Let’s Talk Pedagogy

Episode 2: Playwork in OSHC

In this episode, we explore Playwork and what it means for Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) services. At its core, Playwork recognises play as freely chosen, personally directed and essential to children and young people’s wellbeing and development. 
Join Belinda as she delves deep into Playwork and explains how Playwork has challenged her own thinking, expectations and biases. Discovering Playwork also prompted her to think more deeply and reflect on her image of the child through the lens of Playwork. 
Rather than offering affordances that are quick fixes or simple solutions, Belinda resonates with Playwork and the way it encourages educators to slow down, to notice with intention and to critically analyse how children’s play can evolve and be owned by the children involved.  
Belinda unpacks the origins of Playwork and its strong alignment with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. With a focus on Article 12 and Article 31, Belinda highlights the key principles that Playwork aligns with. Belinda also openly acknowledges that Playwork is an ongoing learning journey, one that values research, discussion and curiosity. 
This episode is an invitation to protect and advocate for all children’s right to play and to reimagine play in the OSHC environment as a place where childhood is respected, valued and embodied.  
Hosts: Michelle Richardson & Victoria McDowell  
Guest:  Belinda Rouhan 
Recommended audience:  Aimed at all OSHC teachers and educators at any stage of their professional career who are curious about Playwork.  
 
Links: 
Education Hub Gowrie NSW Education Hub 
Professional Learning Calendar 2026 Online Flipbook 
Playwork Guiding Principles – Playwork Scrutiny Group 2005 
Play Australia  
Play Wales 
Play Scotland 
The Playwork Primer by Penny Wilson 
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Instagram: @GowrieNSW.EducationHub    
Facebook: Gowrie NSW Education Hub  

Episode 1: Introducing Primary Educator Relationships

In this episode, we explore Primary Educator Relationships, through the lens of respectful relationships. 
For infants and toddlers, Primary Educator Relationships are not about structure alone. They are about creating emotional safety through consistent, respectful and attuned relationships. 
We unpack why the birth to three-year age group is such a critical period, particularly during the first 1000 days. During this time of rapid brain development, children are learning how to feel safe, how to trust and how to be in relationships. Through everyday interactions, infants and toddlers form their earliest understandings of whether adults are dependable and whether the world is a safe place to explore. 
We discuss what Primary Educator Relationships look like in practice for infants and toddlers, as well as preschoolers in more detail. This discussion includes the exploration of the benefits to small, consistent grouping that allows for deeper knowing and understanding of children’s cues, their rhythms, communication and individual preferences. This intentional consistency helps to create predictability, safety and security, much like in the home environment. 
Care moments, such as nappy changes, bottle feeds, meals, rest times, and transitions, are explored as deeply relational spaces where trust, communication and learning are built. These moments are not interruptions to learning; they are what make up the daily curriculum. 
We also address an important distinction: Primary Educator Relationships are about security, not exclusivity. Children are supported by a primary attachment within a strong network of secondary relationships, highlighting teamwork and consistency across the whole team being essential. 
Finally, we highlight families as central partners. When families feel safe, informed and trusting, children do too, and that’s where learning begins. 
Being a primary educator is more than a role. It’s an attitude of presence, attunement, and deep respect which shape how children see themselves and the world from the very beginning. 
Recommended audience: All educators in EEC and OSHC at any stage of their professional career.  
Host: Michelle Richardson  
Guests: Belinda Rouhan, Fiona Veld-Brown & Nicole Tytherleigh
Links: 
Gowrie NSW Education Hub 
Professional Learning Calendar 2026
Our Podcast Website 
Subscribe: 
Newsletter Get in Touch!  
Instagram: @GowrieNSW.EducationHub   
Facebook: Gowrie NSW Education Hub 

An Introduction to Gowrie NSW’s Let’s Talk Pedagogy Podcast

In this episode, we introduce the purpose and vision behind the Gowrie NSW Education Hub podcast, Let’s Talk Pedagogy, and why creating space to talk deeply about pedagogy matters now more than ever. 
We explore what pedagogy really means in early childhood education, its history, purpose, and the role it plays in shaping meaningful, ethical, and responsive practice. This episode invites you to look beyond the surface of what you do each day and reconnect with your why, this being always centred on what truly matters for children. 
Let’s Talk Pedagogy is about connection. It brings together research, ideas, and real‑world experiences to create a platform where educators, teachers, leaders and advocates can think together, share knowledge and spark conversation across the sector. 
This episode is an invitation for educators to pause, reflect and feel inspired. It’s a reminder of the importance of taking time to listen, reconnect with purpose and to feel energised by the impact of our work. 
We also reflect on Gowrie NSW’s long‑standing commitment to children, families, and educators. For more than 85 years, Gowrie NSW has worked alongside communities with a clear and powerful vision: children are empowered, their voices are heard, and they are active participants in their communities and the wider world. 
Throughout this podcast series, you will hear from passionate voices including educators, leaders, researchers and advocates, all who will unpack big questions, explore innovative practice and celebrate the incredible work happening across early and middle childhood education. 
Recommended audience: All educators in EEC and OSHC at any stage of their professional career.  
Host: Michelle Richardson  
Guests: Belinda Rouhan, Fiona Veld-Brown & Nicole Tytherleigh
Links: 
Gowrie NSW Education Hub 
Professional Learning Calendar 2026
Our Podcast Website 
Subscribe: 
Newsletter Get in Touch!  
Instagram: @GowrieNSW.EducationHub   
Facebook: Gowrie NSW Education Hub