It’s an example of just how busy early childhood workers are that a government funding grant was required to organise a get together.
Laura Pearce and Alexandra Pallikaros from Williamstown’s Robina Scott Kindergarten had been holding regular catch ups with other early childhood workers from across Hobsons Bay for two years.
However due to their heavy workload, getting leaders in their field to attend proved difficult.
So Ms Pallikaros came up with an idea to apply to the Westgate Neighbourhood Fund for a grant to hold an early childhood leadership celebration day.
Ms Parllikaros was promptly awarded the grant and late last month the celebration day took place at the Williamstown Bowls Club.
This time, Ms Pallikaros and Ms Pearce had no problem getting their industry colleagues to attend.
“We had just under 50 people from Hobsons Bay, from council to early childhood services to local government,” said Ms Pearce of the celebration day.
“It was a complete success.”
With morning tea and lunch provided, attendees were given six different presentations on day including talks from preschool field officers Angela Browne and Joanna Cooper, and a keynote address titled “Taking care of you to take care of others” from early childhood consultant, Sarah Louise Gandolfo.
Ms Pearce said the most valuable part of the day was simply being able to meet with so many of her peers.
”It was all about networking and meeting with other leaders I haven’t met with before and sharing in our successes and also things that we find difficult,” she said.
After the leadership celebration proved such a success, Ms Pallikaros and Ms Pearce are looking at ways to ensure it’s not a one off.
Cade Lucas
