Amplify! Blog

Miranda Kindergarten’s new therapy dog, Bounty, is proving to be a calming and connecting presence for children, staff and families. He helps children navigate separation anxiety, build confidence and learn about the responsibility of caring for a pet.

We explore what it takes to introduce a therapy dog into an early childhood service, and the difference it can make once they arrive. 

From ‘brekkie’ to bilingualism, the language that educators use every day shapes how children think, learn and belong.

This article, featuring insights from Professor Sheila Degotardi and Jess Schofield, Speech Therapist at Forbes Preschool, explores how intentional language use in everyday interactions can create powerful opportunities for learning.

Coercive control is an often hidden form of family and domestic violence that can significantly impact children’s wellbeing.

In this article, we outline what it looks like, how it may present in early learning settings, and share insights from CELA’s new free training in partnership with the NSW Department of Communities and Justice. 

Children’s rights are often spoken about, but how deeply are they understood and enacted in everyday practice?

This article by CELA Early Education Specialist Carrie Rose invites educators to reflect on how identity, relationships and pedagogy shape children’s sense of themselves as capable contributors.

Hear more from Carrie in our upcoming Elevate 2026 online conference.

The quality of education and care is inseparable from the wellbeing of those who provide it.

Early education specialist Jen Boddy explores the vital role of compassion in our sector, which involves recognising and responding to difficulty with kindness and understanding. The process can be transformative for adults and children. 

This article explores how educators can create meaningful, culturally rich environments that foster belonging, respect and learning. Drawing on practical ideas and examples, Deborah Hoger highlights how outdoor spaces can become powerful places for children to engage with Aboriginal perspectives, sustainability and shared ways of knowing.

We loved connecting with members and meeting new friends at the ECA Regional and Remote Conference in Coffs Harbour in March. In particular, Thursday's sessions featuring the stories of CELA members were a powerful reminder of what’s possible when services are deeply connected to their local context.

Here we share a reflection on the everyday work of services who are going beyond expectations to ensure every child is seen, supported and able to thrive in their community.

This powerful reflection from Lisa Walker invites readers to pause, listen and consider the lived realities of First Nations peoples in Australia today.

It explores the ongoing impacts of systemic inequality, while calling on individuals and services to show up with empathy, cultural responsiveness and genuine connection. With practical guidance for educators, the article encourages us to walk side by side to support meaningful change for all children.

This article provides an update on the wage funding shortfall affecting NSW community preschools and the recent Fair Work Commission developments. It also outlines the significant advocacy efforts CELA has led on behalf of members to advocate for a government funded solution.

When children help to shape and lead an Acknowledgement of Country, it becomes more than a routine. It becomes a lived expression of belonging, respect and connection to place.

This article considers how early childhood services can help children to meaningfully engage in the process, with insights from Gilgandra Preschool and Evans Head-Woodburn Preschool.