С»ÆÊé

Nestled in the southeast corner of the University of С»ÆÊé’s (UOW) С»ÆÊé campus, beneath the towering gum trees, a converted 1970s cottage hums with life. Inside, the laughter and excitement of children, aged six weeks up to six years, fills the classrooms and yards of services as they explore, play, learn and grow.

The children are led by a talented team of early childhood educators, highly accomplished and recognised as sector leaders.

Jenni Smith stands out among the team of dedicated educators at Kids’ Uni North, having brought joy to children in her care and their families for twenty years. For Jenni, being an educator is a calling; she is a big believer that you don’t pick it, it picks you. “Early childhood education is not what I do. It's who I am,” Jenni said.

“When I was younger, I was the person at family parties that was surrounded by younger children. I would constantly hear ‘You should be a teacher’ from my relatives. It just came naturally.”

Jenni began her career at 16 with a traineeship in a small daycare, later taking time off to raise her two sons. She returned to early childhood education when her boys started primary school, working casually on a regular basis at Kids Uni North before accepting a permanent full-time position.

“I was lucky enough to work full-time hours as a casual with the flexibility of still being available for my boys. It was the perfect fit for my family. I’ve been at Kids’ Uni for 20 years now and will hopefully remain there until I retire”.

Jenni Smith said she treasures gifts from children and families, which remind her why she chose a rewarding career in early childhood education.

Reminiscing about stepping foot on the С»ÆÊé campus for the first time takes Jenni back to her own childhood. She moved to Keiraville from Melbourne when she was six.

“The С»ÆÊé campus, the Botanic Garden and the Conservatorium have all been interconnected as an extension of my life. I played A-grade netball every night at the UOW netball courts. We came to campus for excursions in primary school and high school and so did my boys. It’s grown and flourished so much. But the parking situation has probably never changed,” she laughed. 

Her father Ted bought the Gwynneville Post Office when she started high school and owned and operated it for 23 years. Working casually in the post office through high school, Jenni became engrained in the local community alongside her father, who was warmly referred to as “the Lord Mayor of Gwynneville”.

The power of play 

For more than 40 years, UOW Pulse Kids’ Uni has been a sanctuary for UOW staff and their families. A safe place where they are confident their children are getting the highest quality education and care. All four Kids’ Uni services continue to achieve the highest rating of . 

“As early childhood professionals we know that no time is more formative than the first five years of a child’s life. I feel incredibly privileged to play such a crucial role during that time for so many children and their families,” Jenni said. 

Children and educators from Kids' Uni during Indigenous Literacy Day, led by Associate Professor Anthony McKnight. 

“It’s important for people to understand that early childhood isn’t just about Play-Doh, crayons and changing nappies. A lot of what we do happens behind the scenes and unless people look closely, they probably don’t see it. 

“When families arrive to see a water trough filled with blue dye and red glitter, they may think ‘wow that looks really fun’. What they may not realise is that experience was strategically planned and set up in specific ways that may support a child with additional needs, to help a child cope with some big changes at home or to help a child gain trust in their educators and build a sense of belonging. There is always a teachable moment behind everything you see. 

“Only educators truly understand the thoughtful planning behind these decisions; it’s simply part of what we do. That is the expertise of early childhood educators.”

One gear, full throttle 

Jenni has won Kids’ Uni annual awards for ‘Social Justice’ for her tireless work around sustainability and most recently the ‘Going Above and Beyond Award’. Her colleagues remark she is at work well before her shift starts and long after it finishes and continues her work at home to ensure that every child and their family has everything they need.

“My approach to my work is if I'm going to do something, I'm going to give it my all. If children are excited by something I have planned and implemented, that is the biggest reward for me,” she said. 

Each year, with a new class of faces, the children quickly learn that Jenni won’t say ‘no’ to a good idea.

“I might plan something and then the children take it in a different direction. I will usually always say ‘yes’ to see where it takes us. I just love that children take their learning to places that the grown-ups may not have even considered.”

The team of dedicated educators at Kids’ Uni North support a range of initiatives including Red Nose Day and Bravehearts Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Program.

Learning with Jenni goes far beyond the classroom. She empowers four-year-olds to pitch ideas to Kids’ Uni Management like little entrepreneurs. They have successfully presented their case to purchase a class toy pet - to be just like kids at ‘big school’. They have raised funds for the С»ÆÊé Homeless Hub, by collecting return-and-earn cans, inspired by their wish to ‘build a house for the homeless’ and run an annual food drive. They have shared their playground design ideas with С»ÆÊé City Council and are visited by ‘Ditto’, the lion cub, each year from Bravehearts to learn how to keep themselves safe. Under Jenni’s guidance, every child’s voice is heard, valued and amplified.

Change makes way for collaboration 

Reflecting on her time at Kids’ Uni, Jenni said the past decade has brought greater respect for the vital role early childhood educators play in supporting children’s wellbeing, learning and development.

“With the introduction of Early Start and the Early Start Discovery Space people started paying a lot more attention to the research behind what we do. It felt like up until that point we were still being seen as babysitters or just providing ‘childcare’,” Jenni said. 

“We've seen changes in UOW Pulse management structure where the level of respect for our work increased through better child to educator ratios, high-quality professional development opportunities, and improved working conditions. 

“It also offered a pathway for career development for educators. In recent years I have noticed a bit of a U-turn and people are coming back and getting their qualifications through UOW, rather than completing it via distance education.”

Children from Kids' Uni explore UOW С»ÆÊé during excursions across campus. 

The change in perception has opened doors to engage and collaborate with other parts of UOW. Children in bright Kids’ Uni bucket hats and high-vis vests are a familiar sight, walking hand-in-hand as they set off to explore the С»ÆÊé campus. 

“We have a relationship with Woolyungah Indigenous Centre, where the staff teach the children about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. The Discovery Space is always a very popular excursion that is talked about long after we leave. We visit the for story time, participate in IDAHOBIT events with the UOW Pride Network, and throw boomerangs on the sport fields with Adam from AT Culture.” 

A lifetime of memories 

“I've never, in the 36 years since I first started, ever thought ‘I don't want to do this as a career’,” Jenni said.

“I still recognise the children I once cared for and their families. When I hear that they are almost adults it makes me feel really old but also brings back wonderful memories. 

“I am very lucky to have a whole lot of beautiful messages and treasured gifts from children, families, and colleagues that provide me with a daily reminder of why I chose this very rewarding career.”