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 Barbara Wood from Leederville in WA.
Barbara Wood
Leederville Early Childhood Centre WA
C4K: What is your name and where do you work?
BW: My name is Barbara Wood and I am 62 years old. I work in Leederville Early Childhood Centre in Leederville, Perth, WA
The Centre is purpose built with 5 activity areas, 20 Staff members catering for 64 children aged from birth to school age daily.
C4K: What attracted you to a career in child care?
BW: As a young child I befriended two orphans from the orphanage in our High Street and I used to walk home from primary school with them and bathe and prepare the younger children for bed. My mother was devastated, fearing that I preferred it there to at home, this was not the case it was just that I loved the work.
C4K: What is your professional background and career experience?
BW: In 1963 at the age of 16 I joined the child care profession when I commenced work at Dr Barnardo's Children's Home in the hospital section. After witnessing the institutionalisation of children I became determined to work toward improving ways in which children were raised and have been an advocate for children ever since.
I moved to residential homes and worked as a nanny for a few years until I married and had children of my own. In 1974 my husband and I brought our boys to Perth to live and I worked for 15 years as a Family Caregiver.
After completing my Associate Diploma in 1989 I moved to Long Day care and worked for five years in Museum Street Perth Child Care Centre. In 1993 I took up the position of Director in Leederville Early Childhood Centre and was involved with the establishment of a brand new purpose built childcare centre. I am still happily serving the community in this very rewarding position.
C4K: What does a normal day look like for you?
BW: A normal day does not really exist, one day can vary so much from the next. For example I can wake to a phone call advising me that a Staff member is sick and relief can be very difficult to find. If that staff member happens to be the food coordinator, I would not be the first Supervising Officer to work in the kitchen prior to starting my day in the Office.
Every day of course there is the meeting and greeting of children, families and staff and any day may include organising contractors such as plumbers or electricians and assisting Staff with identifying spots and rashes in order to determine risk of infection. As every Supervisor knows there is no point in planning my day in detail as things can change in an instant which all adds to the excitement of the position. I have been asked what makes our Centre unique and for me it is the total commitment of the Team and the Committee. Each person takes their position very seriously and is committed to providing the best possible environment. They share my vision of: 'A place of wonder that is totally inclusive providing an environment where friends can come together and nobody wants to go home'.
It is wonderful that the work being carried out by Early Childhood Services and professional is now being recognised and understood
I think one of the biggest challenges for this industry is funding and time frames. We seem to wait forever for something to happen and all of a sudden it is in place without any warning or proper training.
We have made many changes to our Centre over the years using Lotterywest, Chevron, Telstra and Bendigo Bank grants and are grateful for their support as it has assisted us in providing a safe, happy environment for the families who attend our service.
I would certainly recommend a career in Childcare to anyone seriously considering working with children. It is full of fun and variety and where else can you work and plan your own fun day, as well as having the opportunity to make a huge difference to the life of every child you come in contact with.
Barbara Wood
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