Rachel Scarlett
Meadowbank,Australia
Summary
A qualified and experienced early childhood professional with a thorough and diverse background in senior leadership and strategic management in the Early Childhood Sector. I have experience in for profit, not for profit, government and non-government, providers across Long Day Care, Pre School and Outside of School Hours Care. I have strong sector connections, at service, provider and peak body level, ensuring a bring a wealth of experience and strategic network opportunity to any role I take on. I am experienced in both local and state government, with demonstrated skills in governance, risk, government correspondence and process. My career demonstrates my commitment to the Early Childhood sector, commencing as an educator when I was in school and University, then moving into more senior roles, up General Manager level, and as an independent consultant. I am a motivated, innovative, and goal-oriented management professional with a strong background in analysing research and analysis of trends and data and translating these insights into actionable strategic plans to achieve desired outcomes. My ability to foster, support and manage high level stakeholder relationships in the ECEC sector is a unique skill I bring to the department. A strong reputation as a trustworthy team member known for forward-thinking leadership. My approach often involves thinking creatively and seeking unique solutions whilst underpinned with logic and evidence.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Program Officer – ECO – Sector and Community Readiness
NSW Department of Education
11.2022 - Current
- In this role I led and facilitated sector consultations for workforce strategy.
- I partnered with colleagues in other parts of Early Childhood Outcomes to strategically select services that met a range of target selection criteria.
- I facilitated and built rapport with providers and services to ensure the consultation was successful in gaining sector environment and feedback on potential strategy to be delivered in reform to the sector.
- I was able to use my sector experience and existing relationships to ensure the sector consultations were broad reaching and built future relationships for ongoing connection with the sector.
- Https://education.nsw.gov.au
Senior Governance and Reporting Officer – Project Management Role
NSW Department of Education
11.2022 - Current
- In this role, I was responsible for all the reporting and governance of a $24 million dollar project for the Department of Education.
- I was responsible for indirectly leading member to deliver a timely and on budget project, and ensuring reporting and appropriate governance for NSW legislation is complied with by the whole project.
- Use of various project management software programs – JIRA, Confluence, Miro Boards etc. as part of remotely leading and driving outcome of the team.
- Reporting, responsible for managing briefs for senior executives, Ministers and the Deputy Premier in relation to our project.
- Managing Risks, Issues and benefits and ensuring these are communicated and socialised in the team.
- Lead Steering committee meetings, and Project Control meeting to ensure appropriate governance of the project.
- Https://education.nsw.gov.au
Manager - Children’s Service’s and Child Protection
PCYC NSW
03.2021 - 11.2022
- Approved provider of 23 Education and Care services.
- Led a team of over 100 staff in the provision of care and education.
- Developed and implemented policies and procedures.
- Managed all Child protection and Safeguarding work across PCYC NSW, including policy development, case management and reporting.
Partnership Manager
Camp Australia
08.2019 - 03.2021
- Company Overview: http://www.campaustralia.com.au
- This role sat in the Sales and Marketing division of the business where I managed and supported relationships with schools, develop tenders, and implemented the successful tender bids.
General Manager – Early Education and Care
Gowrie NSW
10.2018 - 08.2019
- Reporting to the Executive Director of Programs, I managed the operation of 8 Early Education and Care Centres across metropolitan and regional NSW.
- Work with the support office to develop systems and processes that focus on good business processes.
- Supported services in all areas of operations and coached, mentored managers through the Assessment and Rating process.
- Managed the opening of two Early Education and Care Centres (Newcastle and Canberra) within 4 months.
- Developed and managed budgets, including initiating significant improvements and overseeing key reporting and KPI’s.
- Http://www.gowriensw.com.au
- Stabilised a high turnover of Centre managers.
- Significantly improved occupancy across the portfolio.
- Developed a strategy around the opening of the new Centre in Canberra, with a successful opening with occupancy of over 50% within 3 months.
Operations Manager – (Contract Role – Little Zak’s Acquisition)
Affinity Education
10.2017 - 10.2018
- Reporting to the GM, overseeing 11 long day care centres.
- This was a large and high-end acquisition for Affinity, and my role was to manage this process so the transition to Affinity Systems and processes was smooth, and the level of occupancy and retention of staff was maintained.
- Developed a ‘Boot Camp’ training and support programs for the team of Centre managers to move across to the systems that Affinity use.
- Supported and guided the team in KPI deliverables.
- Worked to support the re brand strategy to Papillio. This involved planning and support of Centre’s families and the roll out of the marketing support materials and Open days.
- Worked with the support office team on curriculum implementation, with the Life Long Learning program.
- Developed and managed budgets, including initiating significant improvements and overseeing key reporting and KPI’s.
- Http://www.affinityeducation.com.au
- Managed the transition of the 11 Centres, with an increase in occupancy, and stabilised staff turnover, including creating a strong team of committed Centre Managers.
Manager Children’s Services
YMCA NSW
10.2015 - 10.2017
- Company Overview: http://www.ymcansw.org.au
- Reporting to the COO, overseeing up to 50 before and after school care and vacation care services through 8 area managers throughout NSW.
- Developed a mentoring and coaching program to ensure the skill levels of staff reflected the service levels required in line with National Education & Care Regulations and the organisation policies and procedures.
- Reviewed, revised changes to recruiting, induction, training policies and procedures to ensure a compliant environment for child protection.
- Supported services in all areas and coached, mentored managers through the Assessment and Rating process.
- Liaised with key stakeholders on license renewals and assessed statistical, reporting and relevant issues with key stakeholders such as the ECECD, ECA etc. in an active advocate role for children’s services.
- Provided input and reviewed Government and non-Government children’s services tender applications prior to being presented to the Board for consideration.
- Developed and managed budgets, including initiating significant improvements and overseeing key reporting and KPI’s.
- Http://www.ymcansw.org.au
- Raised service levels from predominantly Working Towards to Meeting and Exceeding.
- Provided comprehensive input to the Royal Commission relating to reporting structures, policies and procedures.
- Improved the profitability of services from deficit to surplus through the introduction of key metrics reporting, development of technology partnerships to provide more relevant data and robust reporting.
- Reduced staff turnover by introducing cultural change through the rollout of professional development programs.
Operations Manager
G8 Education
01.2014 - 10.2015
- Reported to the Senior Operations Manager, managing 11 Centres within the Sydney region.
- Ensured legislative regulations are adhered to within each service as part of ongoing Quality Assurance.
- Initiated, facilitated staff training and development as part of the KPI process.
- Maintained, monitored all financial reporting, executed agreed business plans across all key business areas including product, marketing, staffing, operations and finance.
- Onboarded various acquisitions into the G8 fold, whilst retaining staff and maintaining and growing occupancy.
- Developed a strong team of Centre managers with a peer and mentor support system.
- Consulted to both private and community based Early Childhood Services on broad ranging management issues from staffing, conflict resolution, individual training needs, Accreditation and licensing.
Child Care Consultant & Trainer
01.2000 - 12.2014
- Provided consulting services in the planning, development, fitout, equipment selection and purchase required for a number of Child Care Services.
- Developed policies and procedures, secured required licensing, implemented and managed strategies for Child Care providers, both large and small clients including development.
- Provided planning advice on Child Care facilities, for both indoor and outdoor play spaces.
- Facilitated In-service training to Early Childhood staff. Clients include Councils, Community based services, Private & corporate as well as Government Departments.
- Provided coaching as a Vocational Trainer and Assessor for Child Care trainees (Certificate III- Macquarie Employment Training Services).
- Contracted to develop Child Care Services for a large corporate provider across Australia.
- Presented a detailed report with recommendations to management after completing extensive background research, viability in regional areas and States, project planning and operational requirements.
- Created the content and graphics for web site development.
- Established, built and managed a significant and profitable Childcare business, Wakefield Children’s Centre, Dural, a 72 place Child Care Centre, employing 17 staff in 2005.
- Sold this business late 2006.
- As a coach and mentor, provided leadership and management training for the not-for-profit Community Child Care based sector.
- Conference speaker at Early Childhood Conferences on Management issues for Early Childhood services, for large corporate providers and peak industry bodies.
Regional Manager / Mentor
NurtureOne
03.2009 - 08.2011
- Managed 10 Centre’s located in Regional NSW, Tasmania and the ACT, initiating programs, integrating new services to raise a number of Centres from problematic and unviable to profitable Centres.
- Led teams comprising around 12, implementing the National Early Years Learning Framework.
- Supported services through licensing and accreditation and A&R.
- Performance managed staff through the development and implementation of performance appraisal systems.
Pre School & Long Day Care Director (Multi site – Mobile & on site)
Fairfield City Council
01.2000 - 12.2001
- Engaged to manage the Bonnyrigg Heights Pre-school, a 39 place centre with a staff of 15 catering for children from 3 – 5 years.
- Managed, improved the pre-school program and programming for children.
- Developed and implemented all Centre policies and procedures, including management of all administration procedures, rosters, financial management and development, monitoring of budgets.
- Liaison with relevant Government bodies regarding compliance, licencing.
- Marketed the Service to the wider community, planned and chaired monthly staff and parent committee meetings.
- Managed the administration and collection of all fees, including debt recovery.
Children’s Services Manager
Next Generation Child Care Services
01.1993 - 12.1999
- Responsible for managing the day to day running of 14 Children’s Services Centres throughout Sydney including 10 long day care and 4 Out of School Hours Care Centres with a staff of over 130.
- Planned and chaired monthly Directors meeting, reporting issues of concern.
- Recruited, developed, conducted orientation of new staff (permanent and casual), conducted in-service training, staff mentoring and performance appraisals.
- Initiated, conducted orientation and staff development days, developed monthly staff bulletins.
- Liaised with Government regulatory agencies (FACS, DOCS & Department of Education), professional bodies and Unions.
- Developed broad ranging policy and procedure guidelines for the Centres ensuring compliance with governing guidelines which included human resource policies and procedures to meet all regulations and awards guidelines.
- Investigated, monitored and managed all other incidents that occur in Children’s Services.
- Managed the broader programs offered in each Centre.
- Oversaw the payroll for 130 staff, including staff leave etc.
- Co-wrote a Certificate Level III Traineeship Course outline (Accredited by VETAB).
- Prior to 1995, engaged on a permanent and casual basis as Director, Coordinator, teacher, Lecturer.
Education
Diploma in Community Services (Child Care) -
Macleay College
01.1998
Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood) - undefined
Macquarie University
Associate Diploma, Business Management - undefined
NSW Business College
01.1995
Skills
- Team collaboration
- Strategic planning
- Project management
- Policy analysis
Timeline
Senior Program Officer – ECO – Sector and Community Readiness
NSW Department of Education
11.2022 - Current
Senior Governance and Reporting Officer – Project Management Role
NSW Department of Education
11.2022 - Current
Manager - Children’s Service’s and Child Protection
PCYC NSW
03.2021 - 11.2022
Partnership Manager
Camp Australia
08.2019 - 03.2021
General Manager – Early Education and Care
Gowrie NSW
10.2018 - 08.2019
Operations Manager – (Contract Role – Little Zak’s Acquisition)
Affinity Education
10.2017 - 10.2018
Manager Children’s Services
YMCA NSW
10.2015 - 10.2017
Operations Manager
G8 Education
01.2014 - 10.2015
Regional Manager / Mentor
NurtureOne
03.2009 - 08.2011
Child Care Consultant & Trainer
01.2000 - 12.2014
Pre School & Long Day Care Director (Multi site – Mobile & on site)
Fairfield City Council
01.2000 - 12.2001
Children’s Services Manager
Next Generation Child Care Services
01.1993 - 12.1999
Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood) - undefined
Macquarie University
Associate Diploma, Business Management - undefined
NSW Business College
Diploma in Community Services (Child Care) -
Macleay College
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