From International Student to Centre Manager: My Career Journey in Early Childhood Education
Nine years ago, I arrived in Sydney as an International student studying my Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care, with a dream of building a meaningful career supporting children to grow and thrive
Starting somewhere new wasn’t always easy, but with the encouragement and support of my Centre Manager at the time, I was given the confidence to take the next step and apply for sponsorship with G8 Education.
From there, my career continued to grow in wonderful and surprising ways and today I am proud to lead my own team as a Centre Manager for World of Learning.
Where It All Started
My journey with G8 Education began while I was studying my Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care in Sydney. As part of my course, I completed a placement at Kindy Patch, one of G8’s centres.
During that time, I shared my goal of securing sponsorship so I could continue building my career in Australia. My Centre Manager recognised my passion and supported me to take the next step, connecting me with a centre in Canberra, which was considered a regional area at the time. That moment became the beginning of my sponsorship journey with G8.
Growing Through Opportunity
I started as a Lead Educator, where I spent six years building my experience before progressing into an Assistant Centre Manager role. Over time, I continued to grow before stepping into the Centre Manager position I hold today.
G8 gave me the opportunity to step outside my comfort zone, those opportunities helped me grow both personally and professionally and have played a big role in shaping who I am as a leader today.
Support That Builds Confidence
The support I’ve received throughout my career has played an important role in my growth.
Before stepping into my Centre Manager role, I completed G8’s First Steps Program, a four-week personalised training program designed to support new centre leaders. During that time, I worked closely with a First Steps Trainer who helped me build confidence and prepare for the role
Day to day, as a Centre Manager, I am supported by a strong network of people, from my Area Manager to Practice Partners and Support Office teams, who are there to connect, guide and share insights. That sense of support and collaboration is something I really value.
Leading with Positivity and Connection
As a leader, I believe it’s important to create a positive and supportive environment for my team. The first thing I do each morning isn’t sit in my office - I walk through the centre, say hello to everyone, and check in with the team.
For me, strong relationships are key to building a great centre culture. We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and achievements together, because recognising each other’s efforts helps everyone feel valued.
We also make time to connect beyond the day-to-day, whether that’s staying in touch through group chats or catching up with our families outside of work. Those connections create a strong sense of community and make our team bond even stronger.
The Moments That Make It Worth It
At the heart of my role is the impact our team has on children and families.
One moment that has stayed with me, was supporting a family whose child was attending childcare for the very first time. The parents were unsure how their child would settle and whether they would feel comfortable in a new environment.
Our team spent time building a connection with the child and keeping the parents updated every step of the way. Over time, there was a shift, and the child began arriving happily at the centre each day and going home excited to tell their parents about the activities they had done during the day.
For me, it’s those moments, seeing children grow and confidently explore on their own, while families feel happy and excited to return each day. It’s a privilege to play a small part in building bright futures for the children and families in our care.
There’s No Limit To What’s Possible
I’ve always been passionate about building a meaningful career in early childhood education and I dreamed that one day I would sit in the Centre Manager’s chair. Now that I’m here, I want others to believe that they can do it as well.
There’s no limit - you just need to keep dreaming and you can make it happen.
Written by Laarni, Centre Manager at World of Learning
