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Artwork for Learn Play Thrive Early Education Podcast

Learn Play Thrive Early Education Podcast

Simone Brand
Early Childhood Education
Mindfulness
Child Development
Professional Development
National Quality Standard
Yoga
Reggio Emilia
Education
Early Years Learning Framework
Play-Based Learning
Educational Leadership
Early Childhood Development
Picture Books
Critical Reflection
Children's Development
Friendship
Separation Anxiety
Social Emotional Development
Montessori Education
Children's Literature

Welcome to the Learn Play Thrive Early Eduction podcast! Join us for expert insights and interviews, practical tips and inspiring stories in Early Childhood Education and Care. Whether you are an educator or leader in the sector, this podcast is your go-to resource to discover strategies to foster learning, promote play and empower young minds to thrive.

Learn Play Thrive – A podcast for early ch... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes139Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CoursesEducationKids & Family

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Artwork for Learn Play Thrive Early Education Podcast

Latest Episodes

In this compelling episode of Learn Play Thrive, host Simone Brand joins forces with Georgie Dent, CEO of The Parenthood, to confront the systemic fractures currently defining the early childhood landscape. From 'childcare deserts' and soaring fees t... more

In this episode of the Navigating the NQS mini-series, host Simone Brand dives into Quality Area 4, Standard 4.1—Staffing Arrangements. Simone tackles the elephant in the room—the national ECEC workforce shortage—and explores how high-quality service... more

In this special live episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast, we take you to the heart of the ECA Regional, Rural and Remote Early Childhood Forum in Coffs Harbour. Host Simone Brand explores the vital work being done by professionals who champion q... more

In this episode, Play Provocations returns with a deep dive into Small World Play. Host Linda Harrison is joined by Centre Director Aimee Hansen to discuss how miniature environments—filled with tiny figurines, recycled loose parts, and natural mater... more

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Recent Guests

Leanne Cruden
Workplace and industrial relations lawyer with 20 years experience; Australian Industry Group facilitator
Australian Industry Group
Episode: The 2026 ECEC Roadmap: Award Changes, Retention Payments, and NES Updates
Victor Lin
Senior consultant and solicitor in employment law and HR
Australian Federation of Employers and Industries (AFEI)
Episode: The 2026 ECEC Roadmap: Award Changes, Retention Payments, and NES Updates
Andrea Rowe
Best-selling picture book author; author of Castle Crashing; CBCA Notable 2026
Little Hair, Hardy Grant Children's Publishing
Episode: S2E2 Little Library: Castle Crashing
Andrew Paterson
Chief Executive Officer
Family Daycare Australia (FDCA)
Episode: Sector Insights from Family Day Care Australia
Amanda Menzies
Early childhood road safety education consultant from the Kids and Traffic Early Childhood Road Safety Education Program
Kids and Traffic
Episode: Road Safety In Early Education #1: Key Road Safety Messages
Bec Dunn
Early childhood road safety education consultant from the Kids and Traffic Early Childhood Road Safety Education Program
Kids and Traffic
Episode: Road Safety In Early Education #1: Key Road Safety Messages
Kelly Goodsir
Pedagogical leader who partners with educators, leaders, and organizations to pause, reflect, and reimagine teaching, learning, and leadership
Independent consultant / Educator in RTL across New Zealand and Australia
Episode: Educational Leadership in ECEC
Kate Mount
Chairperson of the Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange
REAIE
Episode: The Hundred Languages of Children: An Introduction to Reggio Emilia
Cara Mearns
General Manager of REAIE
REAIE
Episode: The Hundred Languages of Children: An Introduction to Reggio Emilia

Hosts

Linda Harrison
Host of Learn Play Thrive The Podcast; content producer for early education segments; appears across multiple episodes.
Simone Brand
Host of the podcast; central figure in many episodes; leads interviews and discussions.
Simone
Co-hosting and guest coordination; appears as host across multiple episodes with varied segments.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#180
United States/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#200
Canada/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#4
Australia/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#152
Australia/Education
Apple Podcasts
#23
Mexico/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#125
New Zealand/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#193
Ireland/Education/Courses

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The 2026 ECEC Roadmap: Award Changes, Retention Payments, and NES Updates
Q: How does the worker retention payment interact with award increases?
The worker retention payment is designed to absorb the expected increases up to 15% in total, with the exact top-up reduced as the award rate increases, ensuring the overall uplift remains 15% above the base rate.
The 2026 ECEC Roadmap: Award Changes, Retention Payments, and NES Updates
Q: How do the National Employment Standards interact with these award changes?
NES now includes 12 entitlements, including expanded flexible working provisions to cover pregnancy and domestic violence, stronger dispute resolution mechanisms, and updates to casual conversion rules.
The 2026 ECEC Roadmap: Award Changes, Retention Payments, and NES Updates
Q: What are the key changes to the Children's Services Award and when do they apply?
The award saw a first march-pay increase under a new classification structure, with an emphasis on translating staff to new classifications and applying the new rates; increases vary by classification and are phased in, some exceeding 20%, starting 1 March.
Sector Insights from Family Day Care Australia
Q: What makes Family Day Care appealing to families and educators?
Families are drawn to the home-like environment, small groups, and strong relationships with primary caregivers, while educators value autonomy, the ability to run a small business, and flexibility to align with family needs.
Sector Insights from Family Day Care Australia
Q: What are the three core functions of FDCA?
FDCA's core functions are represent, support and promote the sector, focusing on advocacy with government, providing workforce and service support, and promoting quality and safety in family daycare.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on early childhood education with a practical, practitioner-focused lens. Episodes cover play-based learning concepts like play schemas, wellbeing and protective behaviors, literacy and language development, and aligning practices with national standards and frameworks. Guests range from researchers and policy advocates to classroom leaders and authors, offering actionable strategies, classroom setups, and program models for educators and administrators. Noteworthy themes include reframing child behaviors as learning opportunities, cross-sector collaboration for wellbeing, and integrating community partners to deliver accessible, inclusive early education. The cadence blends theory, policy context, and hands-on activities,... more

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1. The Imperfects
2. All In The Mind
3. No Filter
4. Hamish & Andy
5. The Quicky

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this podcast launched 2 years ago and published 139 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Leanne Cruden
2. Victor Lin
3. Andrea Rowe
4. Andrew Paterson
5. Amanda Menzies
6. Bec Dunn
7. Kelly Goodsir
8. Kate Mount

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