Meet Amy

Caption: Centre Director Amy (left) with additional educator, Charlotte (right)

Meet Amy Ryan, our Centre Director at Goodstart Young.

When Amy talks about inclusion, she talks about children first.

Every day at Goodstart Young, Amy and her team create an environment where every child can learn, play and belong alongside their peers – including children with significant additional needs.

One little boy at the centre has Cerebral Palsy and at different times throughout the day needs additional support. From moving safely around the room to joining group learning, eating lunch and playing with friends, every small milestone takes teamwork.

"It's those moments when you see a child join in with everyone else and feel like they truly belong. That's what makes this work so rewarding," Amy says.

Supporting children with complex needs takes more than heart – it takes skilled educators working together.

That's where the Inclusion Support Program (ISP) makes a real difference.

Through the program, Goodstart Young receives funding towards the cost of an additional qualified educator who works alongside the teaching team across the preschool room, supporting children with additional needs while helping create an inclusive learning environment for everyone.

"It isn't one-to-one support for one child," Amy explains.

"We used that funding so Victoria could join our preschool room teaching team. She has a wonderful way of connecting with children and helps ensure children with different additional needs can participate in learning alongside their peers, while giving the rest of the team the capacity to support every child in the room."

That means more children can participate meaningfully in quality early learning, educators can provide richer learning experiences, and every child benefits from a safer and more inclusive environment.

But Amy says delivering inclusive early learning in regional communities comes with unique challenges.

Families can wait years for developmental assessments and specialist services, delaying access to the evidence often needed to maintain support.

"Families are doing everything they can," Amy says. "But in regional communities, assessments and specialist services can be years away. That means children, families and educators are often waiting too."

"A system that better recognises those realities would make a real difference."

For Amy, the Inclusion Support Program is about far more than funding.

"It's about making sure every child has the opportunity to learn, build friendships and thrive. The Inclusion Support Program helps us make that happen."