Promoting collaboration in early education to support children’s mental health
About this webinar
Early childhood educators are often among the first professionals to notice when a child may need extra support. Through daily interactions and the development of trusted relationships, these educators often observe changes in a child’s behaviour, emotions and learning; and can play a key role in supporting children’s mental health, development and overall wellbeing.
However, this work can be complex. Limited trauma-informed training, unclear roles, competing responsibilities and a lack of organisational support can make it difficult for educators to know what to do when they observe these changes.
This webinar will explore how early childhood educators can work together with mental health professionals and families to support children’s mental health and wellbeing (including those impacted by trauma). Drawing on emerging evidence, the webinar will also consider how collaboration can build educators’ confidence and wellbeing, improve educator-child interactions, and support children’s mental health, wellbeing and their ability to learn and engage.
This webinar will give you:
an overview of the complementary roles of early childhood educators and mental health professionals in supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing, including those impacted by trauma
insight into the common professional, organisational and system-level barriers that limit effective collaboration, as well as tips on how to overcome them
an understanding of how to build collaborative relationships to support child mental health, including the key factors that support these partnerships with professionals and families.
Target Audience
This webinar will be of interest to early childhood educators including staff and managers, as well as mental health professionals who work with children and families.
This webinar is co-produced by CFCA and Emerging Minds in a series focusing on children’s mental health. They are working together as part of the Emerging Minds: National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health, which is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing under the National Support for Child and Youth Mental Health Program.
Presenters
Yihan Sun is a researcher and teacher-educator specialising in trauma-informed education and care. She is a PhD Candidate in the Health and Social Care Unit at Monash University, and a Research Associate at the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney. Her current research spans two complementary areas: advancing trauma-informed early childhood education through co-designed programs, and evaluating school-based mental health prevention initiatives. Her longer-term research agenda examines how educational settings, from early childhood education and care through primary and secondary schools, can better support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people, particularly those who have experienced adversity and trauma.
Michelle Hamiton has a background in teaching, 25 years of experience in the education sector and a passion for working to ensure children and young people are seen, heard and listened to. Michelle’s work focuses on collaborating with educators and education leaders to support mental health and wellbeing in education settings, particularly exploring how a village approach can bring practitioners, families and educators together to meet the need of children and young people. Michelle has worked with a wide range of organisations to design, lead and facilitate learning programs, professional learning, policy and system change projects. Michelle is currently Emerging Mind’s Senior Advisor – Education.
Wei has years of experience in secondary education, teaching SACE and New Arrival programs and also serving as a VET instructor. Wei's classroom is a microcosm of diverse needs, where she's seen firsthand how isolation impacts learning and wellbeing. Her professional lens is deeply personal. As a mother of two, Wei navigates the very collaboration she advocates for - between educators, families and support services. Wei understands the courage it takes to ask for help and her lived experience grounds her belief that genuine partnership isn’t just beneficial; it’s the essential foundation for building resilient, emotionally secure children.
Facilitator
Jacquie Lee (she/her) is a Practice Development Advisor at Emerging Minds, with a background in psychology, communications and knowledge translation. She enjoys combining the latest in research findings with the lived experience wisdom of parents and practitioners to create innovative, engaging resources. Jacquie has a particular interest in neurodivergent-affirming practice, family-centred disaster response and recovery, and improving practitioners’ child mental health literacy and understanding of intersectionality. In her spare time, she enjoys long walks and longer conversations.
23 September 2026, 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm (AEST)
Yihan Sun, Michelle Hamilton, Wei, Jacquie Lee
Online