Back row (from left): Julie Verlander, Kia Boorer, Tamara Greig
Front row (from left): Kelly-anne Rapinett, Joanne Tucker
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 Kia Boorer Manager at Wyndarra Child Care Centre in Hoppers Crossing VIC
Kia Boorer
Manager -Wyndarra Child Care Centre - Hoppers Crossing VIC
C4K: What is your full name?
KB: My Name is Kia Boorer and I am 28. I work in the Wyndarra Child Care Centre in Hoppers Crossing.
C4K: What is your professional background and career experience?
KB: After completing Year 10, I left school to begin work in the family business which was child care. I started working in the rooms at the age of 16, and in 1997 I attended a one-year course at Footscray TAFE to obtain my Certificate III in Children's Services.
I continued working at the family business Kiarma Child Care Centre, building my knowledge with in-service training and obtaining knowledge and skills I observed through my room leaders and accepting and listening to constructive criticism.
In 2001, I successfully completed my Diploma in Children's Services, and was put in charge of the Tots Room. During these years as room leader for tots and babies, I successfully implemented room plans and assisted the children to learn and grow in a positive environment.
In 2003 my family opened Wyndarra Children's Centre and I was given the opportunity to manage Kiarma Child Care Centre. It was a great learning experience and I was able to obtain more knowledge and understanding of the Regulations and accreditation requirements.
In 2005 my family sold Kiarma Child Care and I began coordinating Wyndarra Children's Centre alongside my sister Tamara Greig.
Between 2006-2009, I completed my Advanced Diploma in Children's Services and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. I can now confidently gather information for staff meetings and deliver on-the-job training to my 25 staff members.
C4K: What attracted you to a career in child care?
KB: My family built their first child care centre while I was still attending primary school, so I have grown up learning how to run a child care centre and how to provide great care for families in the community.
The working atmosphere was always positive and happy and the friendships I have formed with children, families and staff over the have been invaluable.
C4K: What does a 'normal' day look like for you?
KB: I get up for work and get myself and my two children ready for work/day care. After completing a few chores at home, I travel 10 minutes to Wyndarra Child Care Centre. I settle my children and begin looking over the staff and the rooms for the day, ensuring ratios are correct and staff are organised for the daily routine.
Tasks always change from day-to-day; there are parent accounts to organise and print, bills to pay, accreditation to work towards and many more tasks that come with co-ordinating a child care centre.
C4K: What are some of the advantages of working in the child care sector?
KB: I enjoy taking my children to work with me, I get to watch them learn and grow, participate in activities with them and get to know their friends and families.
However the child care sector also opens the door to many new experiences and job opportunities.
I have become familiar with external services like the Department of Human Services, accreditation, children with additional needs and kindergartens. These experiences give me the opportunity to branch out and experience new job professions that link so closely with child care. I often think I would like to become an accreditation validator, or help students completing on-the-job training and become a trainer with a registered school.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing the child care sector?
The biggest challenge facing Wyndarra Child Care Centre is the staff-to-child ratio. This will raise the child care fees and will decrease the number of children we can have in our room.
LDC is now requiring a kindergarten teacher and we must run as a funded kindergarten by 2014. Finding a kindergarten teacher to work child care hours and work over the school holidays will be a major challenge for us.
Also introducing the "framework" into our weekly plan: information is being distributed explaining what it is and the importance of implementing it, however we haven't received any information on how they would like us to show how we link the framework to our plans.
We also need to ensure all of our staff are qualified, we are lucky that most of our staff hold at least their Certificate III in Children's Services. But to assist with the growth of our business in the coming years, we took advantage of the Skills for Growth program at no cost to our business. A Victorian State Government initiative that provided us with a specialist who identified the areas we needed further training and the courses available to our staff. The specialist provided us with expert advice and we'd recommend the program to other child care centre owners.
We found out about the program by visiting Business Victoria Skills Growth or you can call 13 22 15.
C4K: How has your place of work changed to deal with these challenges?
KB: We have accepted higher numbers on our reliever lists and are supporting them with their training. This is so we can call upon them and offer full-time positions when the ratios change and there is a need to hire new staff.
We have also redesigned our program planning format and child objectives to include the framework and make it simple for families to read and understand.
Other than that we have continued communicating with families so they are aware a price increase will need to take place and we hold parent meetings to discuss the new planning format.
C4K: How does the industry need to change to adapt to these challenges?
KB: Child care centres need to be prepared for the upcoming changes by ensuring staff members are educated. This should help to eliminate stress leading to the 2012 cut off, and have financial plan to facilitate the change already written up.
C4K: How does the industry need to change to adapt to these challenges
KB: We need more government funding to be allocated to rural centres. We also need assistance in free training to help centres with limited budgets provide a stimulating environment for children on a limited budget.
C4K: What advice would you offer someone thinking about a career or looking for a promotion in child care?
KB: Don't hold back, child care can be very rewarding, and if you are looking at extending your qualifications and entering a management role you will not be disappointed.
Running a centre at times can be difficult and busy however the opportunities that arise and the extra knowledge you obtain is worth the extra effort.
If you are just starting out, learn from your co-workers, take constructive criticism on board and make yourself a better worker and better carer for the children in your care.
Take every opportunity to further your skills and knowledge - it will make your days run more smoothly, your children calmer and your staff work better as a team.
Kia Boorer
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