Nurturing Early Childhood through Steiner Education
(0-3 years old)
Two-day in-person workshop, 11 - 12 October
Welcome in the Spring term with an invigorating Early Childhood workshop for learning, fellowship and fun. It can be taken to complement our part-time online Early Childhood course or can be taken without any prior experience.
This two-day workshop offers an immersive introduction to Steiner Education principles specifically tailored for educators and caregivers of young children aged 0-3. Guided by experienced instructors, the course provides practical insights into creating nurturing, rhythm-filled environments that honour the developmental needs of infants and toddlers.
Participants will explore topics central to early childhood, such as cultivating inner virtues for inspired caregiving, building seasonal rhythms through nature tables, and fostering healthy sensory integration. Key workshops include sessions on storytelling as a foundation for connection and imagination, designing play spaces that encourage exploration, and incorporating movement games, songs, and verses into daily routines.
The course also focuses on supporting the holistic wellbeing of children through balanced rhythms, mindful routines, and sensory-rich experiences. Participants will engage in hands-on activities and reflective discussions, leaving with practical tools to enrich their practice and cultivate environments that nurture each child’s growth, joy, and creativity.
This course will give you a certificate of professional development hours referencing the Australian Teacher Professional Standards.
More information
Presenters
Kim Roche
Kim started her teaching journey 30 years ago in primary education, and over the years she has focussed her work and studies in Steiner early childhood. She has qualifications and experience in both teaching and counselling and these combined skills have been important foundations for working with parents and young children in the Steiner playgroup setting. She has a love of songs, rhymes and storytelling for the young child which she passionately shares with her Melbourne Steiner playgroup families and other playgroup leaders. She has three children that are attending or have graduated from the Melbourne Rudolf Steiner School and they were all raised on songs, stories and lots of outdoor play.
Jessica Moraes
Jessica commenced her nursing career at the Royal
Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. Working predominantly within the Emergency
Department, specializing in paediatrics and then going on to complete midwifery
training.
Jessica had the opportunity to volunteer at the Anthroposophical Monte Azul medical clinic and Casa Angela (Birth Center) in São Paulo, Brazil. She undertook a placement on the paediatric ward at the Filderklinik, Germany where she gained insight into anthroposophical remedies specific to paediatrics.
Her passion for working with and supporting mothers, infants and young children as a midwife and paediatric nurse led to her becoming a Maternal and Child Health Nurse in 2019.
Tania Hungerford
Tania Hungerford has been a teacher in Adult Education working with Anthroposophy for 25 years. A particular area of interest for her is understanding human development and how this understanding can be brought to teaching.
She also teaches Sculpture, Form Drawing, the Twelve Senses, Human Development, the Four Temperaments, Professional Communication and Conflict Resolution, understanding and working with trauma and developing inclusive teaching practices for working with children with individual learning needs.
Tania has offered many professional development programs to Waldorf Teachers in schools around Australia and in Asia.
Janina Papas
Janina Papas works extensively with schools, parents and children bringing sensory integration activities and exercises to support development and learning. She has graduate qualifications specialising in learning difficulties, and has been a class teacher in a regional Steiner School and continues to consult with schools. She has presented workshops at international and national conferences, and also participates in the Steiner Teacher Education courses at the Seminar. Janina is a qualified Three Fold Educational Support practitioner and has been working with the Extra Lesson for 20 years.
Content and timetable
NOTE: This is an in-person event and no recordings will be made.
Fees and Fees Policy
Fees: $525
Early bird price of $460 (discount of $65) if payment is
received by 12 September 2025
Refund Policy
Please notify us by email to office@steinerseminar.edu.au
if you will be withdrawing from the intensive.
- If you withdrawal on or before 25 September 2025, an Administration Fee of $120 applies.
- If you withdrawal is after 25 September 2025 – 10 October 2025, an Administration fee of $180 applies.
- No refunds will be considered once the workshop begins.
Accomodation
There are a number of options for accommodation:
Commercial
- Air BnB – https://www.airbnb.com.au/warranwood-australia/stays
- Bungunyah Apartments – perfect if you are bringing your family – https://www.bungunyahapartments.com.au/
Billeting
We may be able to organise billeting for a few students depending on availability of rooms in nearby homes.
Camping or Seminar classroom
The Seminar can offer basic accommodation of a tent space or classroom (to be shared), shared kitchen, bathrooms, and shower. You will need to bring your own bedding, towels, toiletries.
Please let us know if you would like to stay on the Seminar grounds.
Food
Morning and afternoon tea and Saturday dinner will be provided.
Café
There is a very good café a 10 minute walk from the Seminar for breakfast, or lunch. Lunchtime food order can be phone through at morning tea time and collected during the lunch break.
Grocery stores
There are two small shopping strips for groceries and cafes within a 5 minute drive of the Seminar at McAdam Square and North Ringwood. You are welcome to use the Seminar’s kitchen for meal preparation.
Transportation
There is a SkyBus service from Tullamarine Airport to the city. For more information see https://www.skybus.com.au/southern-cross-station/
Two train lines connect Southern Cross station with Ringwood, our closest train station. They are the Lilydale line and Belgrave line. From the Ringwood station, take the 364 bus to the front of the Seminar at 37A Wellington Park Drive.
For more information about public transportation in Victoria see https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/journey
What to bring:
Clothing and toiletries
Because there will be lots of movement during the intensive, please pack comfortable, loose clothing and shoes that are easy to move in. Melbourne in mid-March is warm in the day and cool at nights, so please bring layers for the evening. Include a raincoat and Eurythmy slippers if you have them.
Study material
- Notepads or main lesson books, pencil or pen
- Folder for holding handouts
Bedding
If you are staying on the premises you will need to bring:
- Camping mattress
- Sheets, pillow
- Blankets, doona
- Towel
Contact information
Enrolment enquiries: Robin 03 9876 5199 or email office@steinerseminar.edu.au
Note that this is an in-person event and no recordings will be made.
