School Readiness

Our training helps educators to:

• Recognise the signs of trauma and adversity in young children and understand how these affect development, behaviour and learning
• Build meaningful, trauma-informed relationships with children and families that help every child feel safe, valued and ready to learn
• Support children experiencing vulnerability to reach their full potential — while also strengthening connections with their family
• Develop inclusive, culturally safe practices that work for children from all backgrounds
• Use practical, evidence-based strategies that can be embedded into everyday early learning environments

Adopting a trauma-informed and relational approach, our School Readiness programs deliver a holistic perspective to child wellbeing — derived from first-hand experience at our own early childhood centres across Victoria.

Our strength lies in combining deep sector expertise with flexible training that responds to the real needs of your service, your educators and the children and families you work with.

• Bespoke programs tailored to your service context
• Flexible delivery — in-person at your service or online
• Trauma-informed, child and family centred lens
• Practical strategies grounded in real early childhood experience
• Backed by sector expertise and government-funded pathways

Over the past two and a half years, Kids First Australia has provided early childhood professional learning and practice support to approximately 69 ECEC services, supporting educators and positively impacting an estimated 4,500–5,000 children across Victoria through the School Readiness Funding menu.

Noha Elhanafy — Social Worker and School Readiness Coordinator Noha works alongside kindergarten educators to support children's successful transition to school. With qualifications in early childhood education and social work, she integrates trauma-informed, culturally safe and inclusive approaches into early learning environments. Drawing on her lived experience as a migrant, Noha works collaboratively with educators, families and community partners to ensure children from diverse backgrounds feel supported, valued and ready to learn.

Shelley Fallowfield — Early Years Model Lead Shelley supports the development of evidence-informed approaches that strengthen early childhood systems and services. Her work focuses on early intervention, attachment and building practical tools that help educators and services support children and families experiencing vulnerability.

For more information about our School Readiness Funding programs, fill in the form below and one of our team will be in touch shortly. Alternatively, contact our team directly:

Noha Elhanafy training@kidsfirstaustralia.org.au 0417 689 769

→ Find out more about our School Readiness Funding programs https://www.kidsfirstaustralia.org.au/school-readiness/