Hi, my name is Jess, and I am the Educational Leader at Elimbah. I graduated from University with a Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary Education in 2012, and since then I have had the opportunity to work across a range of roles within the Early Childhood sector, including Kindergarten Teacher, Second in Charge and Educational Leader.
I grew up in a small country town, which has shaped my appreciation for community, connection and creating a welcoming environment for children and families. I have now called Brisbane home for over 10 years and have loved building my career and growing within the Early Childhood profession during this time.
I am passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences for children, supporting educators in their practice and continuing to grow and learn alongside the teams and families I work with.
I have really enjoyed the opportunities our children have to engage with the wider community and experience the other Capers services. I believe these experiences are incredibly valuable for children, as they allow them to explore different environments, build confidence in new settings and develop a strong sense of connection and belonging within the broader Capers community. It has been wonderful to see the excitement and curiosity these experiences create for the children and the opportunities they provide for learning beyond the walls of our own service.
I also really value the strong sense of teamwork and support across Capers. I have enjoyed being part of an environment where educators and leaders are willing to support, share ideas and work collaboratively towards positive outcomes for children and families. The support provided to Educational Leaders in particular has been something I have greatly appreciated. Having opportunities to collaborate with other leaders, share experiences, problem-solve together and learn from one another has helped me to continue developing my own skills and confidence in my role.
I feel that this culture of support is one of the things that makes Capers such a positive place to work. It creates a sense that we are all working together towards the same goal, while also encouraging each individual service and educator to bring their own strengths, ideas and experiences to the team.
I love learning through play and creating opportunities for children to build on their knowledge through meaningful provocations and learning experiences. One of my favourite parts of teaching is seeing those “lightbulb moments” when different learning concepts come together and something suddenly makes sense for a child.
I really value the flexibility that the Early Years provides, allowing learning to be guided by children’s interests and curiosity. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to explore a wide range of topics with children, including Japanese (speaking and culture), Egyptian history, robotics and STEAM. I love seeing where children’s interests can take their learning and finding creative ways to extend and deepen their understanding.
Outside of Capers, I love spending quality time with my family and making the most of our time together. We enjoy visiting Australia Zoo, watching the NRL, getting outdoors and playing together. I love being able to slow down, enjoy the simple things and create special memories with my family.
