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| Child care person in the spotlight:
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| Yamit Zelazne
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What is your name?
My name is Yamit Zelazne but all the children and the parents call me 'Miti'.
Which centre do you work in? How many staff and children are in the centre?
I am the owner and the Director of a 21 place centre called 'Yeladim Early Learning Centre' for 2-5 year olds in Vaucluse.
What attracted you to a career in child care?
Growing up in a family where my Mum and Dad were both primary school teachers and my Aunt a primary school principal gave me the passion and made me want to work in this industry. I love children very much (especially the younger age) and have a connection with them straight away. I understand their needs, routine and their way of thinking very well and have a lot of patience teaching and guiding them in their first years. Children make me happy and I feel so good being around them.
What does a 'normal' day look like for you?
During the morning I am one of the staff members and work on the floor with them as a team. I like to greet each child with a morning hug, have a quick chat to parents and explore the different activities with the children. It is very important for me to work on the floor with my staff so I can get to know each child's personality and also to get a feel of any challenges staff might need to deal with which will help me to support them in the best way.
During the afternoon I mainly focus on the admin side of the business, managing and supporting my team to provide high quality of care for children, setting up goals for the centre and managing the overall image of it.
What makes your centre unique?
I think my centre is unique because it creates a warm, loving, nurturing and homely environment where the children feel very comfortable and secure to be in. The program is based on children's interests and needs, cultures and celebrations and the activities are designed according to the children's age group in order to develop their skills in all areas.
The centre offers music and gross motor lessons once a week and there is also a baking class too. Our chef cooks healthy and nutritious fresh meals each day and the children love it! Our highly qualified staff have many years of experience in the child care industry and regularly participate in training workshops and refresher courses.
What are some of the advantages of working in the child care sector?
For me knowing that I play a major role in the lives of children (from meeting basic needs such as food and hygiene to offering activities that engage curious little minds) is such an honour and I am grateful for this opportunity every day. I also enjoy sharing ideas and working with my team who are also passionate about working with children.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing the child care sector?
I think the biggest challenge at the moment is the new qualification requirements and also adjustments to staff-to-child ratios as it is harder to find suitable teachers that hold the specific qualification needed, however I agree that the education and care for the children has to be the highest quality so I completely understand this new requirement.
How has your centre changed to deal with these challenges?
Most of our staff are currently working towards a higher qualification, and the ELC supports ongoing training workshops.
How does the industry need to change to adapt to these challenges?
The industry needs to provide the highest care possible for children and their families which will take the level of the early childhood up and meet the new requirements. It also needs to be affordable for families and viable for operators, so it's a careful balancing act.
What advice would you offer someone thinking about a career or looking for a promotion in child care?
Child care is an industry of privilege. We are privileged that parents willingly entrust the care of their precious child to our keeping. We are privileged to walk a journey with those parents and children for the duration of our time together, simultaneously learning from and teaching each other and making a difference in children' s lives. So the best advice I can give to teachers is to be professional, warm and loving, work hard, always be positive and happy, respect each family and other staff members and work together as a team. With this kind of attitude you will gain a lot of satisfaction from your contribution and you will be noticed by parents and your employer.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Love the kids and love your work! If you don't get up every morning and look forward to seeing those bright little eyes every single day, then ask yourself if you are in the right role or industry because even though the work can be hard or challenging, the rewards are worth everything.
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