What if our approach to risk is holding us back, not keeping us safe? 

We talk a lot about risk in education and care, but are we really talking about the right things? 

In Episode 8 of The Bold Blueprint, Barbi and Jamie sit down with Eric, Risk & Compliance Coordinator at 3Bridges, to reframe and unpack how we think about risk in education and care - beyond checklists, fear, or ticking boxes. 

This isn’t your usual compliance chat. 

It’s reflective, practical, and grounded in real world practice. 

We explore: 

• Why inductions aren’t just about policy - they shape culture 

• The emotional side of risk we rarely account for (and why it matters) 

• How saying yes to children can shift risk onto educators 

• What it means to involve children and families in risk awareness 

• The subtle ways bias, systems and reflexes shape our decisions 

• And how good risk leadership isn’t about quoting the regs, it’s about knowing how to say yes safely 

• Risk isn’t the enemy. It’s the invitation to lead. 

This episode explores the symbiotic relationship between physical and emotional safety, and how smart, responsive leadership balances what children need with what our teams can sustainably hold. 

If you’ve ever felt the tension between what’s possible and what’s practical - this one’s for you. 

What if educator happiness wasn’t just personal, but protective?

In this solo episode of The Bold Blueprint, Barbi is flying without her usual co-host Jamie (who was missed!) and sits down with Declan Edwards - founder of BU Happiness College -  to explore the surprising connection between emotional wellbeing and child safety in education and care.

We unpack:

• The prosocial effect of happiness - why people who feel good, do good
• How “bad behaviour” can stem from unprocessed emotion and disconnection
• The difference between healthy selfishness and selfishness at the expense of others
• Why collective wellbeing is a strategic choice, not a soft one
• What kind of leadership builds emotionally safe environments for children and staff

This episode invites educators and leaders to think differently - not just about happiness, but about culture, safety, and what truly makes a workplace thrive.

🔗 Connect with BU Happiness College: https://buhappinesscollege.com/

🔗 Connect with Declan on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/declan-edwards-bu-happiness-college

🎙️Plus, check out Declan’s podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0zriwga04Rl0pbjFuDF6Hl?si=82e2a2d868c845ec

What happens when a parent raises concerns about an educator’s OnlyFans account? 

In this bold episode of The Bold Blueprint, Barbi and Jamie sit down with HR expert Tahnee McWhirter (HumanX HR) to unpack the messy, unspoken challenges leaders face when personal and professional worlds collide. 

We explore: 
 
✅ Where boundaries really lie between work and personal life? 
✅ What rights educators have (and what leaders get wrong)? 
✅ How services can reset expectations without panic or blame? 
✅ The bigger leadership journey - including recruitment, onboarding, and mental health responsibilities. 

It’s the stuff sitting under the surface, shaping how teams work together - and it’s time we talk about it. 

🎧 Listen now for myth busting, clarity, and real world leadership advice that will shift how you think about trust, fairness, and accountability. 

This podcast is brought to you by Firefly HR & Early Learning Management

Play isn’t something we control - but the conditions for it? That’s on us.

In this episode of The Bold Blueprint, Barbi and Jamie sit down with Robyn Monro Miller AM, CEO of Play Australia and President of the International Play Association, to talk about how educators and leaders can better protect children’s and young people’s right to play.

We explore:

• The shift from creating play to creating conditions
• Why “stopping, pausing, and getting to their level” is a leadership practice
• The connection between neuroscience, emotional safety, and play
• The role of adult energy and rhythm in how children experience freedom
• How to talk with parents about play (even when they’re stressed)
• Practical insights for risk benefit balancing and sensory rich environments

This one’s packed with practical, real world leadership insights - and the reminder that our presence matters more than our plans.

🎁 Use code bold1106 for a listener exclusive discount code to Play Australia’s course, Introduction to the Playwork Principles (valid to 30th June 2025):
https://play-australia.thinkific.com/courses/introduction-to-the-playwork-principles

What if the assumptions we make in education and care are doing more harm than good?

In this episode of The Bold Blueprint, Barbi and Jamie pull back the curtain on how assumptions silently sabotage culture, safety, and quality.

They dig into the idea that a “qualified” educator doesn’t need support, why “upward bullying” is a hidden threat, and how even regulated services can fail without strong culture.

From assumptions about for-profit vs. not-for-profit services to the myth of safety through compliance, this is a conversation that goes beyond the surface and for anyone who believes that safety, quality, and culture aren’t just words - they’re actions, tune in for thought provoking questions and reflective practical suggestions.

"Remember, true leadership and care start with curiosity, not certainty."

This episode is brought to you by elm.net.au and fireflyhr.com.au

What can a mathematics lecturer teach us about belonging?

In this episode of The Bold Blueprint, Barbi and Jamie sit down with Dr. Poon Leung - a university lecturer whose reflections on learning, safety, and human connection are deeply relevant to anyone working in education and care.

From lecture halls to early childhood services, Poon’s message is clear: relationships come first. He shares why listening is a learned skill, how emotional safety drives learning, and what happens when we stop leading with assumptions and start leading with awareness.

We explore the parallels between high school to university transitions and children entering care for the first time, draw links between logic and love, and unpack what adaptive leadership looks like in real life.

This is a conversation for anyone who believes in putting people before processes, and who sees sincerity not as a weakness - but as the start of real connection.

This episode is brought to you by elm.net.au and fireflyhr.com.au

What would change if Barbi and Jamie took over education and care in Australia?

In this episode, we flip the lens - instead of fixing within a broken system, we reimagine one that works. From rethinking educator roles and funding models, to who we attract into the profession and why - this is a blueprint built from the ground up.

We challenge existing norms and propose changes that prioritise children first and foremost. You will hear us talk OSHC, ECE, funding models, child safeguarding, RTO quality, the myth of "qualified" professionals, and what gets in the way of real transformation.

It’s vision setting, not problem solving.

"You’re not just part of a broken system - you’re part of a system that’s never been designed by you."

This episode is brought to you by elm.net.au and fireflyhr.com.au

Let’s be real – Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) deserve spaces that match the heart and purpose behind the work in education and care.

The Bold Blueprint is for modern educators who aren’t here to play small.

It’s a human first, reflective, and sometimes disruptive space for people who believe real change starts with messy conversations, brave thinking, and a whole lot of heart.

Hosted by Barbi and Jamie - two people who’ve lived the highs, lows, and sideways moments of education and care - this podcast dives into the real stories, the critical reflections, and the "wait, why are we still doing it this way?" questions the sector needs.

We’re about learning from the past.
Leading with courage today.
And imagining what tomorrow could look like, by drawing from our profession and beyond.

We move beyond surface-level conversations - into deeper reflections about belonging, agency, child safeguarding, continuous improvement, and genuine human connection.

Grounded in the values of the National Quality Framework (NQF), and guided by a commitment to environments that nurture children's wellbeing, learning, and development - The Bold Blueprint invites modern educators to rethink, reflect, and grow across sectors, stories, and systems.

If you believe education and care deserve bold ideas, brave leadership, and spaces where reflection leads to real change - you’re in the right place.

This is not about fitting into old models.

This is about shaping what comes next - with courage, curiosity, and heart.

Welcome to The Bold Blueprint.

This podcast is brought to your by Firefly HR & Early Learning Management (ELM).

Learn more at elm.net.au or fireflyhr.com.au