Emma
Newtown Service Coordinator
I am an Early Childhood Teacher from Ireland. I studied Childcare with Montessori FETAC level five for one year followed by my Bachelor of Arts Early Childhood Care and Education degree in Ireland for 4 years.
I then worked as a preschool room leader for 3 and a half years at home in the West Coast of Ireland which I truly loved before deciding to spread my wings and moved to Sydney in February 2017 where I have been working with Active Kids ever since.
I am the eldest sibling of four and have a big close-knit family from both my mam and dads sides which definitely stemmed my love and passion for caring and educating children. I knew from a young age that I wanted to work with young children in a child care setting.
I started my journey in Active Kids World Square in Feb 2017 as a casual educator getting experience in every room and soon becoming the Toddler room leader, Senior Butterfly Room leader, 3IC, 2IC and then Acting Coordinator from April 2019. In November 2019 I became Coordinator in our World Square centre.
In July 2021 I moved to our Newtown centre. I learned quickly that Active Kids Group was not your usual long day care company, making amazing friends that are now family for me here in Australia and gaining very special memories and experiences very early on with my amazing teams.
What I love the most about my childcare job is coming in every day to happy smiling little faces. I love to see children progress from their first day in our service throughout the year. From recognizing their name stones to writing their names unaided, to standing in front of their peers and doing their show and tell without being prompted, to the children performing on their graduation day. Nothing makes you feel prouder as an educator. I feel I have very special relationship with all our families. This bond is very important as it is the parents that are entrusting us with the care and education of their little pride and joy’s every day. Children are like little sponges and it is very important that we teach these little learning minds and provide learning opportunities and experiences for them. Every moment is a learning opportunity!
I have a massive interest in keeping fit and through this interest I began cycling for charity when I lived back in Ireland. Cycling “The Clare 250 mile Cycle” twice. A 250-mile cycle that took place over two days for Cancer Care in my home County Clare in Ireland. I also did a lot of fundraising for different organisations from a young age such as “TLC4CF” an organisation which is very close to my heart which raises money for young people who suffer with the condition called cystic fibrosis. I volunteered for years in the young club in Kilnaboy where I had been a member growing up and also my local camogie club, Corofin Comogie where I trained the under eight team.
My biggest achievement to date is possibly living this far away from my family. It may sound silly but my family are so close and I am the only member of my immediate family living away from home at the minute. Also, I am very proud of what I have achieved with work in Australia. I came over here for a few months for different experiences in a country halfway across the world with a similar curriculum to the one in Ireland and now five years later I am Coordinator in an amazing service with wonderful educators.
My favourite childhood memories has to be celebrations with my family. I come from a big Irish family, celebrating and parties is what we do best. Whether it was a birthday, wedding, christening, first holy communion or confirmation my family from both sides would all gather together. Great memories!