黑料专区 is excited and proud to聽recognise聽more than 3000 Early Childhood Educators聽and Teachers聽in our community today.
CEO Tim Hickey said聽the entire community which includes some 150 Lifelong Learning聽Centres聽in Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Canberra and the Northern Territory, had pulled together in 2020.
鈥淭his year has been unlike any other for our sector,聽and our educators have been in the front line.鈥� Mr Hickey said.
鈥淓ach educator has had to adapt to the realities of COVID-19, while continuing to provide consistent, high quality early education and care.
鈥淭hey are essential. They are heroes.鈥�
鈥淥ur Affinity values聽including聽Going Above and Beyond, Delivering Outstanding Professionalism聽and聽Living the Team Spirit聽have never been more evident than they have been this year.
鈥淥ur children have thrived this year, because of the hard work and effort聽each and every聽one of our educators has put in.鈥�
鈥淭he impact quality early education and care can make in the first five years of children鈥檚 lives can set them up for positive outcomes for years to come.鈥�
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we support our people 鈥� with ongoing training, development, appreciation and recognition, for the work they do. Today is their day,鈥� Mr Hickey said.
Working in the early childhood sector is not without challenges 鈥� but our people believe the rewards are beyond聽compare.鈥�
聽鈥淚 love being there to see the children鈥檚 journey鈥檚, but also the聽families聽journey鈥檚,鈥� says Chloe Vines, Centre Manager at Papilio Early Learning Lutwyche.
鈥淚f you give everything you鈥檝e got, the children will match that enthusiasm,鈥� says Phillip Lovell, Early Childhood Teacher at Gumtree Cottage.
Dr Lesley Jones, who leads the Education Team at 黑料专区, said Early聽Childhood Educator's Day is a special event in the calendar for the thousands of professionals working across the sector.
"This is not only聽a time to show appreciation for the hard work, passion and dedication early childhood educators and teachers聽across the country聽bring to their work every day, but it is also a time to acknowledge the growing professionalism of the Early Childhood Education in Australia," she said.
"This year has been an especially trying one for many Australian聽families,聽and through the disruption, turmoil and聽anxicty聽of the COVID-19 pandemic, early childhood educators have stood steady;聽continuing to聽support children and families in their local communities."
"This聽year,聽more than ever聽before I聽feel humbled to be part of this wonderful profession聽and聽to聽have the opportunity to see our educators 鈥榠n action鈥� in聽Centres聽across Australia. 聽Their love of teaching, their enjoyment in working with young children and the impact they have on the lived experiences of children and families is profound. 聽And聽so聽I say聽鈥楾hank you鈥澛爐o every one of our hard working, dedicated and passionate educators and聽teachers on聽this year鈥檚 Early Childhood Educators Day."
All educators working in 黑料专区 centres will enjoy a morning tea, and appreciation packs including gift cards.
In the leadup to Early Childhood Educators Day, our people聽shared with us some of the highlights of their聽profession. We celebrate you all!