Child care professionals share a commitment to improving society by creating dynamic and nurturing care environments for Australia's youngest learners.
Read this month's Child Care Person in the spotlight Karen Jones Director ABC Mt Warren Boulevard Early Learning Centre QLD.
Karen Jones
Director - ABC Mt Warren Boulevard Early Learning Centre QLD
C4K: What is your full name?
KJ: My name is Karen Jones and I am 45 years old.
C4K: Which centre do you work in?
I work in the ABC Mt Warren Boulevard Early Learning Centre in Queensland – including myself (Director) we have 11 staff at our centre. We are a 75 place centre with approximately 95 families at present. We cater for children from 15 months to six years.
C4K: What is your professional background and career experience?
I hold an Advanced Diploma of Childcare. I originally started in child care back in 1988 as a child care assistant and before that I did family day care. I have worked my way up from assistant to group leader to director.
My passion has always been to work with children. I've been with ABC Early Learning centres for eight years now and have 22 years experience in the child care industry.
C4K: What attracted you to a career in child care?
In my teenage years I did babysitting for friends, family and neighbours and found it very rewarding. Our children are our future and seeing their excitement and wonder as they develop is amazing, knowing I could be part of that process helped me decide that child care was what I wanted to do.
I actually began a Bachelor of Teaching and was going to be a school teacher but then I realised that the early years are so important and that's where I wanted to start and that's where I've stayed.
C4K: What does a ‘normal' day look like for you?
I am a Director of a very busy centre and I should be very fit! I am very much a people person and love the interaction with the children and staff and parents of the centre. So, between the many phone calls, office administration, communicating with and helping parents, interacting with both children and staff and showing new families through the centre, I keep very busy.
C4K: What makes your centre unique?
Our centre is very multicultural, we have children from New Zealand; both Maori and Kiwi, children from South Africa, Vietnam, Romania and Hawaii. We embrace and celebrate all the children's cultures and backgrounds through everyday customs and activities, artwork, music and special events.
We are also very excited about the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and have been implementing this since late 2009. My staff are all very dedicated and implement programs such as Get up and Grow, SEEDS and a gardening program and recycling program to name just a few.
C4K: What are some of the advantages of working in the child care sector?
The main advantages of working in the child care sector are the rewards you get from being part of a child's journey into adulthood and helping shape them into the person they will eventually become, and being part of an ever changing industry and moving forward for the future and embracing change.
C4K: What are some of the biggest challenges facing the child care sector?
One of the biggest challenges facing the child care industry is recognition of staff as being educators and attracting wages to suit the recognition. It is hard to gain qualified staff as the wages are not attractive and there is not a great deal of appreciation for the hard workers you see as assistants and group leaders. Tradies are paid a higher wage than child care workers. Child care also has a high rate of burn out; teachers receive more money and 11 weeks of holiday each year.
The introduction of EYLF is fantastic and the new National Framework standards are great and with the ratio of children to staff for Queensland centres to change, this will help but at the same time will reduce child care places which will result in a fall in attendance and revenue.
C4K: How has your centre changed to deal with these challenges?
In our centre, my staff and I are very dedicated and are here for the children and families. If it was money we were after we would be in another profession. ABC Early Learning does offer apprenticeships and traineeships in their centres (we have two apprentices and one traineeship) and the centre pays for the tuition, which is an incentive for the staff as they are being paid to work and do not have to pay for study.
I also provide praise and competitions for the staff which helps with staff moral.
C4K: What advice would you offer someone thinking about a career or looking for a promotion in child care?
If you have a passion for early childhood education and wish to study or further your career, ABC Early Learning Centres are very supportive and provide training for all qualifications in child care.
Embrace your jobs and your children in your centres. Set up your early learning environments to extend child led play and development. You will find there are fewer behavioural disruptions when children are offered a variety of activities and staff will enjoy their days and interactions with children more.
Be proud to be an EDUCATOR and enjoy your child care journey.
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