KARA HENRY
Ormeau Hills,QLD
Summary
Diligent Childcare Manager with many years of experience. Oversees staff and operations to meet National Regulations. Cultivates safe and nurturing environment for staff, children and families while maintaining profitability and business growth. Consistently balances needs of children with business needs resulting in financial growth.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Compliance Consultant
Impressions Early Education
05.2023 - Current
- Assisted with internal audits to confirm compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of current and emerging compliance regulations.
- Responded to employee inquiries regarding compliance regulations and procedures.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of applicable laws and regulations.
- Responded to inquiries from customers, vendors, and other external contacts.
- Managed and maintained electronic and paper-based filing systems to keep essential documents and information easily accessible and organized.
- Maintained databases and contact lists to keep important contact information accurate and current.
- Prepared detailed documents and reports in adherence to administrative processes.
- Assisted management with special projects to complete all tasks by deadlines.
- Prepared policy manual for new centres.
Director- Nominated Supervisor
Elephas Education
04.2022 - 04.2022
- Direct an 75-place long day care service Monday to Friday
- Oversee all aspects of centre, daily routines, staffing (24 staff), ratios, policies, regulations, compliance, rostering, staff management, and report to Approved Providers
- KPI- Occupancy ( Sales), budgets ,and debt
- Ensure staff were providing the highest quality of care at all times
- Empower and motivate a team of educators
- Ensure staff provide safe and stimulating environments daily
- Create and maintain parent, and community relationships
- Oversaw operations and provided corrective feedback to achieve daily and long-term goals.
- Worked closely with organisational leadership to guide operational strategy.
- Established departmental performance goals and provided feedback for underperforming areas.
- Formed strategic partnerships and connected with potential clients to drive business development.
- Monitored office workflow and administrative processes to keep operations running smoothly.
- Evaluated company documentation to verify alignment with regulatory requirements.
- Leveraged professional networks and industry knowledge to strengthen client relationships.
- Assisted with sales and marketing strategies to foster the achievement of revenue goals.
- Budget adherence.
- Remained composed and highly professional in a fast-paced and constantly changing environment, effectively handling challenging situations and difficult individuals to achieve objectives.
- Conducted meetings with staff to discuss progress, set goals, and provide training and to attain objectives.
- Observed tight deadlines and strict budgetary controls to streamline costs.
- Compliance.
- RAP
- SIP
- Handled customer complaints, resolved issues.
- Evaluated employee performance and coached and trained to improve weak areas.
- Maintained compliance with company policies, objectives, and communication goals.
Assistant Director
Goodstart
12.2019 - 12.2021
- Support director in running multiple budgets eg
- Health & hygiene, staffing & food
- Keep debts to under $500 across centre with weekly reports
- Work with families to create a payment plan
- Conduct centre tours for new families with follow-up for enrolments
- Create monthly and quarterly rosters
- Process wages (Kronos)
- Maintain a safe environment for children, families, staff and all visitors
- Ensure thecentre is compliant with NQF
- Submit monthly Health & Safety report
- Network to ensure families have access to community based support programs
- Organize inclusion support
- QUIP
- Publish RAP
- Interview and orient new staff
- Liaise with child safety and the department
- Role model best practice
- Abecedarian roll out across the centre.
- Created and updated records and files to maintain document compliance.
- Created and updated physical records and digital files to maintain current, accurate, and compliant documentation.
- Trained and mentored new employees on industry practices and business operations.
- Worked closely with management to provide effective assistance for specific aspects of business operations.
- Maintained positive customer relations by addressing problems head-on and implementing successful corrective actions.
- Maintained professional demeanour by staying calm when addressing unhappy or angry customers.
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
- Evaluated employee performance and conveyed constructive feedback to improve skills.
Lead Educator
Amaze Education
12.2018 - 12.2019
- Perform tasks and adhere to code of conduct and role modeling Amaze philosophy
- Provide timely reporting on all incidents
- Abecedarian rollout across center
- Sustainability Officer
- Explore new ways to incorporate sustainability in daily practice and assist all rooms in implementing and documenting
- Member of RAP committee
- Support and manage bush kindy outings and incorporate this into weekly programs
- Record observations of individual children and groups for programming purposes
- Programming / Clear evidence of planning cycle / Aboriginal ways of learning / AEDC data
- Develop routines and sleeping patterns for babies' room
- Responsible person
- Maintain confidentiality
- Adhere to implementation of regulations, policies, and producers from our Quality Improvement Plan
- Reflections / Room / Bush Kindy / Outdoor Program
- Written Risk Assessments for learning stations that are of some risk and explain the Risk Assessment to all staff who work in the room
- Speech Screener
- Peds Forms
- Settle families into rooms by showing that I and the educators have strong, positive relationships with children and families in the room and through the center
- Extend, scaffold, and document each child's development and foster an environment where each child's belonging, being and becoming is supported
- Ensure the safety of all children and staff in center
- Help mentor students who are placed on work placement
- Mentor staff regarding best practices and help answer questions relating to EYLF and or study
- Genuinely care for the children and develop a room where parents drop off their children with ease and comfort knowing I will care for them and treat them with kindness, love, empathy, and respect
- Have days filled with adventure and fun as we know children learn best while playing.
- Trained and supervised new teachers to apply best teaching practices and comply with protocols.
- Monitored student progress and adjusted instruction to meet individual needs.
- Helped students explore concepts with engaging, learning-focused activities.
- Boosted cultural awareness by incorporating children's literature from world cultures.
- Met with students, parents, and administrators to address and resolve students' behavioral and academic issues.
- Implemented reading and writing workshops to increase student literacy and support school reading programs.
Lead Educator
Bonny Babes
06.2018 - 12.2018
- Implement the 3a Abecedarian Approach - Conversational Reading, Language Priority, Learning Games and Enriched Caregiving
- Detailed daily record of significant learning that took place
- Written Risk Assessments for learning stations that are of some risk and explain Risk Assessments to all staff who work in room
- Speech Screener
- Peds Forms
- Health and Safety Officer
- Develop and implement a program that fulfills the developmental, cognitive, emotional and social needs under the National Curriculum the Early Years Learning Framework
- Planning cycle and documenting critical reflection and Parent input
- Settle families into the room by showing that myself and the educators in my room have strong, positive relationships with children and the families in the room and through the center
- Extend, scaffold and document each child's development and foster an environment where each child's belonging, being and becoming is supported
- Ensure the safety of all children and staff in the center
- Help mentor students who are placed on work placement
- Mentor staff regarding best practices and help answer questions relating to EYLF and or study
- Continue to develop my knowledge theories, pedagogy and relevant learning framework
- Incorporate Our Indigenous heritage into the daily program as to make sure it's not a mere token gesture.
Lead Educator
Bright Horizons
06.2017 - 06.2018
- Lead Educator in the Babies room(8 months) and Lead Educator in Junior room (4 months)
- Responsible Person nominated by the Director
- Fire Warden
- Experienced in the new 2018 Accreditation
- Develop and implement a program that fulfills the developmental, cognitive, emotional and social needs under the National Curriculum the Early Years Learning Framework
- Planning cycle and documenting critical reflection and Parent input
- Settle families into the room by showing that myself and the educators in my room have strong, positive relationships with children and the families in the room and through the center
- Following each babies individual routines and needs as specified by parents
- For babies that had no routine helping that baby by developing and tailoring a routine individual to them
- This was done by knowing that child and fostering strong relationships with them and the parents
- Extend, scaffold and document each child's development and foster an environment where each child's belonging, being and becoming is supported
- Ensure the safety of all children and staff in the center
- Help mentor students who are placed on work placement
- Mentor staff regarding best practice and helping answer questions relating to study
- Continue to develop my knowledge theories, pedagogy and relevant learning framework
- Incorporate Our Indigenous heritage into the daily program as to make sure it's not a mere token gesture
- Run the daily Acknowledgement Of Country combined with 3 rooms
- Maintain confidentiality
- Adhere to the implementation of regulations, policies and producers from our Quality Improvement plan
- Attend evening staff meetings
- Genuinely care for the children and develop a room where parents drop off their children with ease and comfort knowing I will care for them and treat them with kindness, love, empathy and respect
- Have days filled with adventure and fun as we all know child learn best while playing.
- Trained and supervised new teachers to apply best teaching practices and comply with protocols.
- Built relationships and communicated with parents to provide best learning environment for children.
- Collaborated with colleagues to develop and revise curriculum, enhancing learning experience.
- Monitored student progress and adjusted instruction to meet individual needs.
- Developed and implemented engaging programs to keep learner attention.
- Replenished classroom supply levels to support planned lessons and activities.
- Chose materials and developed lesson plans to enhance skills for individual students.
- Met regularly with team of teachers to discuss best practices and develop innovative teaching strategies.
- Facilitated student-led, inquiry-based activities in classroom to enhance learning experience.
Lead Educator
Young Discoverers Helensvale
12.2012 - 06.2017
- Develop and implement a program that fulfills developmental, cognitive, emotional, social, and spiritual needs under National Curriculum The Early Years Learning Framework, My time Our Place and the Centers Philosophy
- Collaborate with two assistants in the Junior Kindy room while also building a very strong sense of team environment
- Guide and support development of these staff members along with trainee and student placements
- Provide a safe, caring, and supportive environment for children and families
- Constantly monitor Health and Safety in room and yard
- Write up, implement, and explain any risk assessments
- Adhere to implementation of regulations, policies, and producers from Quality Improvement plan
- Develop positive relationships with community and community body
- Planning Cycle
- Responsible for collecting parent input and implementing it into program
- Maintain confidentiality
- Effectively manage programming time and produce portfolios for each child
- Constantly monitor food allergies, anaphylactic, and asthma
- Being extremely vigilant as center did not bane eggs, nuts, and other items of food
- Drive kindy bus with students to school and drop off at class rooms
- Help unpack munch and crunch and swap over readers
- Pass on communication from parent to class teacher
- Obtain Queensland Government Industry Authority ( driver's Licence)
- During this role, I performed all the above role except in relation to programing I used My Time Our Place FrameWork.
Research Assistant
The University of Queensland & Bond University
08.2010 - 11.2012
- Taking samples of the Gold Coast waste water at 6:30am every morning
- Handling biohazard material safely
- Managing electronic equipment and troubleshooting as required
- Reporting back clearly to key stakeholders on daily progress.
Education
Helensvale State High School
Helensvale, QLDSkills
- Time Management and organisational skills
- Problem Resolution
- Friendly, Positive Attitude
- Document review
- Federal and state regulations
- Auditing experience
- Ensuring policies are current and up to date with national regulations
- Data presentation skills
Career Overview
- 1 year Director ( Nominated Supervisor) Elephas Education
- 2 years Assistant Director, Goodstart Education
- 9 years Lead Educator Babies room, Toddlers and Junior Kindy
- 1 year as a trainee assistant in the Junior Kindy room
- 2 years experience as a Research Assistant for Bond University
- 3 years as the receptionist / sales for Designer Homewares
References
Fiona Vannuccini, Business Director, Goodstart, 0481 056 224 Sheree Blade, Business Star Admin, Goodstart, 0412 604 411 Lisa Selvey, Business Executive Director Young Discoverers, 0414 692 868
Kayaking
I enjoy kayaking with my family and exploring new areas.
Timeline
Compliance Consultant
Impressions Early Education
05.2023 - Current
Director- Nominated Supervisor
Elephas Education
04.2022 - 04.2022
Assistant Director
Goodstart
12.2019 - 12.2021
Lead Educator
Amaze Education
12.2018 - 12.2019
Lead Educator
Bonny Babes
06.2018 - 12.2018
Lead Educator
Bright Horizons
06.2017 - 06.2018
Lead Educator
Young Discoverers Helensvale
12.2012 - 06.2017
Research Assistant
The University of Queensland & Bond University
08.2010 - 11.2012
Helensvale State High School
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