Welcome to
The Child
Development
Collective
From movement to milestones –
Connecting Educators. Empowering Children
The Child Development Collective brings together professionals who believe children deserve programs built on a deep understanding of how they grow, move and learn.
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We connect educators working across a range of child‑focused sectors, including:
• Swimming and aquatic education
• Dance and performing arts
• Gymnastics and movement programs
• Children’s activity providers and coaches
• Early childhood education
Learn. Connect. Lead the future of child development.
The Child Development Collective is at SwimCON26
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A different perspective on teaching children.
Join 500+ professionals at SwimCON26 and experience the Child Development Collective conference stream — exploring how children grow, move, learn, and develop in and out of the pool.
While SwimCON brings together aquatic educators and professionals, the CDC stream looks at the whole child, with insights relevant to anyone working with children across sport, movement, and education.
Our Conferences
Our Speaker Lineup
Previous CDC events have featured a diverse line-up of professionals including occupational therapists, PhD researchers, psychologists, children's activity directors, and childcare leaders, all sharing insights to help educators better support children’s development.
Present and Share Your Expertise
Have insights that help educators better support children from movement to milestones? Submit an expression of interest to present or contribute at a future CDC event.
Suggest a Topic
What conversations should our industry be having? Share ideas for topics or areas of child development you believe deserve more attention.
Collaborate with Us
We partner with organisations, educators, and industry experts who want to raise the standard of child-centred teaching and learning.
Be part of the conversation shaping child-centred practice. Applications now open for our 2026 presenter line-up.
We are curating a diverse and high-quality presenter line-up for 2026, including:
• Subject matter experts delivering 30–45 minute sessions with practical, experience-led insights
• Great 8 speakers — concise, high-impact 8-minute presentations designed to inspire and challenge thinking
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We welcome educators, specialists, and industry professionals from all child-focused disciplines who are passionate about supporting better outcomes for children.
What Delegates Think
This is not a token PD opportunity that you can tick off. This collective is an incredible opportunity to network and connect with truely genuine people who care for the industry of swimming that we all love so much.
It was hands down one of the best PD experiences I have been to. The speakers were all experts in their own rights. They struck a perfect balance of respecting their audience’s experience in the industry, with imparting their knowledge to us.
I would wholeheartedly recommend you attend this PD. It was truly a pleasure to do so for me!
Connor Bailey
The depth of knowledge in the room was incredible. Bringing together a room full of children’s activity specialists across different disciplines created conversations you simply don’t get anywhere else. It’s rare to find a space where practical experience and child development knowledge come together so seamlessly. I would highly recommend this conference to anyone working in this space, regardless of their background.
Megan McArthur
I had the absolute privilege of attending this event, and I can honestly say—after all my years in aquatics—this was hands down one of the most informative and empowering professional development days I’ve ever experienced.
From the moment I walked in, it was welcoming, inclusive, and filled with open, honest conversations. Every session was thoughtfully delivered—packed with practical tools, inspiring insights, and specialist knowledge that I can actually apply. I left feeling not just informed, but truly energised.
If you’re sitting on the fence—jump off it. This isn’t just another PD day… it’s a game-changer.
If you care about child development, if you work with kids in any capacity, you owe it to yourself (and to them) to lean into this. The tools, the knowledge, the energy in that room—it opens your eyes, challenges your thinking, and fills your cup in all the right ways.
You’d be crazy not to give yourself access to this kind of insight. Don’t miss out!!
Kylie Messenger