Communities of Practice

Uplifting quality and outcomes through connection and reflection

Early childhood & school hours care educators and leaders navigate real complexity every day — responsive programs, inclusion and equity, children's safety and wellbeing. In the joy and juggle of the work, practice can become automatic. Pausing to question the what, why and how takes professional bravery, and the right support.

In 2026 I co-designed, implemented, facilitated and researched a Community of Practice (CoP) professional learning pilot with Lutheran Education Queensland, whose 55 services stretch from Cairns to northern NSW. Four small, voluntary, peer-facilitated CoPs brought together leaders from early learning centres, preschools and OSHC services to meet roughly monthly for structured critical reflection, shared problem-solving and practice change. Each chose its own focus. Participants were supported by a launch workshop, a purpose-built handbook and bespoke tools - such as a critical reflection ladder and tiny-wins tracker - and a moderated online learning hub.

The design was grounded in a literature review and workforce analysis, then stress-tested in co-design with system leaders and frontline professionals. An embedded mixed-methods research project was built in, using pre- and post-surveys, interviews, engagement data and reflective artefacts to identify what changed, for whom, and what helped or hindered.

Every short-term objective was met, with 90% of respondents saying they progressed on their goal, 80% trying something new in their service, and 80% sharing knowledge or practice more often than before. The findings are now shaping the next "extend and embed" stage.

Interested in something similar for your system or people? I'd love to hear from you — get in touch.