Kylie has been nominated by her colleague, Kylie Turner (room leader at Umina Kids Club).

I have nominated Kylie for the following reasons:

Kylie’s strengths lay in the relationships that she has established within our service and beyond in the local community. She strongly believes that it takes a community to raise a child and the children and families of our centre experience a sense of belonging. Kylie understands the demographics of our local community and invites families to Weekend Adventures in the local community and to Family Dinner Nights within our service, after hours. Kylie and her teamhappily volunteer their time on weekends and evenings. Having such a dedicated team has greatly improved the quality of education and care that our service offers. Our team, led by Kylie, won the ‘Outstanding Contribution by a Team’ Award at the 2018 Early Childhood Education Week and Gala Awards Night.

As the leader of our team, Kylie identifies the individual strengths of her team members and cultivates those strengths by encouraging everyone to share their ideas, strengths, passions and skills and to actively contribute to the centre’s educational program. Her democratic leadership style has not only bilut a strong team spirit but has improved outcomes for children and families. Kylie is an empathetic leader who is very approachable. She always has the time to listen to staff and families and offer her support. She is flexible and open to change. She critically reflects on her practices and encourages her team to do so too, continually striving to improve practice and outcomes for children and their families.

She also encourages and assists team members to engage in professional development to keep abreast of current theory and practice in the early childhood sector and to improve the quality of the service we deliver. Hence, the majority of the Umina Kids Club team are currently studying to improve their qualifications which again improves practice and outcomes for children and families.

In the first two years of being at Umina Kids Club as Nominated Supervisor, Kylie increased our service’s National Quality Rating from ‘Working Towards’ to ‘Exceeding’. Kylie is also Educational Leader of our centre and strongly believes that early childhood services should work together rather than in competition with each other. She has recently established an Educational Leader Group with other local services in our region and they come together monthly to share ideas and offer support to one another, focusing on ways to improve delivery of service and practice in the best interests of children and their families.

In sum, Kylie’s strength in establishing positive, supportive relationships with all stakeholders at our service and her strong, inspirational leadership style have vastly improved the quality of our service and outcomes for the children and families who utilise our service.

-Kylie Turner: Umina Kids Club 

Question 1)

What drew you towards working in early childhood education?

I was drawn to early childhood education after completing work experience twenty-four years ago in a preschool setting. I loved the children's sense of wonder, their thirst for knowledge, their sense of humour and their pure enjoyment when they achieved a new skill or made new friends. I enrolled in my Diploma not long after this placement and have never looked back. I went on to complete my Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood). I am now passionate in supporting educators, students, trainees and volunteers by offering them an enjoyable, enthusiastic workplace to ignite their passion for a career in Early Childhood and to be inspired to continue to work in the Early Childhood sector.

Question 2)

What is your fondest story that makes you proud to be in your chosen vocation?

Our intergenerational program with Peninsula Retirement Village aims at bridging the gap between the young and the elderly and to enrich the lives of all involved.

The children have a reciprocal relationship with the residents both at the centre and the retirement village This programme involves the storytelling project which is a valuable intergenerational learning experience that is inclusive, authentic and empowers both age groups as they collaborate to share their perspectives, knowledge and skills.

One of my favourite moments was to observe one resident, Noeleen, who told the children a story from her life experiences. After Noeleen shared her story, the children asked questions and engaged in discussion about her life story. The children then proceeded to draw illustrations for a book that was created from her story. The book captures Noeleen’s oral history and remains at our centre for the children to revisit their learning and to re-read with the seniors on future visits.

Question 3)

What is the biggest challenge you face as a Nominated Supervisor?

Being a Nominated Supervisor is so rewarding. It gives me the opportunity to engage with the wider community to support and encourage educators in their roles and beyond. It also engages families both past and present and establishes wonderful relationships that are long lasting even when families leave the service. I think my biggest challenge being a Nominated Supervisor is to remember to look after myself and prioritize my own duties as well as supporting families and educators. I often get to the end of the day and haven't completed my own tasks.

Question 4)

What do you (really) think of your Approved Provider? Or what makes you stay on with your Approved Provider?

My Approved Providers are Glenn and Mira Hale. Our seventy-two place centre is privately run and is situated on Glenn’s mother’s property. After Glenn's mother passed away, he wanted to give her something back to remember her.  Glenn’s mother’s door was always open to the children in her street, so what better way to give back to her than build a childcare centre in her memory. Glenn and Mira are the most wonderful people to work for and are dedicated to both their staff, families and the local community. Glenn and Mira are so supportive, appreciative and encourage my ideas and projects. We are extremely lucky to have Mira that has a talent for aesthetically pleasing environments and supports us behind the scenes on bringing our visions to life. To be appreciated and supported in my role makes me stay at Umina Kids Club.

Question 5)

If you could change anything in the Early Childhood education and care sector that would bring enormous benefits for children and their parents, what would that be?

Advocating to the wider community the importance of Early Childhood education and changing community views that we are not ‘baby sitters’ and that we are professionals. Early Childhood educators are extremely important in early childhood settings and the training and qualifications of the educators within our industry have risen immensely in recent years. The first five years of a child’s life are the fundamental years of development and lay the foundations for all future learning. We have an extremely important job of providing all children a place to learn and grow in a stimulating educational service, I am an advocate for continuing to study and learn, and have a team where the majority are enrolled in further study to improve their qualifications.