Our passionate centre director Zoey-Ann English (top left) has been at Goodstart for 18 amazing years. Led by Zoey, Goodstart Mount Louisa, in Townsville, recently won two Goodies Awards - one for Safety Leadership and one for Advancing Reconciliation. The team are an inspiring example for our sector.
Townsville and our centres there have been through a lot, opening and closing through flooding events. There’s been upheaval and challenges for staff and families.
It's built a resilient spirit within our teams and communities. What we’ve seen is a coming together and dedication to families and children. A rediscovery of fun and mateship at work, and a motivation to create meaningful change.
Here, Zoey shares her journey with Goodstart. From starting as a Trainee aged 17 to now, coming full circle, directing back at the centre where it all began, Mount Louisa.
Reflecting on the history of Mount Louisa and a career journey
Zoey, 36, is approaching 18 years of service across early learning centres in Townsville. Throughout her career, she has moved up the ranks thanks to opportunities at sister centres. Zoey gained experience and wisdom, which she channels into exceptional service and performance to this day.
Zoey, pictured with Goodstart's Executives, First Nations Leaders, our CEO, Ros, and her wonderful team across the years
“I started my traineeship here at Mount Louisa,” said Zoey, “My mum was the director before it became one big centre.
“On one side of the building, there's a five-place centre at the front. When there was a need in the community for another, they built a brand-new centre on this side. It had three rooms for ages zero to two, two to three, and three to five. My mum opened it.
“The two weren't connected. They had the same car park but two separate directors, families, and staff. You didn't even go next door. Then, they ended up merging and becoming one big centre. We’ve got eight rooms now.”
Zoey first started helping her mum out at work. “I started just unpacking toys with her,” she said, “And then I ended up joining about a year or so afterwards. I got to be a trainee, educator, and senior educator. I worked in an AD [assistant director] position for a while, and then I got to step up as centre director at another centre, covering maternity leave. It's really good that if you want opportunities at other centres, they're available.”
After getting her Certificate III, Zoey built her knowledge and experience into a blossoming career. She soon studied for her Diploma and Advanced Diploma. Zoey worked at Mount Louisa for about 10 years, moved to Idalia and then to Townsville, for a couple of years each. Now, she’s back at Mount Louisa.
Coming full circle, back at the centre where it all began
Zoey said: “Goodstart Idalia was my first Centre Director position. It was amazing, but it just so happened that the floods came. They took the centre, my staff, my children and families. We didn't end up renewing the lease with them and let that centre go. When I lost that centre, I moved to Goodstart Townsville. That was amazing too.
“We had three centres join during the floods with new educators joining us as well. During that time, we won a National Safety award at Townsville, which was cool.
“Then, when my AD was able to run Townsville, I came back to direct at Mount Louisa. It's been good to come back because it's like coming back home. Some of the staff that were here when I was here last are still here.
“I'm sitting at the same desk that my mum was at many years ago. She lives in Cairns now; she's got her bachelor and she's running a centre up there.
“We have done a lot here. It's been a massive journey – an exciting one. We won the regional awards and the national awards last year.”
Learnings and tips for leadership and creating team culture
Zoey pictured at an event with Goodstart colleagues
Zoey tries to bring back the fun and understands that everyone is at different stages. She said: “We do a lot of the ‘circle of security’ with our staff, ensuring our educators feel we are their safe base. I ensure to check in as best as I can.
“As a leader, I'm evolving, I'm learning every day. I am no better than anybody else. I will still mop, I will still fold, I'm not above my team. We come together, and I’m there supporting. It's important to not just sit there and dictate. It’s still leadership but we're learning together, alongside each other, rather than against each other.
“I believe in being real and to the point. Sharing the great things that you've done but sharing the things that you haven't done so well that you're working on as well. We engage in critical reflection. Continuous improvement is key at work and for yourself as a person. You’ve got to be vulnerable at times, but you've got to sometimes be the boss. It's just finding that healthy balance.”
Drivers that keep Zoey motivated working in early learning
Making a difference for children on their learning journeys is Zoey’s number-one motivator.
She said: “I love seeing when children are learning, like when they’re reading in kindergarten. When it's science week and they’re watching a volcano explode in awe. It's little things. Planting seedlings that grow, and seeing how excited the children get.
“Significant days like when we have our Mother's Day celebrations. When you can bring someone special and hear parents say, ‘What did you learn today?’ and the children can tell them. They'll say, ‘Did you know this?’ It’s exciting to hear those conversations and know that you've made an impact.
“And now, going past people that have graduated high school and know you’ve been a part of their life. They don't always remember you, but it's nice to see how they're going years later.”
Zoey has some festive fun at work
From a leadership perspective, Zoey appreciates seeing others grow, thrive and succeed. She has seen them go from trainees to educational leaders and running centres.
She said: “At first, as a leader, you want to win a trophy, win an award, be national and then you get that and you go, ‘I want to see who else can get there’. It’s amazing to watch their journey and see them be the best they can be. I love to see centres and directors evolve. Seeing someone who was an educator or senior educator with you moving to a director position, then win a Goodie Award.
“A parent that I used to have at my centre [Kylie Ryan] chose to do her diploma then her bachelor. Now, she works at Goodstart Golf Links Drive and she's one of the Goodie Award winners. She’s going on a trip to New Zealand. That’s stuff that makes you feel good, want to get up and do the work. I love that I get to be a part of it.”
While taking up opportunities to create change, Zoey links up with different departments and co-ops in the business and beyond.
She said: “I love that I get to be a part of that. I’ve been a Child Protection Advocate for a little while now. And I’m in different community of practices where you get to see different departments and faces.
“Also, I'm in the National Safety Committee. I’ve taken part in the NRG [National Reference Group] – things that create change and let us have a voice in bigger decisions.
“Through the NRG, Goodstart might put something out there to the network to say, ‘Let's look at changing the brand of nappies we use’. They organised a trial that we chose to be a part of, where they sent us boxes of new nappies to see if they were yay or nay. In the end, they were nay. But it’s important that we get to trial these things rather than just being told, ‘everyone's going this way’. Taking part in little pilot programs like this is exciting for us because we're regional – not Brisbane. And we get to have a say.
“Goodstart is doing a lot more of that with policies, procedures, and system changes. They get a lot more staff involved, from centre directors to educators. All of us get to be part of these changes. People who don't usually have a voice can complete a survey and say, it’s not for us, or yeah, let's do it.”
Mount Louisa’s recent National Goodies Award wins
Winner for Safety Leadership, along with Goodstart Annandale - Brazier Drive
Zoey said: “With Goodstart’s centre-led approach, you get to collaborate with each other and get other people on board. So you’re not just relying on your State Performance Lead.
“I worked with Karen from Annandale - Brazier Drive. We had a lot of new educators and saw an opportunity to support them in the induction process. We just thought it was important to make sure that everyone knew what their role was and what the expectations were. By having the right inductions done properly, hopefully, there are fewer risks that happen with children in many ways when you really understand child protection, food safety, etc.
“It was great to work with our whole area and different centres in our state as well to look at how we can set people up for success. Through that work, we applied for nominations through each of our centres. There was a lot that went into that, and it was really cool to achieve that together, rather than just doing it on your own.”
Judges said: “Through a comprehensive approach, these centres have gone above and beyond, working collaboratively to transform knowledge, engagement, and safety practices to foster a positive culture that’s delivering great results and huge improvement.”
Winner for Advancing Reconciliation
Zoey, who has Aboriginal ancestry herself, said: “There are so many things that you can do to support reconciliation all year round. The significant days, like National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week, are important to join, pause and celebrate. They all have different meanings.
“But for us, we wanted to look at how we can have that cultural lens throughout – every day and in every way. That's what we started doing, looking at how, through critical reflection, we can have Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in everything that we do.
“My First Nations educators include Miss Jayvina, who is a Trainee. Her sister Sonnyann is starting a school-based traineeship with us soon. We also have another applicant awaiting a contract.” Zoey is currently hiring for two Senior Educators and an Educator.
First Nations candidates can email Samara Ahmat, our First Nations Talent Acquisition Specialist at DeadlyCareers@goodstart.org.au.
Judges said: “Mt Louisa are national leaders in reconciliation. Underpinned by their Centre RAP, genuine and authentic First Nations perspectives are embedded in their practice – from the moment you walk in the front door, in every room every day.
“Their strong community engagement at a strategic level with state governments, and across their region embraces Torres Strait Islander culture as well as Aboriginal perspectives.
“The team's daily cultural learning, employment of First Nations staff, and participation in the STAR trainee program exemplify their commitment. Their Facebook page is also amplifying their impact showcasing Reconciliation for the community.”