About the Educational Leaders Conference
Hosted by the Department of Education, the Best Start, Best Life: 2025 Educational Leaders Conference brought together over 1,500 early childhood Educational Leaders, experts and practitioners from across the state. The conference was held on 28 March 2025 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne and online via live streaming.
The conference theme, 'Brain development and the criticality of the early years' presented the latest evidence in neuroscience research, showing how the early years of development establish the basic structures of the brain and how teaching teams can capitalise on this limited window of time to positively impact children’s cognitive development.
The conference explored the critical role of quality practice and pedagogy in the $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reform, and supported Educational Leaders to guide the delivery of two years of high-quality play-based learning for Victorian children.
Recordings and resources
Official conference photographs can be accessed and downloaded at: Online Gallery.
You can also watch a short video that highlights key moments from the day.
Recordings from each of the conference speakers are available below.
Keynote 1 – Early experiences shape the brain: Why you matter and how you can help children self-regulate
Speaker: Professor John Spencer, Professor of Psychology, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom
Professor Spencer’s research focuses on visuo-spatial cognition and early brain development using advanced imaging techniques.
This keynote presentation covered the processes of early brain development and how experiences shape brain structure and function. It also discussed how teaching teams can directly enhance children’s self-regulatory skills and provided guidance on how teachers and educators can significantly influence brain development trajectories.
Keynote 2 – Neurons to Neighbourhoods: What the Brain Tells Us About the Criticality of the Early Years
Speaker: Professor Deborah Phillips, Professor of Psychology, Georgetown University and Co-Director, Centre for Research on Children, United States of America
Professor Phillips was the first Executive Director of the Board on Children, Youth at the National Academy of Sciences and has held various significant roles, including President of the Foundation for Child Development.
This keynote presentation on findings from the “From Neurons to Neighbourhoods: The Science of early Childhood Development” report and explored:
- how stress affects young children's brains and behaviour
- the benefits of Victorian children receiving 2 years of funded kindergarten, and
- the importance of play in learning.
Workshop – Leading with Intent: Elevating Language and Literacy Through Intentional Teaching
Speakers: Kirsty Liljegren Consulting and Dr Karyn Carson, The Soundmill Centre
Kirsty is an inspiring education consultant specialising in early childhood and primary education. Her work spans both national and international stages. Drawing from a background as a teacher and leader, Kirsty's love for learning shines through in her constant curiosity and dedication to education for both children and adults.
Karyn is a certified practising speech-language pathologist with over 20 years' experience working with toddlers, preschoolers, school-aged children and young adults with speech, language and literacy difficulties across Australia and New Zealand.
The Department of Education is developing an intentional teaching professional learning program that will be released in late-2025. Karyn and Kirsty co-delivered a workshop based on this forthcoming program. Their workshop focused on:
- unpacking the concept of intentional teaching, addressing common misconceptions and supporting teaching teams to use it in everyday practice
- providing an evidence-based understanding of children’s early language development to support teaching teams to plan purposeful, play-based experiences to foster children’s literacy development, communication, emotional wellbeing, and learning.
Backfill, travel and accommodation subsidy contributions
Applications for backfill, travel and accommodation contributions for the Best Start, Best Life: 2025 Educational Leaders Conference closed on 30 April 2025 with payments being made to eligible Approved Providers at the end of May 2025.
General enquiries
If you have any queries about the conference or registering, please email: earlychildhoodleadersconference@education.vic.gov.au
Privacy notice
Learn about how we handle the information of those that registered and attended the Best Start, Best Life: 2025 Educational Leaders Conference.
By completing the conference registration form and providing your details, you have agreed to provide your information via the EventsAir system and for your information to handled, including to be collected, used and disclosed as described in this notice.
What information will be collected and what will it be used for?
The information required is demographic data including:
- your name
- contact details
- details of your highest level of education
- role and the organisation you are employed by.
The information you provide in EventsAir will be provided to Department of Education and any authorised third-party suppliers contracted by the department to administer and deliver the conference. The information is needed to:
- register you for the conference and facilitate your check-in on the day of the conference
- confirm your eligibility to attend the conference and access a backfill contribution or travel subsidy
- prioritise in-person attendance if more people register to attend the conference in-person than the conference venue can hold
- provide you with the information needed to attend (either in-person or online)
- send you a voluntary post-conference survey for you to provide feedback to improve future conferences
- understand if you have dietary or accessibility requirements so appropriate adjustments to food provided and/or accessibility can be made at the conference
- send you information post conference about how your Approved Provider can apply for a backfill contribution or travel subsidy (if eligible) and where to find recordings of the conference presentations.
The Department of Education protects your personal information in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic), the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic) and the Public Records Act 1973 (Vic).
How will my information be secured?
Your personal information will be managed securely and consistently with Victorian Privacy laws on the servers of the Department of Education and any other authorised third-party suppliers contracted by the department.
Filming and photography
For in-person conference attendees only, the Department of Education will be taking photos and filming at the Best Start, Best Life: 2025 Educational Leaders Conference. These images will be used by the Department of Education to share promotional stories about the conference, and to promote future conferences and professional development opportunities delivered by the department.
Images and videos may be used in printed and digital materials, and may be published on the Department of Education’s website and social media channels.
If you would prefer not to be photographed or filmed, please let the staff at the registration desk know. They will provide a sticker for you to display clearly on your lapel. This will ensure you are not photographed/filmed or featured in published photos or videos if you are inadvertently photographed/filmed.
Further information
For further information on this statement, or to request access and correction of personal information you provided as part of your registration, contact earlychildhoodleadersconference@education.vic.gov.au.
For more information about the way the Department of Education collects and handles personal information, including access, correction and complaints, read our privacy policy.
For further information about the way that EventsAir handles personal information, read their privacy policy.