Launching into the Reggio Approach (Australian Contexts)

Presenters: Anna Munari and Ruth Wallbridge

Date: Saturday 1 April 2023

Time: 9.30am - 12.30pm

Venue: Victoria University City Campus

Category: Workshop

Registrations are limited to 30 places.

Registrations close midday on Wednesday 29 March 2023.

Registrations have now closed

Program Description

This workshop has been developed to provide a context for the educational project of Reggio Emilia in Australia, as an introduction or a chance to revisit. It is suitable for those at the beginning of their Reggio Emilia journey and also for those wanting to revisit and relaunch their understandings.

The workshop highlights and reinforces the complex structures, role and organisation which underpin the educational project of Reggio Emilia and provides examples where educators have contextualised these provocations in Australian educational settings.

The session focuses on:

• The cultural context and systemic organisation

• The search and research for a different approach to learning and teaching

• The principles of the Reggio Emilia educational project in practice.

Anna Munari has been a Kindergarten Teacher all of her adult life, having taught young children in a variety of settings over a 4-decade career. Anna has worked in Church centres, Council run-centres, and in private school settings.  She also taught at the Tertiary level for many years, across several universities. She now teaches at Victoria University part-time, and still does some CRT work.

Anna has been a member of REAIE since 2006, and on the Committee since 2020. She has been fortunate enough to be on two Study Tours-2006 & 2020.  Anna feels a strong affinity with the Reggio Emilia approach and is still discovering new and exciting ways of learning with children, and defending and promoting a new culture of childhood for all children.

At this stage in her career, Anna enjoys giving back to the early years education community that has made her who she is, and using the skills and knowledge that she has accumulated.

Ruth Wallbridge has worked in early education for many years, in long day programs with babies, toddlers and preschool aged children. Ruth has worked in crisis care and most recently in a community parent run kindergarten in Melbourne.

Ruth first encountered the Reggio Emilia Approach in the late 90’s when upgrading her qualifications and joined the committee in 2003, chairing the committee from 2011 to 2020. Ruth has attended numerous study tours as a participant and leader and has recently completed the Reggio Children Teacher Educator program.

Ruth is highly committed to supporting early career teachers and giving back to the organisation that has been instrumental in her personal journey as a teacher.  Ruth looks forward to sharing her experience and passion with the next generation of educators.