Belonging, Being and Becoming: Interview with Hayley Jacka

Belonging, Being and Becoming is a LinkedIn interview series which shares the stories of early childhood and oshc professionals currently working in the education industry.

The next interview of this series features Hayley Jacka, Centre Manager at Guardian Childcare & Education Allara Street. In today's interview, Hayley will discuss her career journey, philosophy on education and care, and her experience working at Guardian.

Interview with Hayley Jacka

When and why did you start a career in early childhood?

Coming from a large family, I was always surrounded by younger children. I began babysitting as a teenager and I found that I enjoyed sharing my time with the little people and the spark of joy they bring. I jumped into studies straight out of high school where I loved my practical placements. I was eager to get into the profession straight away but that meant moving away from my hometown. I moved to Canberra to be a live in Nanny and started working casually in a Long Day Care, I’ve worked in every role from Cook to now Centre Manager.

How would you describe your career journey?

My career journey has been an exciting one! Working in many roles and wearing many hats, I’ve experienced so many sides of our profession.

What do you love most about your job and working for your current organisation?

Guardian Childcare and Education are an extremely supportive and welcoming provider. I appreciate the emphasis they place on high quality care and the work they put in alongside you, for your service and team to reach full potential. Because of this, I feel that I personally align with their mindsets and values.

(Pictured: Hayley presented with the Guardian G-Star Award For Excellence)

Who is your role model / who do you look up to in the early childhood sector in Canberra?

Everyone! Our profession has had a rough couple of years with Covid and staff shortages. I admire and look up to everyone for all they do each and everyday for our children, families and of course our teams!

What is your proudest career achievement?

Being brave and stepping into the Centre Manager world. I’ve worked towards becoming a Centre Manager for many years while learning from various managers and seeing many different leadership styles. I also feel very proud to have watched my team come together and grow through many changes, knowing we can do anything when we advocate for each other.I’ve been able to combine my joy of volunteering with our community connections where we frequently volunteer at Ronald McDonald House, Canberra as part of their Meals from the Heart program.

(Pictured: Guardian Team Dinner)

What has most contributed to your career success?

What has contributed to my career success is being surrounded by a strong and supportive team and provider, while also combining this with my determination, passion, and resilience. My family network, both my personal family and professional, have always cheered me on and keep me going through every up and down.

I was fortunate to have a Centre Manager who could also see my strengths and I’m thankful for the guidance and mentoring she invested in me to help shape the leader I am today.

What advice would you give someone looking to pursue a career in early childhood education?

Speak to other professionals, seek out feedback and understanding about early learning. I would encourage everyone to give it a go and see if it sparks the passion inside them like it did for me.When I think back to my childhood, I remember my educators and preschool teachers and the impact they made on my early learning. Think about the impact you could make on our children each day!

(Pictured: Outdoor Environment at Guardian Allara Street)

Do you have any projects or upcoming events coming up you would like to share?

I’m currently involved in actively driving a multi participant project in the ACT which aims to better support families and children through the end of year transitions, enrolments and movements into the new stage of their academic learning journey.

Thanks for reading this interview.

Want to be featured in the next Belonging Being & Becoming interview? Get in touch by emailing [email protected] or calling?02 6132 3886.