It’s been a big year of learning and growth across Gowrie.

As we close out 2024, we are taking a moment to reflect on the year’s highlights. You can read more in our Year in Review 2023-2024.

Susan Anderson to finish her role as CEO at Gowrie at the end of 2024.

This week, we say goodbye to Susan Anderson after five years as CEO of Gowrie Victoria. Through her leadership during the COVID pandemic, she helped guide Gowrie through challenging times. Susan encouraged a culture of trust, contributing to high employee engagement, and advocated for better outcomes for children and families, and securing sustainable wages for teachers and educators. Under her leadership, Gowrie expanded services and saw significant growth, leaving a lasting impact on children, families and educators.

Restacking the Odds supports Gowrie to improve ECEC participation rates.

We supported Restacking the Odds (RSTO), a Murdoch Children’s Research Institute initiative, to improve children’s participation in early learning. RSTO created data dashboards that our services could use to track attendance and identify opportunities to boost participation, especially among disadvantaged families. Our teams implemented strategies like outreach calls, raising awareness, and addressing transport barriers. These efforts led to increased attendance and more referrals to family support services, helping our services better meet family needs and improve participation rates.

Gowrie Victoria partner with Lady Gowrie Queensland for study tours

In August and September, Gowrie Victoria hosted two-day study tours for 16 delegates from Lady Gowrie Queensland and their affiliates, focusing on trauma-informed practice, First Nations perspectives, and coaching. Participants toured three Gowrie Victoria services, engaging in presentations and discussions. The experience encouraged reflection and the adoption of new approaches, leading to small, impactful changes in practices. The tour emphasised the value of continuous reflection and collaboration, strengthening the collective impact of Gowrie organisations in early childhood education.

Returning Teachers and Educators Coaching program

Trudy relocated from New Zealand to Australia as an Early Childhood Teacher, joined the Returning Teachers and Educators (RTE) Coaching Program to improve her understanding of Australian frameworks like VEYLDF, NQS, and the Planning Cycle. Through tailored support and reflective sessions with a Gowrie coach, Trudy gained confidence, expanded her knowledge, and improved her teaching practice. She now feels more confident, enjoys planning, and is better equipped to lead student teachers, attributing her success to the coaching program and her strengthened sense of belonging in the Australian ECEC sector.

Introduction to working in ECEC for individuals from Carlton’s CALD communities

Gowrie Victoria, in partnership with Our Place, developed a four-week program to introduce Melbourne’s culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community to early childhood education. Supported by the Victorian Government’s Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships (ECTP) program, 17 participants from 11 different cultures learned key skills through classroom learning and practical experience. The program, with a 97% attendance rate, covered topics like communication and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths). Thirteen participants are now considering careers in ECEC, with some expressing a strong desire to contribute to their communities.

Sarah Rawley’s work supporting Indigenous families recognised at ECA Conference

Sarah Rawley from Gowrie Broadmeadows Valley was the winner of the ECA Young Advocate of the Year Award 2024. As wayipungitj, she supports early learning services in Hume/Moreland, promoting culturally safe environments and fostering cultural awareness with First Nations families and educators.

Construction underway with support from the Victorian Government’s Building Blocks Program

We have two major construction projects currently underway: Broadmeadows Valley will open two new rooms in January 2025, expanding to a 194-place service with a sensory room and children’s garden. Carlton North’s two-room expansion is set for April 2025. Over $2.2M in facility upgrades will also enhance services.

Supporting new educators transition from study to practice

In partnership with Early Learning Association Australia (ELAA), Gowrie Victoria supported new educators through the Skilled and Adaptable Workforce (SAEW) Project in 2023-2024. Gowrie created 13 eLearning modules, 20 short courses, and hosted webinars to build confidence and work-readiness. The courses, featuring practical examples from Gowrie’s educators, were interactive and reflective. So far, 730 educators have completed 1,077 modules, with 88.5% reporting the content was applicable to their roles.

We advocated for higher wages for the early childhood sector

We advocated for the professional recognition of early childhood educators, aiming to improve wages and working conditions. Partnering with 63 other employers, Gowrie helped negotiate the first multi-employer agreement for the sector, securing federal government-funded wage increases of up to 15%. This agreement ensures higher wages for educators without raising costs for families, marking a historic achievement for the sector and providing long-term job security for Gowrie’s teams.

Gowrie’s Year in Review