South Coast Child Wellbeing Network Conference 2025

Tuesday, 16 September 2025

The Pavillion, Kiama

Cost $130

Registration opens 8:00am | Conference from 8.30am until 4pm

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Connection through Play to Enhance
Social and Emotional Wellbeing

This year’s conference focuses on play-based activities with children and their families, emphasising Social and Emotional Wellbeing to enhance child wellbeing and relational belonging. It will include interactive workshops with hands-on practical experiences using innovative approaches to engaging children and their families in play.

The conference features keynote speaker Professor Lisa Kervin followed by workshops with local professionals demonstrating knowledge and practices to support children and their families through play orientated approaches.

Collaboration opportunities will assist child and family practitioners to connect and to develop their collaboration and networking skills.

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Keynote Speaker 1 

Lisa Kervin

Keynote: Building Playful and Connected Communities

Play is a powerful catalyst for connection, creativity, and collective wellbeing. This talk explores how playful experiences—across ages and settings—can strengthen relationships, foster resilience, and nurture inclusive communities. Drawing on research and lived experience, it invites a reimagining of play as a shared practice that brings people together.

Lisa Kervin, AM is a Professor in Education at the University of Wollongong where she serves as Director of the Early Start Institute. Lisa is a founding Chief Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child and co-leads the national Educated Child program of research.
Her research focuses on young children’s literacy, play, intergenerational interactions and digital technologies. In 2024 Lisa was appointed a member to the Order of Australia in the King’s birthday honours; recognition of her research excellence in early childhood and digital literacies. In 2025 Lisa begins her Future Fellowship program of work “Intergenerational Play: A right for all generations”.

Keynote Speaker 2 

Tim Wemyss

Keynote: Play is a Game Changer – Engaging Fathers in Positive Play.

I am a husband of 10 years and a father of 4 (including twins). Being a father has been the greatest joy and challenge of my life all at the same time.
My professional experience consists of a degree in Psychology and Counselling as well as over a decade of working with children and families both in NGO’s and private practice.
My role with The Fathering Project encompasses leading and driving our work with local dads via a mix of case management, dads groups and tailored programs aiming to meet fathers and father figures where they’re at and working together to give them the skills and insights they need to be the best they can be for their kids.

Whole Group Workshop

Workshops

Workshop 1 –  Quill Darby
Junkyard Rascals

Quill is a passionate advocate for all things play, science, nature, and sustainability. With a background in science and a talent for making things fun, she thrives in spaces where curiosity leads and child-led play takes centre stage.

A qualified Playwork Practitioner through Play Australia, Quill is currently deepening her expertise through Playworker Development studies online. She brings her playful energy to a range of community initiatives, including her roles as a Bush School Facilitator with Bush Magic Adventure Therapy and a member of the KidsFest Shellharbour organising committee. Quill is a proud mum of two rascals and a doggo.

Workshop 2 – Amanda Kowalczyk
The Deadly Dharawals – Culture, Connection and Play for All Students  

This engaging, hands-on workshop introduces The Deadly Dharawals – a culturally responsive mentoring program from Koonawarra Public School (KPS) that supports the social and emotional development of all students through play, story, and identity.

Grounded in the CASEL framework and local cultural knowledge, and aligned with Closing the Gap priorities, the program integrates trauma-informed practices supported by neuroscience, including co-regulation, predictable routines, and safe relational engagement. It offers practical, inclusive strategies that foster identity, resilience, and connection in diverse settings.

Presented by the AEO – Lee Moran, Deputy Principal – Brent Pritchard, and Principal – Amanda Kowalczyk of Koonawarra Public School, this session provides tools to strengthen engagement and enhance emotional literacy. Participants will learn strategies to build stronger relationships with children across early childhood and school-aged environments.

Workshop 3 – Emma Rattenbury
The Power of Play: Foundations for the brain, body and bond. 

Play is far more than just a fun experience. It’s the foundation for secure attachment, healthy brain development and meaningful connection.

This presentation explores how early play experiences shape the architecture of the brain, support emotional regulation and foster deep relational bonds between children and caregivers. Through a blend of neuroscience, attachment theory and practices embedded at Kids’ Uni, this presentation will uncover how playful interactions are not just beneficial, they’re essential.

Workshop 4 – Lisa Kevrin
Under, over, through: Moving with Digital Technologies

Explore ways to move with digital technologies. We will dance and sing, explore different Augmented Reality settings, use our bodies to play digital games and even practice some yoga and surfing techniques!

Purchase your tickets here!

All workshops listed below will be held at the same time at the conference. Participants are asked to nominate which workshop they wish to attend by completing the form below. Please give a first and second preference. Positions in each workshops will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis. Completing the form below does not confirm attendance at any particular workshop. You will be informed at the conference as to which workshop you have been allocated.