Gabby Millgate on Chickens in Early Years settings

Gabby Millgate is a Nature Pedagogy Leader based in Canberra, working at Woden Valley Early Learning Centre. With a background in film, (Muriel’s Wedding ) television and communications, she now focuses on embedding access to nature as a core part of early childhood education.

Gabby is the creator of the Access to Nature Survey and the Early Years Climate Strategy, supporting children’s rights, ecological literacy and wellbeing in the first five years of life. Her work bridges practice, policy and culture, demonstrating how everyday early learning environments can become powerful spaces for connection to nature, community and climate resilience.

She released her book about chickens in Early Years settings – called the Book Book Book – in 2020.

Discover how introducing chickens to your Early Years setting can create profound learning opportunities that span emotional development, cultural understanding, and practical life skills. Gabby shares her expertise on transforming outdoor spaces into engaging learning environments where children develop genuine connections with nature, animals, and sustainable practices through hands-on experiences with chickens.

In this episode you’ll:

• Learn practical steps for introducing chickens safely into any early years setting
• Discover how chickens support emotional regulation and help children overcome separation anxiety
• Explore ways to embed Aboriginal perspectives through nature-based rights and responsibilities
• Understand how chicken care naturally integrates numeracy, literacy and gross motor development
• Find out how to create meaningful rituals that build belonging and respect for living things

Watch this episode to discover how chickens can become valuable co-educators in your setting, creating authentic learning experiences that connect children to nature, culture and community.

Episode Links:

Nature Pedagogy In ECEC – Sunday 8th February 2026 at the Childcare Centre, Garran, ACT, Australia.

​Woden Valley ELC nature pedagogy leader, Gabby Millgate shares how Woden transitioned to a nature play ECEC service with the children as participants

​Includes

​-a tour of the summer gardens as well as interacting with chickens and ducks

​-Access to Nature assessment tool for services to inform their QIP

​- free resources to enhance nature pedagogy and educator confidence at your service.

​Who should attend

​Climate and sustainability practitioners

Early Learning services

Policymakers and public servants

Educators and education leaders

Health, resilience, and adaptation professionals

Anyone interested in systems-level climate solutions

​With 90% of brain development in the first five years-this is our research backed, child’s rights aligned -best climate change mitigation strategy. See for yourself how it’s possible or share this.

​Book your spot here: https://luma.com/3penwnqa

You can buy the Book, Book, Book here:

https://www.phoenix-support.com.au/shop/mill-01-the-book-book-book-by-gabby-millgate-1728#attr=

Find Gabby on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/user/gabbymillgate

https://www.wodenvalleychildcare.com.au