David is approachable, warm, good-humoured, motivational, collaborative and responsive to clients’ needs.
He truly loves what he does.
David’s many years of experience working directly alongside children and families as an educator and leader, as well as his ability to engage people through his theatre background, make him a highly in-demand educational consultant.
David Gilkes
David Gilkes (B.Ed, MECE) has been a highly regarded early childhood educator for over 30 years, the majority of this time spent working alongside 4 and 5 year old children and their families in Hobart, Tasmania and in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. He has been employed in both Government and Independent school settings. David also spent periods of time in leadership roles as Director of an Early Learning Centre for 3 – 5 year olds in Canberra and as an Early Years Network Leader, primarily supporting teachers in the Tasmanian Education Department.
David possesses both a Bachelor of Education (Flinders University, SA) and a Master of Early Childhood Education (MECE). (Griffith University, QLD) His Masters research (2013) explored parent perspectives on the importance of beauty and aesthetics in the early years of schooling.
In recognition of his contributions and commitment to his work with children, families and the early childhood sector, David was awarded a 2014 NEiTA (National Excellence in Teaching) Award for ‘Innovation’ in Early Childhood.
David’s thinking has been influenced and challenged by the Reggio Emilia educational project, and its provocation for the Australian context, for many years. He has been fortunate enough to have participated in Study Tours and professional learning in this northern Italy city on seven occasions.
In 2015, David participated in a Forest School training course and residency in Denmark. In the same year, he was also invited to be one of the ‘Key Thinkers’ in ‘The Hothouse’ – a forum on the future of education in Tasmania, which was organised as part of Hobart’s DARK MOFO winter festival.
David has given presentations, spoken at large conferences, and run workshops for various organisations, government and independent departments, as well as universities around the country. He has articles and chapters published in various education journals including “The Challenge”, “Pedagogy+” and “Professional Educator”, and books including “Redefining Planning and Assessment: Seeing Children Through Pedagogical Documentation”
One of David’s absolute joys is working as an Early Childhood Advisor for ABC’s Play School, Australia’s longest-running children’s program, celebrating 60 years!
Outside his work in education, David has a background in theatre and performing, with lead roles in Musicals such as “Guys and Dolls”, “Chicago”, “The Sound of Music”, “Hairspray”, “Big River”, “Me and My Girl” and “A Little Night Music”. He brings this ability to engage and connect with an audience to his work alongside his clients, making him an in-demand consultant, speaker and collaborator.
JUST A FEW OF DAVID’S INTEREST AREAS:
* INQUIRY, PLAY, CO-CONSTRUCTED LEARNING AND PROJECTS – PLANNING FOR THINKING
* THE COMPETENT, CAPABLE AND CURIOUS CHILD
* PEDAGOGICAL DOCUMENTATION
* THE ROLE OF THE ADULT: AS ADVOCATE, AS CO-CONSTRUCTOR AND RESEARCHER, AS LISTENER AND QUESTIONER, AS ‘DESIGNER/PLANNER’
* ENVIRONMENTS AND MATERIALS
* CREATIVITY
* BEAUTY AND AESTHETICS
* RELATIONSHIPS
* CONNECTIONS WITH NATURE
* FAMILY AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
© David Gilkes Education Consultant, 2025
I acknowledge the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nations as the traditional custodians of the land upon which I live, work and learn. I pay my respect to Elders past and present.
ABN: 62 843 730 540
DAVID GILKES 