Your union-funded professional learning program
The Early Learning Sector is dynamic, and access to quality professional learning is vital to support the sector to continue to deliver world-class education.
Through Big Steps Professional Learning, we empower educators to unlock your career potential. Our professional development programs provide the essential skills, knowledge, and networking opportunities you need to grow your career with confidence.
We believe real career growth happens when preparation meets opportunity. Whether you’re looking to advance your skills, boost your confidence, or take the next big step in your professional journey.
Big Steps Professional Learning focuses on creating communities of learning and practice, where you can connect over key topics, or domains of interest, to build your pedagogy and practice.
Courses are funded by United Workers Union, and are exclusive to Early Education union members.
Highlights and Takeaways From ECA 2025
Often described as the leading conference in the education and care sector in Australia, the ECA National Conference gives educators the opportunity to gain new skills and keep pace with the latest research and developments in the sector.
Our UWU Educators listened to over 100 speakers with sessions across four days, and are ready to share the key takeaways and highlights with you in a one-off event exclusively for union members!
Join one of our four highlight sessions:
- Leading Change
Thursday 20th November 7-8pm AEST - Language and Literacy in Early Years
Tuesday 25th November 7-8pm AEST - Reimagining Learning Assessment
Thursday 27th November 7-8pm AEST - Resilience and Leadership
Thursday 4th December 7-8pm AEST
Previous Workshops
Leadership and Advocacy in ECEC
Sarah Louise Nelson guided educators in growing their impact through practical, values-driven advocacy and leadership across three powerful webinars:
- Everyday Leadership: The Educator as Advocate,
- Holding the Heart: Educational Leadership as Relational Advocacy,
- Leading with Purpose: The Nominated Supervisor as a System Advocate
Supporting Challenging Behaviours Through Movement and Play
UWU members learnt practical, evidence-based strategies to support children with challenging behaviours, emotional regulation difficulties, and complex needs through movement and play-based approaches.
United Workers Union Member Workshops
Available on demand, member workshops cover topics important to workers, from taxes to advocacy to protecting yourself legally.
not a union member?
Joining your union means you are able to access professional development to help your personal and career life!
What are you waiting for? JOIN TODAY
ECA National Conference 2024 in Meanjin (Brisbane)
UWU Educators won 5x local scholarships to the conference in September last year!
United Workers Union Big Steps Professional Development proudly offered 5 fully funded scholarships to our early educators to attend the ECA National Conference in April last year.
The ECA National Conference provides a platform for professional discourse relevant to the rights, well-being and early education of young children.
Our scholarship recipients had the chance not only to network with other sector professionals but also to embrace cultural responsiveness and inclusive practices, fostering children’s connection to culture and identity, while forming respectful partnerships to empower First Nations communities and families.
what professional development would you like to access?
Have your say on which professional development opportunities you would you like to access. Your feedback will inform our development program.
Here are some examples of what UWU Educators would like development on:
Previous partnerships
Partnering With Sector Experts to Deliver Quality Training
