Kristine
Narwee Service Coordinator
I have been working for Active Kids Group in the Early Childhood profession for over 21 years. I started out as a casual, assisting educators in the Nursery room, then working my way through to the 2-5yrs aged group where I was based for the next 10 years.
In 2011 I began working fulltime and was transferred to Active Kids Narwee where I was a room leader working closely with the 2-3 years children and was also appointed as their 2IC up until 2015. I was then given the opportunity to become the Coordinator for Active Kids Newtown, where I worked for the next year before returning to Active Kids Narwee and have been proudly Coordinating since.
What I love most about working with Active Kids Group is the support I have been given by the management team as well as feeling welcomed as a family member giving me a sense of belonging. I’ve also been given professional training opportunities for which I am grateful and has allowed me to grow within the organisation. I have loved working closely with my families and children and have bonded well with my team.
I currently hold a Diploma in Child Studies and have completed training in Child Protection, First Aid, Circle of Security with Beth Macgregor to name a few.
Before working with children, I had worked for Westpac in Broadway for 4 years in high security as I was responsible for credit cards. I left Westpac at the age of 20 to have my 2nd child and was a stay at home mum to 3 children for the next 17 years.
My child care journey began with my younger sister who had wanted to pursue her career as a child care educator and had an interview with AKG Homebush which I had driven her to. From there I was introduced to the child care industry and very much wanted to work with children. I began my studies and enjoyed the rest of the ride.
What I love about working for Active Kids Group is the tremendous support I have received from all of the coordinators, my regional managers as well as our head office team. I’m grateful to Active Kids Group for giving me the opportunity to further my studies and knowledge by attending professional development workshops which has enabled me to lead and support my team as well as become the best that I can be, doing workshops such as the Beth Macgregor (circle of security) course, behavioural management, health nutrition and safety and I also did an intense workshop in ABA Therapy.
My interests and hobbies are entertaining friends and families, music from the 70’s through to today’s music, dancing, ice skating, making jewellery, watching movies and eating a big bag of Deli Honey Soy Chicken chips!
My favourite childhood memory would be the times I would go to work with my Dad from 4 years of age. Watching my Dad work, digging trenches by manual labour then me jumping in and out of the trenches he had dug before sitting down on a large pile of dirt while we enjoyed a picnic lunch together. This memory I will treasure for the rest of my life.
I have now been with my Active Kids child care family for the past 21 years and am proud and happy to say that it has been a wonderful experience and journey!