Kate McDonald

Centre Manager - Great Beginnings Epsom

“I love being able to be a part of the learning and development of each child that comes into care and to be part of their journey.”

My career in early childhood education and care commenced in 1997. I was straight out of Year 12 and went into child care to complete a traineeship. I started at Great Beginnings Epsom in 2017 and have years of experience along with my qualifications Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and Advanced Diploma. 

The reason I pursued a career in early childhood education and care is because my mum worked in the industry. As a teenager I would go into do work experience the love the joy that I saw through my mum, this made me want to go down the same path. I love being able to be a part of the learning and development of each child that comes into care and to be part of their journey.

During my career I have learnt that all children are unique and learn in different ways. To be able to support each child you need to have the right tools and approach in guiding the learning of individual children.

Children love to be able to learn new things throughout their learning journey, working with their peers and knowing that they are supported. As an early educator seeing the joy and faces as they light up because they have achieved a new goal is priceless and knowing that you contributed is such an honour.

When a family books a tour at Great Beginnings, the moment that they step into the centre they can see the passion and dedication that all educators and management have for the learning and development of children. The curriculum that we offer at the centre is in the hallways and is eye catching with photos of children at play and documentation is below of the benefits the learning has to the development of the children.

At Great Beginnings we have a Workplace Healthy and Safety champion who is dedicated and knowledgeable around the standards and how as a centre and team that we can better our practices.  All educators have access to learning and Professional Development around the Health and Safety Standards and Child Protection, so we are all up to date with industry standards. 

The team at Great Beginnings are well educated all holding a Qualification in Early Childhood – as well as food handlers, child protection just to name a few. We are so lucky at Great Beginnings Epsom to have an amazing team who build close relationships with the children and the parents making them all feel safe and welcome the moment that they enter the Centre. Through our all in one family app educators are able to connect with the families sending notifications and photos of what the children have earnt for the day.