On Friday 22 May 2026, early childhood leaders from across Australia came together at Westpac on Collins in Melbourne’s CBD for a day that none of us will forget in a hurry.
The ACA Victoria 2026 Summit: Resilience For Tomorrow was more than an event. It was a gathering of passionate, committed professionals who share a common belief, that the strongest services are led by the strongest leaders, and that investing in leadership is one of the most powerful things any of us can do for the children and families in our care.
From the moment doors opened at 9:00am to the final conversations that lingered long after the day had officially closed, the energy in the room was unmistakable. Engaged. Curious. Energised. And deeply connected to the work that brings every one of us to this profession.
What Resilience For Tomorrow Meant
This year’s theme wasn’t chosen lightly. Resilience For Tomorrow speaks to something fundamental about the kind of leadership our sector needs right now, leadership that doesn’t simply react to change, but anticipates it. Leadership that builds services so well-grounded, so well-prepared and so deeply human that they don’t just hold steady through difficulty. They grow through it.
Across seven sessions and a full day of conversation, that theme came to life in ways that were practical, honest and genuinely inspiring. Every speaker brought a different lens to what resilience looks like in practice, and together, they painted a picture of leadership that was both deeply relevant and immediately actionable.
Our Speakers and Sessions
The Summit opened with a presentation from longstanding ACA Victoria partner Child Care Super. Partnerships Manager Rosemaree Wardle shared how the fund continues to support early learning employers and educators with tools and services built specifically for the sector.
One of the most memorable moments of the day came from Approved Provider Samantha Johnson, who shared her firsthand experience navigating fire and forced closure of her service. In an open and candid conversation with Tonii, Sam walked through the decisions, the communication challenges and the leadership lessons that came from some of the most difficult moments of her career. It was honest, generous and deeply valuable for every leader in the room.
Tahnee McWhirter opened the main program with a session that challenged leaders to look beyond their last audit. Drawing on over 20 years of HR experience, Tahnee explored the vulnerabilities that often sit undetected inside governance structures, policies and day-to-day practice, covering the NQF, licensing, Child Safe Standards and how to build systems that genuinely hold up when tested. Practical, thought-provoking and immediately relevant.
Following the morning tea, Digital Mentor and LinkedIn Specialist Sue Ellson took the room through the realities of managing a childcare service’s online presence. From Google and Facebook reviews to website strategy and social media, Sue gave attendees practical steps for making sure families find the right impression of their service. She also explored how to appear in AI-generated search results and how to handle negative feedback with confidence. As always, Sue left the room with actions they could implement straight away.
ACA National President Paul Mondo brought much-needed clarity to one of the sector’s most pressing questions, what the Federal Budget actually means for early childhood providers, and where things go from here. With deep policy knowledge and a long history of national advocacy, Paul gave attendees an honest and informed picture of the landscape ahead.
Venue sponsor Westpac was represented by Cecilia Borg, Equipment Finance Manager, who shared practical information on Insurance Premium Funding and WorkCover, drawing on 24 years of experience working with childcare and education providers.
The afternoon’s opening session brought together two perspectives that are rarely in the same room, claims management and public relations, for a conversation about what crisis response actually looks like in practice. Andrew Appleton from Guild Insurance and Phoebe Netto from Pure Public Relations explored the value of proactive communication, the decisions that define a crisis response and the missteps that can quickly make a difficult situation significantly worse. It was a session grounded in real-world experience and one that resonated strongly with the room.
Rebecca Spiliopoulos from Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors tackled one of the most common, and consequential, questions in childcare leadership: what is the difference between a performance issue and a conduct matter, and why does getting that distinction right matter so much? Drawing on her extensive experience advising ACA members on employment law, Rebecca delivered a session that was clear, practical and immediately useful for leaders navigating these situations in their own services.
Closing the day was Nigel Ward, CEO and Director of Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors, one of Australia’s most respected voices in employment and industrial relations law. With over 30 years of experience, Nigel unpacked the most significant developments currently facing the sector: the Gender Undervaluation Decision, the Modern Employment Award, changes to child safety regulations and how to practically and legally comply with all of it. It was a fitting close to a day built around being genuinely prepared, substantive, clear and delivered without compromise.
A Day Well Spent
Throughout the day, three Mentimeter surveys gave attendees the opportunity to share their experiences across child safety reform, kindergarten funding and operational sustainability, responses that will directly inform ACA Victoria’s advocacy with government in the months ahead.
To every speaker, sponsor and attendee who made the day what it was, thank you. The conversations started on Friday don’t end here.
The next ACA Victoria Member Meeting takes place on Wednesday 25 June in Deer Park. Register Now!
