Belonging, Being and Becoming: Interview with Leane Townrow

Belonging, Being and Becoming is a LinkedIn interview series which shares the stories of early childhood and oshc professionals currently working in the education industry.

Today's interview features Leane Townrow, Centre Director at Kirinari Early Childhood Centre. Thank you Leane for participating in the latest Belonging Being and Becoming interview!

When and why did you start a career in childcare?

I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a teacher. Though, ironically, I wasn’t a fan of being a student and didn’t do my best in college.

I started studying for my Diploma in 2005, as a stepping stone to get a teaching degree, and that’s when my plans changed. I realised that I had found my niche in Early Childhood Education and Care and no longer wanted to work in a school. I did my first-ever practicum placement at Kirinari Early Childhood Centre, was offered a casual educator position during my prac , and I’m still here, almost 18 years later.

What's your philosophy on education and care?

My approach to education and care has evolved over the years, both as a result of experience in the sector and after becoming a parent myself. Early in my career, my approach was to be everyone’s friend and to make everything fun. I really took child-led and play-based education to heart.

With the introduction of the EYLF in 2009, Belonging, Being and Becoming really made sense to me. I learnt that children needed to build deeper connections with their trusted carers and community. I learnt to be more responsive to children’s needs, development and well-being, as well as ensuring everyone was having fun.

How would you describe your career journey?

Around the time that the EYLF was introduced, would have been when my focus turned to leadership and the well-being of educators. I realised that in order for educators to be responsive to the well-being of the children in their care, they needed to feel supported and happy in their own roles. As a room leader at the time, I took an interest in the policies and procedures of the service, to ensure that they reflected best practices and gave the educators a solid base from which to guide their practice. This gave me greater insight into the regulatory aspects of ECEC, and my desire for a leadership position grew. 

I was given the opportunity to step up into the Assistant Director role at Kirinari in 2013. I learned a lot from Kirinari’s Director over the years, much of which has guided the leader that I am today. It was an honour to be asked to take on the Director role when she retired in 2022.

What do you love most about your job and working for your current organisation?

I love the community feel that Kirinari has. As cliché as it might sound, we are like one big family. Our educators have great relationships with families and children. All of the educators get along well, and we have a respectful, friendly and supportive work culture.

Last year we started having regular Critical Reflection Yarns, where an educator from each room meets with our Educational Leader and me, usually over a coffee, and we discuss various topics related to ECEC, such as team dynamics, or ways to improve practice. These yarns have been really insightful and have been great for building relationships within the team.

It would be remiss of me not to mention our Enterprise Agreement. We are privileged to have the conditions that we do, and it is one of the biggest factors for ensuring our low turnover rates, and the fact that we haven’t had to hire relief educators in over a year!

Who do you look up to in the early childhood sector in Canberra?

I have worked with so many talented and passionate educators over the years, not just at Kirinari, but also during my short stint at a large, for-profit provider. Everyone I’ve worked with has played a part in shaping the educator, teammate, leader and person that I am today. 

What is your proudest career achievement?

We went through the Assessment and Rating process in April this year, and I am so proud of the Kirinari team. The hard work and dedication that they put into the centre, every single day, has been rewarded with an Exceeding rating. The A&R process is only reflective of 2 days, but I know that our educators provide exceeding care and education to the children of Kirinari every day. 

On a personal note, I am due to finish my Masters’ in Business Administration in December. It has been tricky to juggle study, work, and family life, so I will be proud of myself for achieving this.

What has most contributed to your career success?

My passion and dedication to improving the standing and recognition of educators as professionals in the Early Childhood Education and Care sector have been my greatest driving force. I have been an active union member for most of my career, and I am a strong advocate for improving the wages and conditions of our sector.

This year we have seen huge advances in support for families to access the sector from the federal government. Yet, we still have a ways to go in achieving a stable workforce that is nurtured and valued.

What advice would you give someone looking to pursue a career in early childhood education?

Find a service that aligns with your beliefs and practices as an educator. Find teammates that inspire you and never stop learning. Build a network outside of your service to challenge your thinking and your ways of doing. Be an advocate for the sector, and never settle for anything but best practice.

Thanks for reading this interview.

Want to be featured in the next Belonging Being & Becoming interview? Get in touch by emailing madeline.farrell@randstad.com.au or calling 02 6132 3886.