Since Goodstart’s founding 15 years ago, we have had a mission to support the children and families that need us most through accessible and high-quality early learning.
Goodstart Browns Plains – Browns Plains Road Centre Director Sonya Smith has one of the deepest understandings of this, seeing the impact that our inclusive practices have had on the children and families in her centre.
“At Goodstart Browns Plains – Browns Plains Road we have a mission as a centre to make sure that that our centre feels like a home away from home for all of our families and that they feel welcome here,” Sonya said.
“We accept all children, and we make sure that we can accommodate for their needs.”
For more than 19 years, Sonya has been a key part of Browns Plains community having worked for ABC Learning and in the wake of its collapse, for Goodstart. Sonya remembers the uncertainty at the time but also the excitement of having an incoming not-for-profit organisation.
“It was a little bit scary to start with not knowing what was going to happen if we would still have jobs afterwards, then it was just the unknown on how Goodstart were going to go.”
“We all quickly realised the shift in purpose that came with Goodstart and that we would be inclusive of everyone with all money invested back into the centres, the families and children.”
“It wasn't just everyone in a box anymore, it was about inclusion of all families, all children and educators and it has just expanded since.”
The recent Productivity Commission Inquiry into Early Childhood Education and Care identified Logan, as one of the most underserved regions in Australia with not enough quality early education places available..
Inclusive early learning centres, such as Sonya’s, are helping address the challenges faced by many families in the area.
“Inclusion is everything in early learning - we don't expect families to adapt to us we will adapt to them and that if it means that we need to go and do additional learning ourselves to build our knowledge for that child or that family, we will do that.”
One story in particular that comes to mind for Sonya is the journey of a child who came to Goodstart Brown’s Plains after being turned away from other early learning providers. Their child required additional support to access early learning and the Brown Plains Road team were more than happy to accommodate. Through targeted support the child’s confidence, social skills and learning flourished during his time at the centre. Now thriving in his last year of primary school, it’s a tangible story of how early learning set him up for success.
Looking forward, Sonya is proud to continue working with her team to support her community, her educators, children and families as part of the Goodstart family.
“I'm proud of my team - it's not just me leading this team, it is us as a whole team that makes us who we are.”
“Working for Goodstart, we know that we're going to be looked after and that Goodstart actually care about us – we’re not just another number.”