The Italian Cultural Institute of Melbourne supported the Italian participation in the international conference Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange (REAIE) 2025, held in Adelaide from 3 to 5 July at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
The 2025 edition, titled Landscapes of Collaboration: New possibilities for education in complex times, brought together educators, researchers and institutional representatives from across Australia to reflect on the role of collaboration, creativity and active participation in today’s educational landscape. At the heart of the discussions was the Reggio Emilia Approach – an internationally recognised Italian model that places the child at the centre of the learning process and continues to inspire educational practices in over one hundred countries.
Thanks to the support of the Institute and the Consulate of Italy in Adelaide, the presence of Italian speakers Elena Maccaferri and Consuelo Damasi was made possible. Their contributions offered direct insight into the Reggio Emilia educational experience, further strengthening the cultural dialogue between Italy and Australia.
The conference also featured the exhibition-atelier The Mosaics of Marks, which presented research conducted in Reggio Emilia’s early childhood centres on the theme of mark-making as a form of expression, storytelling and knowledge.
Supporting this significant initiative is part of the Institute’s broader commitment to promoting and enhancing innovative Italian educational practices – not only in Victoria, but also through partnerships and projects across Australia that reflect Italy’s contribution to global educational discourse.