My background, RIE Training and experience
Nellie Hodda serves as a RIE® Associate and ITANA board member. As an Early Childhood Teacher and one of the Australian RIE® Associates, Nellie has dedicated her career to promoting the core principles of Magda Gerber’s Educaring Approach®. Nellie’s work is also influenced by Pikler® and Circle of Security®.
My Background
In 2010 I graduated with a Diploma in Children’s Services (with Distinction) and began work in group care settings soon after. After working in various settings, I realised I particularly enjoyed working with infants and toddlers. Finding the practices typical in these spaces counter-intuitive to the relationship-focused approach I connected with, I began to seek out alternative ideas and infant and toddler pedagogies.
In 2013, I attended a professional development day with Dr Katherine Bussey introduced me to the Piklerian and Educaring® Approaches. I immediately connected with the respectful, human-centric practices Katherine spoke of. This sparked my interest in learning more about these approaches theoretically, while also working to embed them into practice in the context of the long day care centre I was working in.
In 2014 I undertook the RIE Foundations™ course in Sydney with RIE Associate Polly Elam. This was the first Foundations course to be held in Australia and I was very excited to be a part of it. The following year I enrolled in Macquarie University’s Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) program as an external (distance education) student.
At the end of 2017, I began my group-care RIE Practicum™ under the mentorship of RIE® Associate Sharon Smith, within the long day care centre I was working in. This was an ongoing process of regular self reflection and analysis of my practice. Under Sharon’s guidance, this allowed me to ruminate on, pick apart and internalise many aspects of the Approach, while also learning more about myself. During this year I also participated in the first Pikler® module to take place in Australia — The Autonomous Play Activity.
Across 2019 to 2022 I worked through the RIE Internship under the guidance of Anita Cooper Ebright, Melissa Coyne and Sharon Smith. During this time, I also participated in the other two basic-level Pikler® modules. Studying towards my degree part time while working and also engaging in the RIE Practicum and Internship allowed me to integrate ideas across all three aspects of my professional life. My growing understanding of Educaring® had a strong influence on much of my university coursework as I incorporated RIE and Piklerian ideas and literature at every opportunity. In 2021 I completed the Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) degree and graduated as a recipient of the Macquarie University Award for Academic Excellence.
At the end of 2022 I was invited to join the RIE Alliance of Associates, and was proud to accept this invitation, becoming one of the first Australian Associates.
My work With RIE®
RIE®, or Resources for Infant Educarers®, is an organisation dedicated to the teaching of Magda Gerber’s Educaring Approach®. This approach respects infants and supports their development through attentive observation and thoughtful interaction. By prioritising the child's natural abilities and fostering independence, Educaring® encourages a deeper connection between caregivers and children.
RIE Foundations: Theory and Observation™ (10-day intensive)
2014 with Polly Elam
RIE Practicum™ (group care model)
2017-2018 with Sharon Smith
RIE Internship
2019-2022 with Anita Cooper Ebright, Melissa Coyne, and Sharon Smith
RIE Associate
2022-present
Pikler® training
The Pikler approach, developed by Hungarian pediatrician Emmi Pikler, stresses allowing infants and young children to move freely and explore at their own pace. It promotes independence, self-directed learning, and natural motor skill development. Central to Pikler’s philosophy is trust in children's natural abilities, boosting their emotional health and social skills as they mature.
The Autonomous Play Activity (Pikler® Basic-level module)
2017 with Zsuzsa Libertiny and Jutka Keleman
Respectful Care & the Relationship with the Adult (Pikler® Basic-level module)
2022 with Szilvia Papp and Jutka Hafner
Self-Initiated Motor Development (Pikler® Basic-level module)
2022 with Szilvia Papp and Judit Hafner
Observation in the Piklerian Approach (Pikler® Advanced-level module)
2024 with Judit Hafner, Andrea Szőke, and Dr Katherine Bussey
Tertiary Qualifications
Nellie Hodda holds both TAFE qualifications and a Bachelor's degree, demonstrating her commitment to professional development in the field of early childhood education. She was honoured with an award for academic excellence, reflecting her dedication and exemplary performance in her studies by Macquarie University.
Diploma of Children’s Services (with Distinction)
Graduated in 2010, TAFE NSW
Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)
Graduated in 2021, Macquarie University
Recipient of the Macquarie University Award for Academic Excellence,
Circle of Security
The Circle of Security is a relational framework that helps caregivers understand and respond to children’s emotional needs, promoting secure attachment. It emphasises the importance of providing a safe base for exploration and a secure haven for comfort during distress.
Circle of Security® parenting training
2014 with Dr Robyn Dolby