Child care professionals share a commitment to improving society by creating dynamic and nurturing care environments for Australia's youngest learners.
This month Kate Jamieson the Centre Manager at Lyndhurst Early Learning Centre Clayfield Brisbane QLD tell us her story.
Kate Jamieson
Centre Manager Lyndhurst Early Learning Centre Clayfield Brisbane QLD
C4K: What is your full name?
KJ: My name is Kate Jamieson and the children refer to me as Kate.
C4K: Which centre do you work in?
KJ: I am Centre Manager of the Lyndhurst Early Learning Centre located in Clayfield Brisbane. Currently we employ 31 staff per day and the centre has 105 children per day, which equates to 190 families per week.
C4K: What is your professional background and career experience?
KJ: I hold an advanced diploma of child care and have worked in child care for 13 years. I started in the industry on a traineeship.
C4K: What attracted you to a career in child care?
KJ: I struggled at school and when I had the opportunity to attend a child care centre as part of my schoolwork experience I enjoyed it so much that I was offered a traineeship.
C4K: What does a 'normal' day look like for you?
KJ: Very busy!! I have a young family so my day starts well before my working day at Lyndhurst. As Centre Manager of such a large service it is important to always be organised, as the 'normal day' never seems to exist!
Most of my day is spent ensuring the centre runs as smoothly as possible, communicating with families, staff and children and ensuring everyone's needs are met to the best of my ability. I am passionate about the service we provide to our families and recognise the important role staff play as professionals in our centre.
C4K: What makes your centre unique?
KJ: Lyndhurst Early Learning Centre is situated on the grounds of an elite private school in Brisbane. The centre is a heritage listed building which was constructed in 1896 and has been restored to its original grandeur by Children First Learning Centres Pty Ltd.
The centre resembles a typical Queenslander home with sweeping verandas and pressed ceilings, all of which adds to the home like environment we wished to achieve.
Our staff were carefully recruited and are the centre's biggest asset. We encourage and support our staff through their training and an increasing number of our assistants now hold diplomas.
As an educator and a committed professional it is important to ensure our learning environments are recognised by the community as being valuable to children under five years of age.
At Lyndhurst we have introduced a foreign language program which is taught by qualified French teachers and we also have a fulltime music teacher. Katrina our accomplished music teacher plays both piano and saxophone and brings warmth, innovation and expertise to her teaching, which is conducted in our fully equipped music room.
This year we also introduced our 'In Our Garden Program'. This initiative is managed by our gardening expert Cathy Dawson a qualified teacher who spent most of 2009 helping set up a large kitchen garden at a Geebung Special School. Cathy teaches children from babies to preschoolers the importance of nurturing and caring for our environment and successfully took us through to winning the ABC Garden Competition 'Grow Our Own Garden' in May 2010.
C4K: What are some of the advantages of working in the child care sector?
KJ: I am a firm believer that a child and their family's experience in child care should be positive. Over the years I have seen many changes in the early childhood sector most of which have been positive. Embracing change can be the key to a successful centre.
The rewards of working with children and families are endless. As I still live in the area in which I started my child care career I often run into families that attended my centre and their very grown up teenagers. It is very rewarding that even after 13 years families will stop me and say hello and that the children actually remember their time at our centre. But boy do I feel old!!!!
C4K: What are some of the biggest challenges facing the child care sector?
KJ: In Queensland saturation of centers in some areas and under supply of places for under- threes is a huge challenge. The introduction of the preschool year has also affected services significantly with most centre's built based on approximately half their licensed capacity to cater for three-five year olds.
The sector is also currently going through a number of changes under the new National Framework standards and centres need to be looking closely at how these changes can be accommodated into their current centre design.
Staff recognition for the important role they play in a young child's development is also continuous. As a service we respect our staff and ensure that at all times our families recognise them as invaluable educators to their children. This is achieved via the programs we offer, our staff professional development and by being advocates for our own profession.
All of our staff are provided with professional looking uniforms and their combined wealth of experience and knowledge is shared amongst each other. We also offer incentives to our staff and all of our Room Leaders receive a company car in recognition to their commitment to their chosen profession.
C4K: How has your centre changed to deal with these challenges?
KJ: We are constantly working towards change. It is important especially for private services to be fully aware and prepared for the changes, which will occur over the next few years. The New Early Learning Framework is an excellent tool for services and can be adapted to most current programs.
Introduction of the new ratios will affect centre's significantly if they are not prepared and will result in loss of places to families especially in the under-threes, where demand is at its highest.
Most centres have been built based on current staff ratios and room capacity sizes, so services will also need to look at the physical design of their building and how it can best facilitate the changes without compromising attendances and revenue.
All of these changes cost money, some of which will have to be passed onto families, but at the same time you have to try to stay competitive in the area in which your centre operates. So it is very important to look closely at points of difference within your centre; the things that set you apart from the other services and keep the community well informed of what you offer.
C4K: What advice would you offer someone thinking about a career or looking for a promotion in child care?
KJ: The early learning profession needs committed passionate people to ensure consistency for children and community recognition of the important role we play in shaping and preparing children to become competent community members. While it may not be the highest paid job, what it lacks in income it makes up for in job satisfaction.
Children are born competent and capable human beings who need to be provided with opportunities in life that will set them on the path for success. Therefore knowledge and experience are our key resources. Opportunities to expand your professional development are endless all you require is the drive and commitment to achieve your own success while having an impact on a child's life regardless of how insignificant it may seem at the time.
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