.) is an award-winning author and Melbourne-based education consultant. Her books are 'The Power of Play' for educators and 'Roots and Wings' for parents. Lili-Ann’ is a leader in early childhood education (birth to years), leadership and optimising human thinking and cognition. She runs her consultancy, Kriegler-Education. She is passionate about the early childhood sector and believes in the transformational power of education.
Find out more at https://www.kriegler-education.com.

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Episode 1: The Grounding Years - Why the First 2,000 Days Matter for Child Development

Series: The First 2,000 Days: Building Brain Architecture and Sustainable Futures

Welcome to the first full episode of our new series exploring the profound connection between early childhood development and sustainability consciousness.

In our introduction, we presented the fundamental premise: child development and sustainability are the same story viewed from different angles. Today we begin with the first of three interconnected questions: Why do the early years matter for child development?

In this episode:

We explore the extraordinary science behind why this particular window matters so profoundly—from the construction happening at lightning speed in developing brains to the critical processes that determine which capacities strengthen and which fade away. Using the metaphor of a river red gum seedling establishing its root system, we examine what "grounding years" really means and why timing matters more than you might think.

We address the age-old question of nature versus nurture with encouraging research that reveals the extent of educators' influence. Through compelling evidence from landmark studies, we discover what happens when children's environments change during this critical window—and why the quality of early childhood education isn't neutral.

Finally, we explore holistic development and what it means to support the whole child. Through practical examples from everyday early childhood settings, we reveal how children's different developmental areas work together, with profound implications for both immediate learning and lifelong capacities.

Why This Matters:

The warm responses, thoughtful environments, and rich experiences you provide aren't just supporting development—they're building the neural architecture that will support human flourishing and environmental consciousness for decades to come.

The Overarching Message:

You are not just early childhood educators. You are architects of the future, working during the most powerful developmental window.

Next Episode: The Extinction of Experience - Why Nature Connection Matters for Sustainable Futures

Connect with us:

• Project Sustainability Collective Website: www.projectsustainabilitycollective.com.au
• Early Years Sustainability Facebook Group

Your work during the grounding years establishes foundations—neural, relational, emotional, environmental—that

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Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to this podcast so you can receive valuable insights and discussions in the future!

For more information about Lili-Ann Kriegler, go to:

Kriegler-Education

https://www.kriegler-education.com

+61438489032

Follow Lili-Ann

I respect the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land of the Kulin Nation groups, the Boonwurrung and Bunurong people, where I live, learn, and work.

Lili-Ann Kriegler (B. A Hons, H. Dip. Ed, M.Ed.) is an award-winning author and Melbourne-based education consultant. Her books are 'The Power of Play' for educators and 'Roots and Wings' for parents. Lili-Ann’ is a leader in early childhood education (birth to years), leadership and optimising human thinking and cognition. She runs her consultancy, Kriegler-Education. She is passionate about the early childhood sector and believes in the transformational power of education.
Find out more at https://www.kriegler-education.com.

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Series: The First 2,000 Days: Building Brain Architecture and Sustainable Futures

Welcome to the newly rebranded Project Sustainability Collective Podcast!

If you've been following For Your Ears from the Early Years, thank you for your support over the past 18 months. We're excited to share the evolution of this podcast with a new name, sharper focus, and an enriched collaboration between Lili-Ann and sustainability expert Bronwyn Cron.

In this introductory episode, we explore:

• Why sustainability and child development aren't separate stories, they're the same story viewed from different angles
• The connection most people miss between brain architecture and environmental consciousness
• How the same critical window that shapes how children think, feel, and relate to people also shapes their relationship with the planet
• Why early childhood educators work at the extraordinary intersection where human development and environmental futures meet

What's coming in this series:

Over the next three episodes, we'll explore interconnected questions that reveal why the first 2,000 days matter so profoundly:

• Why do the early years matter for child development?
• Why does this timeframe matter for sustainability?
• Why are early childhood educators essential to both?

The thought leadership, intellectual rigour, and respect for your professionalism that characterised our previous conversations remain, now with an even deeper focus on the grounding years that determine what becomes possible across entire lifetimes.

Connect with us:

• Visit the Project Sustainability Collective website: www.projectsustainabilitycollective.com.au 
• Join the Early Years Sustainability Facebook Group
• Share your reflections and questions with us at: [email protected]

If you're interested in the 2025 Sustainability Snapshots mentioned in this podcast you can access it at: https://projectsustainabilitycollective.com.au/sustainability-snapshot

The work you do supporting children's development is simultaneously shaping sustainable futures. These aren't separate responsibilities—they're the same work.

#EarlyChildhoodEducation #Sustainability #EducationForSustainability #ChildDevelopment #ProjectSustainabilityCollective #EarlyYears #ProfessionalDevelopment #Envi

Support the show

Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to this podcast so you can receive valuable insights and discussions in the future!

For more information about Lili-Ann Kriegler, go to:

Kriegler-Education

https://www.kriegler-education.com

+61438489032

Follow Lili-Ann

I respect the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land of the Kulin Nation groups, the Boonwurrung and Bunurong people, where I live, learn, and work.

Lili-Ann Kriegler (B. A Hons, H. Dip. Ed, M.Ed.) is an award-winning author and Melbourne-based education consultant. Her books are 'The Power of Play' for educators and 'Roots and Wings' for parents. Lili-Ann’ is a leader in early childhood education (birth to years), leadership and optimising human thinking and cognition. She runs her consultancy, Kriegler-Education. She is passionate about the early childhood sector and believes in the transformational power of education.
Find out more at https://www.kriegler-education.com.

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"Why This Podcast is Evolving: A Transition Episode"

After 36 episodes exploring the breadth of early childhood education, 'For Your Ears from the Early Years' is evolving into the Project Sustainability Collective Podcast.

This bridging episode explains why.

Between July 2024 and December 2025, I hosted conversations with thought leaders about brain development, creativity, leadership, pedagogical courage, play, and place. Over 2,500 downloads across 55 countries. All grown organically through educators sharing with educators.

But when I look back across these conversations, I see something I couldn't see while living it: there was a thread running through nearly every episode. Sustainability was there all along—I just hadn't named it yet.

Episode 9 was the turning point. Bronwyn Cron shared a story about children who discovered a frog living in a gumnut they'd collected from bush kinder. In that moment, a light went on in my brain, and it changed the direction of my work.

In this episode, I share:

• The sustainability thread woven through all 36 conversations
• Why everything I know about early childhood pedagogy IS sustainability education
• The paradigm shift: sustainability isn't an add-on—it's an integration lens
• What Bronwyn and I discovered through our 2025 Sustainability Snapshot research
• Why we're moving beyond sustainability itself to regenerative futures
• What comes next with the Project Sustainability Collective Podcast

All 36 original episodes remain available. Every conversation is still valuable. But this is where the work focuses now.

Thank you for these 36 episodes together. I hope you'll join us for what comes next.

Every conversation mattered. Every guest contributed to this evolution.

Listen to all episodes: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2071197

#EarlyChildhoodEducation #Sustainability #ECEC #EarlyYears #PlayBasedLearning #EducationForSustainability #ReggiоEmilia #ProfessionalDevelopment #EducationalLeadership #EYLF #SustainabilityEducation #EarlyChildhood #ProjectSustainabilityCollective

Every conversation mattered. Every guest contributed to this evolution.

Listen to all episodes: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2071197.

Support the show

Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to this podcast so you can receive valuable insights and discussions in the future!

For more information about Lili-Ann Kriegler, go to:

Kriegler-Education

https://www.kriegler-education.com

+61438489032

Follow Lili-Ann

I respect the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land of the Kulin Nation groups, the Boonwurrung and Bunurong people, where I live, learn, and work.

Lili-Ann Kriegler (B. A Hons, H. Dip. Ed, M.Ed.) is an award-winning author and Melbourne-based education consultant. Her books are 'The Power of Play' for educators and 'Roots and Wings' for parents. Lili-Ann’ is a leader in early childhood education (birth to years), leadership and optimising human thinking and cognition. She runs her consultancy, Kriegler-Education. She is passionate about the early childhood sector and believes in the transformational power of education.
Find out more at https://www.kriegler-education.com.

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Rotary Community Service Radio Show - 94.1 FM 3WBC
Host: Lili-Ann Kriegler
Broadcast Date: 16 January 2026

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2071197/episodes/18512352

Managing Markets and Building Community: Teresa Molella's Rotary Story

When Teresa Molella spotted a simple newspaper advertisement 13 years ago, she had no idea it would transform her life and lead to one of Melbourne's most successful community projects. Now Operations Manager of the Hawthorn Makers' Market and a multiple Paul Harris Fellow recipient, Teresa shares her unexpected journey from a public service career to becoming a cornerstone of the Rotary Club of Camberwell.

In this engaging conversation, Teresa reveals what it really takes to create a thriving artisan community, how her Italian heritage and love of cooking inspired her approach to bringing people together, and why she believes the smallest gestures often have the biggest impact. From managing monthly markets that feel "like family" to innovative housing projects that give vulnerable residents new purpose, Teresa's story demonstrates how individual commitment creates ripple effects throughout the community.

Listeners will discover the behind-the-scenes work involved in running major Rotary projects, learn about the club's local and international initiatives, and hear Teresa's practical philosophy for helping others. Whether you're curious about Rotary membership, interested in community markets, or simply enjoy stories of everyday people making extraordinary differences, this interview offers insights into how authentic service builds lasting connections.

PRACTICAL INFO:
Hawthorn Makers Market: First Sunday monthly (March-December), Hawthorn Arts Centre
Rotary membership: Contact your local club

Duration: Approximately 30 minutes

Support the show

Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to this podcast so you can receive valuable insights and discussions in the future!

For more information about Lili-Ann Kriegler, go to:

Kriegler-Education

https://www.kriegler-education.com

+61438489032

Follow Lili-Ann

I respect the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land of the Kulin Nation groups, the Boonwurrung and Bunurong people, where I live, learn, and work.

Lili-Ann Kriegler (B. A Hons, H. Dip. Ed, M.Ed.) is an award-winning author and Melbourne-based education consultant. Her books are 'The Power of Play' for educators and 'Roots and Wings' for parents. Lili-Ann’ is a leader in early childhood education (birth to years), leadership and optimising human thinking and cognition. She runs her consultancy, Kriegler-Education. She is passionate about the early childhood sector and believes in the transformational power of education.
Find out more at https://www.kriegler-education.com.

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FOR YOUR EARS FROM THE EARLY YEARS Episode 36:Guest: Debi Keyte-Hartland

The Pedagogy of Listening: Art, Children, Materials, and the Power of Place

For my final episode of 2025, I speak with UK-based artist educator Debi Keyte-Hartland about art, pedagogy, materials, listening, and what happens when we stop separating the arts from all other learning.

Debi's pathway into early childhood education was unconventional. Trained as a textile artist, she worked across the lifespan—from babies to people at the end of life—before finding her place in the early years. Her perspective is shaped by these encounters, particularly her work with people living with dementia and her deep engagement with Reggio Emilia pedagogy.

What emerges in this conversation is a challenge to some fundamental assumptions in early childhood practice. Debi questions the hierarchy embedded within the 100 languages themselves. She makes a case for "graphicacy" over "mark-making" and explains why the distinction matters. She argues that materials aren't passive resources waiting for children—they have agency, intelligence, and their own grammars.

The conversation moves through participation rights, curriculum design as ecological rather than linear, the relationship between language and place, and why digital media is simply another language, not something separate from creativity. Throughout, Debi draws on thinkers like Carla Rinaldi, John Matthews, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Aunty Elaine to build her argument.

This isn't a prescriptive how-to episode. It's an invitation to think differently about pedagogy, to notice what you might be overlooking, and to reconsider what you already know.

Relevant for: Early childhood educators, pedagogical leaders, curriculum designers, arts educators, and anyone interested in Reggio-inspired approaches.

 #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ReggioEmilia #CurriculumDesign #PedagogicalLeadership #ECE 

Support the show

Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to this podcast so you can receive valuable insights and discussions in the future!

For more information about Lili-Ann Kriegler, go to:

Kriegler-Education

https://www.kriegler-education.com

+61438489032

Follow Lili-Ann

I respect the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land of the Kulin Nation groups, the Boonwurrung and Bunurong people, where I live, learn, and work.

Lili-Ann Kriegler (B. A Hons, H. Dip. Ed, M.Ed.) is an award-winning author and Melbourne-based education consultant. Her books are 'The Power of Play' for educators and 'Roots and Wings' for parents. Lili-Ann’ is a leader in early childhood education (birth to years), leadership and optimising human thinking and cognition. She runs her consultancy, Kriegler-Education. She is passionate about the early childhood sector and believes in the transformational power of education.
Find out more at https://www.kriegler-education.com.

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Dr Jillian Woinarski - The Rotary Club of Canterbury
94.1 FM 3WBC - The Rotary and Community Service Radio Show

Listen here. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2071197/episodes/18262726-rotary-radio-interview-with-dr-jillian-woinarski-co-president-of-the-rotary-club-of-canterbury

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🎙️ From Obstetrician to Rotary Co-President: A Journey of Service and Impact

What changes when you go from thinking Rotary is an "old boys club" to becoming co-president within two years?

In this  engaging conversation, host Lili-Ann Kriegler welcomes Dr Jillian Woinarski, who shares her unexpected path into Rotary leadership and takes us inside the Rotary Club of Canterbury's 26th annual Eye Ear mission to the Philippines.

From pioneering an innovative co-leadership model to witnessing life-changing moments in remote villages, Jill reveals what it really means to be part of a "doing club" and why a simple gift of a toy koala captures the heart of this work.

Discover what drew a retired obstetrician-gynaecologist with 40 years of experience to trade luxury for basic hotels at 5:30 a.m. starts, and why she believes the Canterbury club is attracting younger members when many clubs struggle with ageing membership.

If you've ever wondered what Rotary is really about, or whether you'd fit in, this honest and heartfelt conversation might just surprise you.

🔗 Interested in joining the Rotary Club of Canterbury? Visit the Rotary Club of Canterbury Victoria, Melbourne (not the UK club!) or contact the club secretary to attend a meeting at the beautiful Canterbury Neighbourhood Centre.

#Rotary #CommunityService #Philippines #HumanitarianWork #EyeCare #MedicalMission #Melbourne #Canterbury #Volunteering #MakeADifference #ServiceAboveSelf

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Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to this podcast so you can receive valuable insights and discussions in the future!

For more information about Lili-Ann Kriegler, go to:

Kriegler-Education

https://www.kriegler-education.com

+61438489032

Follow Lili-Ann

I respect the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land of the Kulin Nation groups, the Boonwurrung and Bunurong people, where I live, learn, and work.

Lili-Ann Kriegler (B. A Hons, H. Dip. Ed, M.Ed.) is an award-winning author and Melbourne-based education consultant. Her books are 'The Power of Play' for educators and 'Roots and Wings' for parents. Lili-Ann’ is a leader in early childhood education (birth to years), leadership and optimising human thinking and cognition. She runs her consultancy, Kriegler-Education. She is passionate about the early childhood sector and believes in the transformational power of education.
Find out more at https://www.kriegler-education.com.

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Welcome to Part 3 of our Reflect, Reconnect and Reimagine Sustainability series.

The festive season brings joy, connection and often a lot of pressure. Can celebrations be both joyful and sustainable?

As December arrives, Bron and Lili-Ann turn their attention to end-of-year celebrations and how to bring sustainability values into festive practices without losing the magic or adding to educator workload.

There's a tension many educators feel: wanting to create special moments for children and families while knowing that traditional celebrations often generate significant waste and send mixed messages about the values we're trying to embed all year.

This episode explores five areas where small shifts can make a big difference, introduces the Reggio Emilia concept of 100 Languages of Children, and asks: What do our celebrations currently teach children about values?

The answer isn't about cancelling celebrations or feeling guilty. It's about bringing intention to what you're already doing.

This series continues with Part 4: reflection and gratitude.

Access the Sustainability Snapshot 2025: https://projectsustainabilitycollective.com.au/sustainability-snapshot

#SustainableCelebrations #EarlyChildhoodEducation #SustainabilityInECEC #EYLF #FestiveSeason #CulturalDiversity #ProjectSustainabilityCollective #ReggioEmiliaApproach

Support the show

Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to this podcast so you can receive valuable insights and discussions in the future!

For more information about Lili-Ann Kriegler, go to:

Kriegler-Education

https://www.kriegler-education.com

+61438489032

Follow Lili-Ann

I respect the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land of the Kulin Nation groups, the Boonwurrung and Bunurong people, where I live, learn, and work.

Lili-Ann Kriegler (B. A Hons, H. Dip. Ed, M.Ed.) is an award-winning author and Melbourne-based education consultant. Her books are 'The Power of Play' for educators and 'Roots and Wings' for parents. Lili-Ann’ is a leader in early childhood education (birth to years), leadership and optimising human thinking and cognition. She runs her consultancy, Kriegler-Education. She is passionate about the early childhood sector and believes in the transformational power of education.
Find out more at https://www.kriegler-education.com.

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Welcome to the final episode of our Reflect, Reconnect and Reimagine Sustainability series.

For 12 months, we've worked with educators who are courageously reimagining what sustainability means in early childhood. In this closing episode, Bron and Lili-Ann step back to see the bigger picture of what's been achieved, not just in one service, but collectively across the sector.

What becomes possible when sustainability moves from the margins of practice to the centre? When it's woven through how materials are organised, conflicts are resolved, routines unfold, and children's questions are received?

This conversation celebrates the collective impact early childhood educators have made in 2025, introduces the four layers of engagement architecture for building sustainability across whole services, and addresses a profound question: Why does this work matter?

We explore the astronauts' perspective of Earth from space (the overview effect), discuss why success is intention rather than perfection, and look ahead to what's emerging in 2026.

To every educator who engaged with sustainability thinking this year: thank you. Your work shapes futures.

Book your free Sustainability Practice Assessment call:

https://link.tekmatix.com/widget/booking/INlvbNykWqByXcSojirR

#EarlyChildhoodEducation #SustainabilityInECEC #EYLF #CollectiveImpact #EducatorCommunity #ProfessionalLearning #ProjectSustainabilityCollective #ThankYouEducators #AustralianECEC

Support the show

Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to this podcast so you can receive valuable insights and discussions in the future!

For more information about Lili-Ann Kriegler, go to:

Kriegler-Education

https://www.kriegler-education.com

+61438489032

Follow Lili-Ann

I respect the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land of the Kulin Nation groups, the Boonwurrung and Bunurong people, where I live, learn, and work.

Lili-Ann Kriegler (B. A Hons, H. Dip. Ed, M.Ed.) is an award-winning author and Melbourne-based education consultant. Her books are 'The Power of Play' for educators and 'Roots and Wings' for parents. Lili-Ann’ is a leader in early childhood education (birth to years), leadership and optimising human thinking and cognition. She runs her consultancy, Kriegler-Education. She is passionate about the early childhood sector and believes in the transformational power of education.
Find out more at https://www.kriegler-education.com.