Educational Leaders guide teachers and educators in delivering high quality programs for children and families. Childrens learning and wellbeing is at the forefront of their thinking when leading the pedagogy of the service.
The Educational Leader role supports Teachers and educators to provide strong foundations for ongoing learning and development in all aspects of life and improving outcomes for children. The educational leader is key in developing the skills and knowledge of the primary educators.
"There are two aspects to my role as an Educational Leader" said Gowrie NSW' Educational Leader Tegan Low. "I have a leadership role, building the curriculum, and developing the pedagogy within the service. I look at current research and how that might relate to us. The second part is working closely with the educators, creating those lightbulb moments. I love working with them to understand how theory impacts their practice. How they program, and educate children daily. Help them develop critical reflection skills so they continually improve.
I believe the Educational Leader role is critical to developing a community of learners within a service”. Tegan said.
Tanya Lamers, from Gowrie NSW Newstead EEC, says the collaboration, professional conversations and sharing of knowledge are her favourite parts of being an EL. She loves to help educators understand and deepen their knowledge of children.
Tanya says another big part of her role is helping educators understand the EYLF, and to promote professional learning and practice inquiry. "Many educators come to work for the children, but they’re not looking at how they can improve their own practice. For them, it’s about meeting outcomes for children and children’s development. I love helping to develop a thirst for knowledge. I’ve been teaching for thirty years, and being an EdLeader inspires and motivates me to continually improve my practice.”
‘Gowrie NSW aligns with my personal beliefs about lifelong learners’ said Tegan. ‘Gowrie continually provides opportunities for professional development and I’m currently involved with the ‘From the Ground Up’, Leadership program, with QUT and ELACCA which has really shifted my concept of what leadership is. Gowrie is at the forefront of advocating for children’s rights, and that education starts at a young age. The opportunity to continually learn helps me build the passion of the educators on the floor…and align it back to pedagogy and practice". Tegan said.
'There are a multitude of resources to support me in the role of Ed Leader. I have access to critical friends to support the development of practice. For example, Elena Marouchos has been a big influence in the nursery space. We’ve been able to work through challenges and decisions, and we’ve been able to have continued contact with her which has been wonderful. Resources like the Education Hub, Program Foundations, and Practice Prescriptions and are produced to support our practice and make our roles a lot easier". Tanya says.
"I also enjoy the opportunities to attend conferences, and I’m currently doing the ELACCA Leadership Program".
"I love the research side of being an EdLeader. I love looking at current research. I'm a big believer in lifelong learning. I think deeply about practice. How does it fit into our service? How can I bring this new information in to help build the capacity of educators so they can benefit children’s learning? This gives me great satisfaction" said Tegan .
"Everyone has a voice in this collaborative approach" Tanya comments. "I am able to work with all age groups, from nursery through to preschool. I am able to use a strengths based approach and look at what we’re all doing well… we are working towards being experts by building our knowledge".
‘Being an Educational Leader gives me a chance to pick up on new practice, and discuss new ways of working, and get people really thinking about the why, and what we can tweak to make things for for children in our space". Tanya finishes.
Being an Educational Leader at Gowrie NSW provides many exciting opportunies and benefits including;
"I appreciate the opportunity to connect with families, and working with them to understand what is important in early childhood education, and how we prepare their child socially and emotionally for school, and life".
Important Qualities for educational leaders in early childhood education:
Vision: Educational leaders need to have a clear vision for the future of their setting. They need to be able to articulate this vision to staff, families, and the community.
Creativity: Educational leaders need to be creative and innovative. They need to be able to come up with new ideas and solutions to problems.
Resilience: Educational leaders need to be resilient. They will face challenges and setbacks, but they need to be able to bounce back and keep moving forward.
Passion: Educational leaders need to be passionate about early childhood education. They need to believe in the power of early childhood education to change lives.
“Your passion and excitement inspires and connects with the people you are working with, so it’s important you are interested in, and excited about your role. In this leadership role, you’re providing a service to the team so when you build their passion they're going to listen to you.
"If you work with their strengths you're building their capacity and a love of lifelong learning. This flows on onto their work with the children.” said Tegan.
"Do it! There are so many possibilities and opportunities. This role keeps me inspired and makes me want to improve. I see so many different perspectives and ways of thinking. Being able to support educators become better educators… I'm having a profound impact on children, and that's what I'm here for". Tanya says
If you are interested in a career in early childhood education, consider becoming an educational leader at Gowrie NSW. It is a challenging but rewarding role that has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of children and families.
I highly recommend working for Gowrie NSW, I’ve been working in early childhood education and care for the past eight years, and I’ve worked for several other services before being employed by Gowrie. What stands out for me is the amount of support and learning you receive. We are currently getting support with conscious discipline to better support educators in their roles.
For our early childhood education leadership jobs, we’re looking for people who are as dedicated to lifelong learning and passionate about early childhood education as we are. You’re a people person. A team player. A natural leader. You are creative and adaptable, with a positive outlook on life. Your enthusiasm for your work shines through, evident to everyone you work with.
As a leader, you have exceptional technical skills. You hold a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education or equivalent ACECQA-approved qualification. You have years of experience to draw on and an intimate understanding of the Early Years Learning Framework, National Regulations and National Quality Standards.
For compliance, you’ll need a Working with Children Check (WWCC) in NSW or a Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration in the ACT. Current certificates in First Aid, CPR, Asthma and Anaphylaxis management are highly desirable.
At the heart of our culture is a deep respect for diversity and a commitment to inclusion. As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage people of all ages and cultures, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, to apply for our early childhood education leadership jobs.
Discover our job vacancies and take the next step in your career to a fulfilling and rewarding leadership role. The future is bright at Gowrie NSW. With your help, we can make it even brighter.
