Deliverables: GEMS flower graphic, LEAF graphic, downloadable summary poster, downloadable wall decal stickers, downloadable storybook, 2 x key videos, 2 x video quizzes
About the client
The Kids Research Institute Australia, formerly known as the Telethon Kids Institute, is one of Australia’s largest and most successful medical research organisations dedicated to enhancing children’s health and wellbeing. As an independent, not-for-profit entity, it unites community members, researchers, practitioners, policymakers and funders to advance child health through excellence in research. The Institute’s mission includes fostering better understanding and communication with young children and babies, ensuring they have the best start in life.
Through its Rail Academy, LXRP supports the Certificate II in Rail Fundamentals, a VET in Schools program designed to give secondary students a genuine, immersive preview of careers across Victoria’s heavy and light rail network. The program is part of LXRP’s broader commitment to building the rail workforce pipeline that Victoria’s Big Build depends on.
For more information, visit their website: https://www.thekids.org.au/
If you would like to help support the work of The Kids Institute you can make donation by visiting https://giving.thekids.org.au/ways-to-give/donate/
The need
The Kids Research Institute Australia identified a need to support early childhood educators in understanding how to nurture the social and communication development of babies, aged 0–2 years. Communication development in this age group underpins health, relationships, learning, and behaviour. Educators often juggle varied tasks and routines, so they require accessible, actionable training that highlights the importance of observing, interpreting and responding to babies’ unique communication styles. This training aimed to empower educators to enhance everyday interactions, ultimately fostering stronger connections and better outcomes for the babies in their care.
The learning solution
The eLearning course equips early childhood educators with practical tools to foster communication development in babies aged 0–2 years. It introduces memorable frameworks such as GEMS (Gaze, Expression, Movement, Sound) and LEAF (Look, Expression, Activity, Feedback) which simplify key concepts and support their integration into daily practice. The course structure and these frameworks were co-designed in close collaboration with The Kids Research Institute, ensuring alignment with their goals and expertise. Together, we created a vibrant and engaging learning experience that transforms complex concepts into actionable strategies educators can apply with confidence.
Featuring bright, engaging graphics, professionally produced videos and a conversational tone, the course presents ideas in an accessible and relatable way. The bespoke videos bring the learning to life by showcasing real-world interactions between educators and babies, further enhancing engagement and understanding. Real-life examples, complemented by downloadable resources such as the Magic Moments Kit and a beautifully designed storybook, ensure the learning is both practical and easy to integrate into everyday routines.
By highlighting the importance of understanding babies’ unique ways of communicating and creating meaningful interactions, the course empowers educators to make a lasting impact on the babies they care for.
The outcome
The outcome was an engaging eLearning package equipping early childhood educators with practical tools to support communication development in babies. Learners praised the course during pilot testing for its relatable examples, engaging visuals and actionable frameworks which empower educators to create meaningful interactions. Both the client and our team agreed that the project was a delight to collaborate on, with a shared commitment to producing a high-quality, impactful resource. This course has the potential to become a cornerstone of professional development, complementing other training initiatives and enhancing the care provided to babies across various settings.
If you would like to help support the work of The Kids Institute you can make donation by visiting https://giving.thekids.org.au/ways-to-give/donate/
The team
Bec: Senior Learning Strategist & Founder of The Lab
Lara: Senior Instructional Designer
Michael: Managing Partner & Senior Learning Designer
VACCHO & Balit Durn Durn Centre
Gender Equity Works
