The Australian Children's Activities Conference
Saturday 8th October 2022Twin Towns Conference & Function Centre, Tweed Heads
A One Day Business & Networking Event for Children’s Activities Providers
Put away your beanies, find your sunglasses and pack your beach towel!
It’s time to defrost, head somewhere warm and get back to live events again!
What is the Children’s Activities Conference?
The event is for all those that work in the children’s activities industry. This could be dance teachers, football coaches, drama teachers, music teachers, swim coaches, the list goes on! The day is about celebrating the opportunity to come together, to learn and be inspired by our incredible line-up of speakers and of course having some fun catching up with old and new friends within the industry. A perfect supportive networking event for people from all over Australia. The ACAA is delighted to be supporting What’s On 4 Kids this year by hosting the conference in collaboration with the What’s On 4 Kids Awards. The conference will be led by Elise Easdown and Ross Gage co-founders of the ACAA.
This is a day to step away from your teaching/coaching and your computer and focus on you and your business plans for 2023.
Emcee: Lou Duggan, Cake 2 The Rescue
Lou Duggan is the founder of Cake 2 The Rescue, an award-winning DIY cake kit company which has helped more than 50,000 Australian families pour their love into a homemade cake.
With a background in engineering and design, Lou has spent the last eleven years building Cake 2 The Rescue into a thriving ecommerce business, with more than 300 cake kit designs, and a loyal online audience of 80,000+ cake fans.
As a talented creative entrepreneur, Lou is a big believer in the power of vulnerability in business and loves empowering other business owners to ditch perfectionism and embrace entrepreneurship.
Originally from Scotland, Lou is mum to three gorgeous teenage girls, and lives on the Gold Coast with her hubby Craig. She confesses an addiction to human connection, homewares and her Cavi George.
Lou’s long relationship with the kids activity industry, has seen her win 6 What’s On 4 Kids awards, be asked to judge at several awards nights and also share her industry experience speaking at 2 past conferences.
Speaker: Jasmin Forsyth | Topic: PR, Media & the Power of Video
In this masterclass Jasmine will help you rethink how to project your brand, and consider how your public image can ultimately affect the appetite of our consumers.
You wouldn’t serve a child melted ice cream … as no doubt it would be messy, it wouldn’t be appealing nor meet expectations, leading to a verbal protest from your little companion! If only that ice cream was complete with a cherry, or chocolate or sprinkles!
No matter the subject or situation, we ‘consume’ with our eyes – and that extends to multi-media and content for your children’s activity provider brand and business … no matter what its size.
Jasmine will also be touching on appropriate child-safe practices and the basics of crisis management. Practical tips will be applicable for sole operators and large franchises.
Following Jasmin’s presentation, she will be joined by a panel of industry experts who will discuss the presentation and take questions from the audience.
About Jasmin
Jasmin is a highly skilled creative, with nearly 25 years of industry experience across TV, PR, corporate communications, events and content creation. While working in radio promotions, Jasmin graduated from QUT with a Bachelor of journalism – with an induction into the Golden Key International Honour Society, for her academic achievements – before signing with Channel 10 to host network program, ‘Totally Footy’. She later worked across News, and documentaries, as well as became a presenter /field producer on Totally Wild.
Moving to Channel 9, she worked as a journalist/producer on Extra, Weekend Extra, News, Sport and special programs, before venturing into the freelance world and consulting through her business, Media Force Productions (MFP). Co-running MFP with her husband – a Director of Photography and Senior TV cameraman – she consults across a broad range of industries and offers services to assist businesses in creating successful communication outcomes.
A mum of two, Jaz is an energetic go-getter … her personal motto: “It’s not who we are that holds us back, it’s who we think we’re not. So, in a world full of copycats – be yourself!”
Speaker: Donna Hann | Topic: Reflect, Recharge & Reimagine
Getting the balance right with juggling with responsibilities of business and family life can be really tricky. It’s no wonder that business burnout is a common thing and all too often it’s when we are forced to stop that the true feeling of exhaustion sets in.
For many, 2022 has seen businesses recover and grow, whilst for others it’s been another year of continual pivoting just to keep business afloat. The ongoing effects of COVID, talk of falling markets, rising interest rates and increased cost of living no doubt affects the average family budget, so it’s no wonder that many business owners are worried about the potential ripple effect this may have on the Children’s Activity Industry. Regardless of what 2022 has been for you, it’s so important to take stock of where you are right now and make a plan for where you want to be in business and in life as we approach a new year.
Online Business Coach Donna Hann presents Reflect, Recharge and Reimagine, a workshop-style presentation which will help you to get clarity around your goals for 2023 and help you to reassess and plan for the best year yet! By the end of the workshop, you’ll be on your way to having clear goals and a plan for a healthy work-life blend as we step closer to 2023.
About Donna
Being a passionate and driven businesswoman with a discerning instinct for serial entrepreneurship has led Donna down a 20-year journey with several successful businesses under her belt.
As a business coach, Donna’s mission is to inspire ambitious entrepreneurial women to transform from feeling overwhelmed, exhausted and frustrated into savvy, fulfilled and energised business owners.
Panel Discussion: What Matters To You? Part 1
Julia Ham
What Julia loves about her swimming community is how, after more than 20 years, Hampton Swim School is still all about our families. They pride ourselves on a gentle, nurturing approach to learning where achievements, no matter how small, can be celebrated.
Becky Hughes
Amy Sales
As the new owner of What’s On 4 Kids, Amy comes from a background of Childcare Management and Live Entertainment so understands the activities industry from both sides. She has run her own successful children’s entertainment business, Glass Slipper Entertainment, for 8 years and won the 2019 What’s On 4 Kids award for Best Party Entertainment in Australia. She brings a wealth of knowledge in the events and party industry as a leader in her niche.
Kym O'Gorman
More panellists to be announced…
A gun panel of industry experts has been assembled to help you address many significant issues impacting the children’s activities sector.
To start with, the Panel will be touching on the following topics:
- How to recruit a superstar team for your business and how to retain them
- How to create content for social media that works with less effort
- Setting up your systems for easy and effective communication with parents
- Building your star performance business support team
- How to build a business that can be sold one day
- What do Aussie parents expect from the industry in 2023
Round Table Discussion Groups – What Matters To You – Part 2
Head to the table with the topic of your choice and participate in the facilitated discussion, led by an expert on that topic. There will be two opportunities to move to a new table/topic during the session. Topics include:
- Being successful with diversity and inclusion
- Building a business that can operate without you
- How to get your classes into schools and childcare
- How to build a happy and loyal team that stick with you
- Should I put my fees up? What should I be considering
- Making sure your website and social media boosts your business, not drains it
The Program
Friday 7th October – Welcome Drinks – Venue Coolangatta Hotel 7:30pm NSW time
Saturday 8th October
Morning
| 9.00am | Welcome & Acknowledgement of Country | Emcee: Lou Duggan |
| NSW | PR, Media & the Power of Video | Jasmin Forsyth |
| Masterclass & Panel | Host: Ross Gage | |
| 10.30am | Morning Tea & Networking | |
| 11.00am | Reflect, Recharge and Reimagine | Donna Hann |
Afternoon
| 12.30pm | Lunch & Expo | |
| 1.30pm | What Matters to You! Part 1 | Expert Panel |
| What Matters To You! Part 2 | Round Tables facilitated discussion | |
| 3.00pm | Afternoon Tea & Networking |
Evening – 6.30pm for 7pm – What’s On 4 Kids Awards Gala – Tickets bought separately
The Venue
The conference will be held at the conveniently located Twin Towns Centre & Function Centre at Tweed Heads, just a short uber ride from the Gold Coast airport and there’s free parking for those coming by car.
Accommodation can be booked at The Sebel Twin Towns which is connected directly to Twin Towns Conference Centre. You will be spoilt with choice with a variety of dining options, live entertainment & much more.
Quote the discount code whatson4forkids when booking via email or phone.
Conference Tickets
ACAA MEMBERS' PRICE
- All conference presentations
- Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
- Free Parking
- The fee includes GST and is tax deductible
NON-MEMBERS' PRICE
- All conference presentations
- Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
- Free Parking
- The fee includes GST and is tax deductible
- What’s On 4 Kids Finalists/Nominees can use discount code WHATSON4KIDSAWARDS for a 10% discount
Buy Your Conference Tickets
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