Eligible SDN Staff now receiving Worker Retention Payment
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You may already know that a Centre Director is a star multi-tasker, usually juggling multiple things at the same time. Often, an imaginary third hand is useful to complete just one more thing on the to-do list, or the opportunity to wave a magic wand to add an extra hour to the day goes a long way.
Despite the busy-ness of the role, what are the reasons that Centre Directors at SDN choose to stay in their role for 10, 20 and even 35 years?
One of our longest serving and valued staff members, is Elleni, our Centre Director at SDN Linthorpe St, Newtown. For Elleni, the journey in early childhood formerly began when she attained her Degree in Teaching, however the seed was planted when she was much younger. “Even as a child, I was naturally drawn to looking after the children younger than me. I knew that I wanted to be in a career involving children,” shares Elleni.
Elleni began her career at SDN with a University practical. She gained experience working at several SDN centres and progressed to become the Centre Director at SDN Linthorpe St, where she has been for 15 years. Throughout her career journey, the one thing that has remained consistent is the joy she feels seeing a child grow from an infant till they are ready to go to school. “Being a part of children’s developmental milestones and celebrating special moments with families is such a beautiful feeling,” expresses Elleni.
“As a Centre Director you need to balance between business requirements and emotions. It is great to be able to contribute to business decisions and enhance how we support children’s wellbeing, learning and development as an educational leader, but it is the feelings that help me stay connected to purpose. The opportunity to do both is why I enjoy being a Centre Director at SDN,” shares Elleni.
On a day-to-day basis, Elleni enjoys being able to wear lots of different hats but hugely relies on her team to create a positive environment based on trust and respect. Elleni has spent time empowering her team, role modeling and supporting staff to progress in their career journey. “Success is never driven alone. It takes a group of like-minded individuals working towards the same goal.”
At SDN, there is a huge focus on learning and development, particularly on creating inclusive environments for children, which Elleni shares is one of the most valuable reasons to work at SDN. “I always have access to a network of support and it’s a huge comfort knowing you are not alone to deal with any challenges. I’m constantly learning, and I enjoy being able to practice and better my skills every day.”
While a Centre Director does require strong skills in areas such as communication, relationship building, empathy and leadership, Elleni shares that this comes naturally when you are well-supported and connect back to purpose. “I regularly go and enjoy time with children, which gives me so much perspective and refreshed energy to complete my tasks. Keeping children at the centre of everything I do fuels my passion, and this is the reason I love my job even 25 years in.”
Learn more about Elleni and the dedicated team at SDN Linthorpe St, Newtown.