An early childhood teacher has encouraged young people to consider a career in early learning, saying the misconception they were more like "babysitters" contributed to a shortage of people taking up the profession.
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SDN Lady McKell centre director Anna Lamarra leads a team of 27 and is a fierce advocate for a career in early childhood education.
She urged anyone who wanted to "make a profound impact on a child's life" to consider a career in early childhood education.
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After graduating the HSC in 2005 Ms Lamarra intended to study early childhood teaching at university when her family noticed a traineeship ad in the Goulburn Post and encouraged her to give it a go.
She started the role at Lady McKelI and "the rest is history". Over the past 16 years Ms Lamarra worked her way up to educator, lead educator, 2IC, educational leader and now centre director.
Twelve current staff members at the centre started their career as trainee's and quickly moved up the ranks to become educators and degree early childhood teachers.
The Goulburn Post asked Ms Lamarra a few questions about a career in early childhood education:
What are some of the myths about working in early learning?
"I think at times as I operate a long day care centre there can be a misconception that we do not offer a preschool program which couldn't be further from the truth.
All of our rooms have degree qualified early childhood teachers and we offer a full preschool program. We operate under the Early Years Learning Framework and National Quality standards which involves educating and supporting children with developmental skills including academic, emotional and social skills and development.
The only difference is that we are open long day care hours and school holidays which supports working families. Early childhood education starts from birth and we take children from six weeks old."
What would you say to people who might be thinking about a career in early learning?
"You have the ability to make a profound impact on a child's life by providing professional support to children's development during the crucial stages of brain development. High quality early childhood education and care sets children up with positive skills for life.
Early childhood is a stable career opportunity with a very strong ongoing demand for qualified and passionate educators and teachers. There is also significant room for growth and career progression. This role is genuinely important work and the time is now to start your career journey. I look back at 18-year-old me walking into the very office I now sit in everyday and I could not have imagined."
Why is early education so important?
It our job to ensure that children are supported with a caring and nurturing environment to learn fundamental lifelong skills and set them up to have the best possible outcomes for the future. Children learn from birth and those first five years are incredibly critical to their learning. Children's brains develop faster in the first five years than at any other time in their lives.
What's the most rewarding part of your job?
Knowing that as an Early Childhood professional I am able to make a profound impact on a child's life by ensuring to offer a high quality education from birth.
How did COVID-19 impact you and the centre?
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of early childhood education and care, my team and I have remained positive and committed to supporting the children and families of Goulburn. We operated our usual opening and closing times to ensure all those that needed to access care were able to and we followed the health guidelines and restrictions and implemented changes as they occurred.
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