On 6–8 September 2023 we will celebrate our 9th National Conference, on Wiradjuri Country at Parkes, NSW, the birthplace of PTTR. Our theme is Storytelling and Told Stories.
It is fitting that it will fall in National Child Protection Week and on Indigenous Literacy Day.
Told stories give every child everywhere a fair go (this year’s NCPW theme) at learning who they are, and where they have come from. The Conference will begin with Indigenous storytelling — the very best and right place to start.
To learn more about the Conference, contact us at conference@paintthetownread.info.
Theme: Enhancing Early Literacy by Embracing Cultural Diversity
19 – 21 May 2021 on the lands of the Bediagal and Cabrogal Clans of the Darug Nation.
This conference will bring you the latest research and practical applications for early literacy through the lens of cultural diversity. There will also be a focus on engaging men and boys in reading with bubs from birth, and community ownership and partnerships in early literacy.
Come and join us, in person or online for our first hybrid conference — whether you’re from the city or the country, work in early childhood, library, child and family services, volunteer in a service club, or you’re a strategic planner in your government position. Or, more locally, if you want to start painting your own community REaD, or to strengthen your existing PTTR site.
We will have keynote speakers and workshops for all.
On registration you may choose either to attend in person at the conference venue — Bankstown Sports Club in Bankstown NSW — or online.
Conference painting by Shareen Clayton. Shareen writes: ‘The artwork represents family and community. So the centre shows mum, dad and bub having quality family time out in the sun reading a book. The middle represents being surrounded and supported by the extended family and the outer part represents local communities working together to support and engage local families.’
Conference Theme: Enhancing Early Literacy by Embracing Cultural Diversity.
We are thrilled to share with you, the amazing artwork from Shareen Clayton, for our 8th National Conference 20 – 21 May 2021. (Easy dates for you to remember!)
In Shareen’s words: The artwork represents family and community. So the centre shows mum, dad and bub having quality family time out in the sun reading a book. The middle represents being surrounded and supported by the extended family and the outer part represents local communities working together to support and engage local families.
Paint the Town REaD and Paint the Town REaD, Black and Yellow ‘in a nutshell.’
Keep an eye out for the Registrations opening soon!
Wednesday week, 20 March, we kick off the 7th National Early Literacy Conference with a special 2-hour symposium presented by @Curtin University and @dyslexiaspeld.
Dr Mark Boyes will be discussing new socio-emotional research into the development and impact of language and literacy difficulties in children and adolescents. While DSF will present on some incredible work they have done addressing phonological awareness in local languages.
Have you registered yet for the 7th National Early Literacy Conference?
Don’t miss the chance to hear from the Commissioner for Children and Young People WA, Colin Pettit.
The Commissioner will outline the work of his office in consulting with thousands of WA children and young people on issues affecting their wellbeing and how the views of the children themselves should be used to inform and challenge current thinking on factors that influence vulnerability.
7th National Early Literacy Conference March 20 to 22 The Esplanade Hotel Fremantle, WA
To help organisations and local Paint the Town REaD groups to send more delegates — and so increase the learning and fun — we are now offering a 40% discount for the second person from each of these groups. Brilliant!
You will find the discount offer on the Select Tickets section as you register on Eventbrite.
Note that this offer applies to every second registrant from a group. So you can book two, or four, or six, or eight attendees and every second one can take advantage of this offer.
Exclusions: Already subsidised or sponsorship funded positions
Our National Early Literacy Conference is getting closer!
We can’t wait to hear from Julia Orlowski from @CharlesSturtLibraries in SA talk about encouraging children to read, write & create.
Using The Mayoral Make-a-Book Literacy Challenge as a case study, Julia’s workshop will share ideas on how to engage preschool children, families and educators in capturing and publishing their own books to share with others.
We are thrilled that the Honourable Kim Beasley AC, Governor of Western Australia, will be opening our 7th national early literacy conference on Thursday 21 March 2019, following Marie Taylor’s Welcome to Country.
Register now for this innovative, research based (and fun) conference.
The theme for this year’s conference is Books and Bonding Builds Brains — it’s what the Doctor orders.
Over 140 delegates (and mascots!) celebrated our 6th National Conference, Climb Every Mountain: Songlines and Singing. Aunty Carol Cooper and Aunty Jacinta Tobin welcomed us to Country, and set the scene for two days of learning, practical workshops and fun. The Blue Mountains three levels of Government were well represented by Cr Romola Hollywood, who welcomed delegates at a Civic Reception, Hon Susan Templeman, who opened the Conference with Aunty Carol and Aunt Jacinta, and Trish Doyle MP. who opened our Principals Forum. Thank you to our Keynote Speakers, Aunty Jacinta Tobin, Dr Marina Kalashnikova (Western Sydney University), Dr Amanda Howard (Newcastle University), and Kerry Dominish (CEO – Early Start) and the 30 workshop presenters. And our Conference Dinner wouldn’t have been so successful without the Blue Mountains Ukulele group and the generosity of Carrington’s Brewery!
With our 6th National Conference on next week, you only have a few days to go to register. So use the links to the right, to take you straight to the registration page!
And whilst everyone is preparing for the Conference, the Aboriginal Elders in Shoalhaven NSW have been busy giving their mascot egg to the children, supported by Mayor Amanda Findley. Children in Moree NSW are also reading with their egg and Parker Pelican in the Parks and Gardens in Adelaide has celebrated his first birthday, with a huge party of about 400 people, where there was lots of singing and families reading together in the local community park.
Elders leading reading at Paint Shoalhaven, REaD, Black and Yellow
