This week we are delighted to introduce you to Jan Faulkner. Jan is responsible for professional learning at Gowrie NSW.
What is your name?
My name is Jan Faulkner
Which centre do you work in? How many staff and children are in the centre?
I run professional learning for Gowrie NSW. I also do some consulting to other early education and care centres, helping them with mentoring, preparing for accreditation or planning new centres.
What is your professional background and career experience?
I have been working in the education and care sector for approximately 35 years. I worked as a teacher practitioner for 16 years before moving onto the professional development team for Gowrie QLD.
I then moved to Sydney where I worked for the National Child Care Accreditation Council for 5 years. Before coming to Gowrie NSW, I worked as Manager of Children's Services for a social care agency for 7 years. In this role I managed a number of services including long day care, preschools, family day care, in home care and outside school hours care.
What attracted you to a career in child care?
After leaving school I was attracted to the idea of working with young children because I thought that I would enjoy watching them grow and develop. I applied and was accepted into the Brisbane Kindergarten Teachers College to study a Diploma in Child Care.
After graduating and gaining experience I knew that this was the career I wanted and so I went back to study part time and gradually upgraded my qualifications. I am always fascinated and inspired by children's amazing capacities and the way in which they relate to the world around them. As teachers we can never stop learning about our work with children.
What does a 'normal' day look like for you?
Every day is different and there is not a "normal" day. However, my role involves talking to centre directors and coordinators about their professional learning needs, working on training packages, helping to ensure workshops run smoothly, working on the professional learning calendar for the next 6 months, attending meetings, keeping track of the budget, writing fact sheets and responding to requests for consultancy work.
What are some of the advantages of working in the child care sector?
For myself, I think the biggest advantage has been the people I have met and the relationships I have developed. There are some great people working in this field who are passionate about their work. I have had the privilege of working with some wonderful colleagues who have inspired and supported me.
How has your team changed to deal with these challenges?
In the Professional Learning team we have to keep changing in order to meet the needs and priorities of the sector. We have to ensure that we are offering professional learning that meets the priorities of the people working in centres and that is accessible. This has meant broadening our approach and providing professional learning in a variety of forms. It also means listening to and using the feedback we receive from the participants.
How does the industry need to change to adapt to these challenges?
I don't think there is any easy way to answer this question. However, we need to get used to the idea that change is part of working in the field of education and care and that we need to be flexible and adaptable. But at the same time we need to keep advocating for what we know is right for children and families.
What advice would you offer someone thinking about a career or looking for a promotion in child care?
Never stop learning and keeping touch with what is happening around you. Make sure that you feel passionate about what you are doing.
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