She has spent six months in Italy on an exchange program, and three months at a childcare centre in China. But Goodstart Carrum Downs’ Frankston-Dandenong Rd Emily Lansdowne admits nothing has prepared her for a secondment to Fitzroy Crossing.
The 26-year-old has headed to Baya Gawiy Buga yani Jandu yani u early learning centre on a three-month secondment.
The centre, in the heart of Fitzroy Crossing, four hours from Broome in WA, was set up about five years ago under the National Partnership Agreement on Indigenous Early Childhood Development.
It provides care for 30 families with children ranging from four months to four years of age, 70 per cent of whom are Aboriginal.
“I have dedicated substantial portions of my life to become culturally immersed in new environments and learning from those experiences and then applying that to my work and everyday life,” Ms Lansdowne said.
“And when I heard about the Fitzroy Crossing secondment, I knew it would be a great opportunity to learn about Aboriginal culture and bring back those learnings to incorporate them in my teaching at Goodstart.”
Ms Lansdowne will spend three months providing additional services to support the Fitzroy Crossing. In return, the program teaches Goodstart educators about modern Aboriginal Australia so they can bring their learnings back to the organisation.
“I travelled to Italy on an exchange program when I was 15 years old for six months and also travelled to China (Qingdao) for my final TAFE placement when I was 20 years old for three months.
“And while these two trips gave me some great insight into how other cultures live and learn but to be honest I really have no idea what to expect in Fitzroy,” Ms Lansdowne said.
“That’s what makes the trip there so exciting. I’m really looking forward to experiencing something so different and bringing back my learnings to the rest of my team.”
Ms Lansdowne is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology at Monash University and lives at home with her parents and twin 14-year-old sisters.
Eight educators will live and work in Fitzroy Crossing in 2017. The educators were chosen based on their educational, cultural and emotional attributes.
The 26-year-old has headed to Baya Gawiy Buga yani Jandu yani u early learning centre on a three-month secondment.
The centre, in the heart of Fitzroy Crossing, four hours from Broome in WA, was set up about five years ago under the National Partnership Agreement on Indigenous Early Childhood Development.
It provides care for 30 families with children ranging from four months to four years of age, 70 per cent of whom are Aboriginal.
“I have dedicated substantial portions of my life to become culturally immersed in new environments and learning from those experiences and then applying that to my work and everyday life,” Ms Lansdowne said.
“And when I heard about the Fitzroy Crossing secondment, I knew it would be a great opportunity to learn about Aboriginal culture and bring back those learnings to incorporate them in my teaching at Goodstart.”
Ms Lansdowne will spend three months providing additional services to support the Fitzroy Crossing. In return, the program teaches Goodstart educators about modern Aboriginal Australia so they can bring their learnings back to the organisation.
“I travelled to Italy on an exchange program when I was 15 years old for six months and also travelled to China (Qingdao) for my final TAFE placement when I was 20 years old for three months.
“And while these two trips gave me some great insight into how other cultures live and learn but to be honest I really have no idea what to expect in Fitzroy,” Ms Lansdowne said.
“That’s what makes the trip there so exciting. I’m really looking forward to experiencing something so different and bringing back my learnings to the rest of my team.”
Ms Lansdowne is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology at Monash University and lives at home with her parents and twin 14-year-old sisters.
Eight educators will live and work in Fitzroy Crossing in 2017. The educators were chosen based on their educational, cultural and emotional attributes.