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About me
About me
Back in Australia for 2025.
Passionate about helping children with their development in all areas; physical, social, emotional, psychological, communication and language.
I have a lifelong love of the water and of aquatic environments and wish to pass this passion and joy on to infants and children.
I see children's unique strengths, and what they can do, and what they may be able to do with some additional encouragement and guidance. I believe in building people up, recognising their unique abilities and interests, and assisting and encouraging them to be all that they can be. I strongly believe that neurodivergent people bring a wealth of enhancements to human society as a whole and I am happy to be part of their journey in some small way, as educator, facilitator and friend.
I am fun, enthuasastic and excellent with children. I make it so they learn through play and develop skills without evening realising it!
Link to my (unfinished!) sailing website: https://rachsail.brizy.site/
Qualifications and training:
Qualifications and training:
First aid and CPR
Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (TAFE QLD)
AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety
AUSTSWIM Teacher of Infant and Preschool Aquatics
AUSTSWIM Teacher of Aquatics - Access and Inclusion
ASCTA - Swim Australia(TM) Teacher
COVID-19 Infection Control Training
National Disability Insurance Scheme worker orientation training (Respect and autonomy for the person with disability/different ability, agency for the NDIS participant)
Working with children card for QLD and NSW (2016 to 2025)
Garda Vetted (via Early Childhood Ireland, March 2023)
TULSA "Introduction to Children First" elearning program
"Protecting Children" Queensland Family & Child Commission
Work Experience
Work Experience
Early Childhood Educator
Early Childhood Educator
Irish and Australian work experience
Irish and Australian work experience
IRELAND:
Glenalbyn Montessori
AUSTRALIA:
Logan TAFE Community Childcare Centre
aeiou Foundation (for children with autism)
Kidz Magic
Working as AIMs Assistant and Early Years Educator in Montessori Room with 11 children, ages 3 to 5.
Commenced working here in April 2023. Initially engaged to work 2 days per week, which was quickly revised to 3 days a week.
I was asked to work 5 days a week from September 2024, as they were happy with my work, and recognise that I am a valuable addition to the team, and to the quality of learning provided to the children. However I had already decided to return to Australia and had to turn this offer of work down.
Here I am fortunate enough to work with a wonderful, small and passionate team of experienced and dedicated educators who genuinely want the best outcomes for the little people we have the honour of educating.
The owner has provided me with a written reference that you may find at Employer References section of this site.
Mainstream Early Learning Centre.
July 2020 to December 2020
This centre had lots of young educators, and many staff shortage issues. Inexperienced as I was in early childhood education, I nonetheless quickly realised that remaining at this centre would not result in my becoming the best educator I could be.
July 2020 to February 2021
I worked at this centre whilst studying for my Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care so I could learn how to provide children with Autism with the best possible support, understanding and education to assist them with their developmental needs.
Working here was an incredible learning opportunity, and I experienced a lot of personal growth through the challenges and hurdles presented.
Working with the children was very rewarding, however ultimately I was very concerned about the very high levels of sun exposure I was receiving, as this position involved extended hours outdoors every day during the entire day, (including the hottest part of each day) not a match for my pale Irish skin. The Australian sun is very harsh and not something to be messed with, espcially in Queensland. Their yard had inadequate shade unfrotunately. It is very important that centres follow sun smart guidelines to protect the delicate skin of young children.
This is a wonderful Early Learning Centre with a diverse range of children from multi-cultural backgrounds, and with passionate, mature, experienced educators who deliver a truly child centric, expansive and developmentally appropriate program.
I was very fortunate to be a part of this team who engage children in such a positive , imaginative, playful learning experience. This is a centre where they really have it right! The children love it here and often don't want to go home.
The bonds between educators and children are really strong at this centre. Often children come back to visit many years after they have commenced school.
I worked at this center from May 2021 until my departure from Australia at the end of 2022. I was very sad to leave, and miss the children and staff immensely. I learnt a tremendous amount from the children and the educators, and treasure the time I was able to spend here.
Work Experience
Work Experience
Swimming Teaching
Swimming Teaching
2020 to Oct 2021
Teaching children and infants to swim.
Once pools reopened after Covid lockdown, I worked at this swim school whilst studying the Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care in Brisbane. I was simultaneously working in an Early Childhood learning centre during this time and towards the end of my study I had to pause the swim school employment in order to focus on my studies and successfully complete them.
2016 (Jan to Dec)
AquaLogan (North Logan, QLD)
Council owned pool, utilising Laurie Lawrence's program
Teaching swimming to children ages 4 and up, Adults swimming lessons, plus "Special Olympics" lessons for adults with a disability
2017 to March 2020
Laurie Lawrence Swim Schools Banora Point, NSW and 2 pools in Gold Coast
Teaching children's swimming lessons, ages 4 and up, plus "Adapted Aquatics" to children with disability/special needs.
The first covid lockdown resulted in all pools being shut in March 2020, so I moved to Brisbane to commence studying the Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care, which I completed in December 2021.
I continued to do additional training with the Laurie Lawrence swim school after my move to Brisbane, and completed my training for Babies and Infants in one of their Gold Coast swim schools.
A bit of fun in the water
A bit of fun in the water
And getting out on the water - sailing! <3
And getting out on the water - sailing! <3
More "Rachel sailing" pictures are on my (as yet unfinished!) sailing website: https://rachsail.brizy.site/ (Yes, I cheated with this one, and used a site builder! No more hosting fees! Yay!)
Children learn best when they are happy and having fun. Once they get scared, the fear takes over and the learning stops. My methods ensure children remain happy, comfortable and have a good experience in the water, with plenty of fun, lots of challenges/games to keep them stimulated and engaged.
In the wise words of Emma Lawrence from BabySwim.info
"Remember learning to swim should be a happy and positive experience for both parent and child. As a mum and a swimming teacher, who has successfully taught hundreds of children to swim, I am critical of any learn to swim methods that use force to teach babies to swim. Throughout the internet you will see lots of different baby swimming methods. I urge you to follow your parental instincts and avoid any program that forces children while they are crying or showing other signs of distress."
"IN RELATION TO CHILDREN, I WILL:
"IN RELATION TO CHILDREN, I WILL:
act in the best interests of all children
create and maintain safe, healthy, inclusive environments
that support children’s agency and enhance their learning
Full details of the Code of Ethics may be found at: https://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ECA-COE-Brochure-web-2019.pdf
Interested in contacting me?
Interested in contacting me?
Please feel free to simply call, text or email me. My Number is: O426 420 987
(*NOTE: To deter spam - I have put the letter 'O' where a number 0 (zero) should be. Humans should be able to translate the above into a valid phone number, but hopefully the webscrapers and spambots will be thwarted.)
If you would like me to call you within 30 seconds, simply click on this link and enter your phone number (it's free for you):
https://cpnow.me/d/LLK4 (Calls me on Irish cellphone number - Use up to December 2024)
or https://cpnow.me/d/gBvn (Calls me on Australian mobile number - Use after 15th December 2024)
I look forward to hearing from you.
Quality teaching delivered through fun and play. Your child will be having so much fun, they won't even realise that they are gaining lots of new skills and learning lots of new things.
Early childhood is a time for discovery and exploration. Children are naturally active and engaged learners. It is our responsibility to foster that love of learning and help the children to explore and discover all the facets of their being and the World around them.
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