Learn more about Ella.
This scholarship will enable me to jump into a role that I have been doing for many years alongside my current ECT, with the knowledge and confidence to extend on what I already know, as well as this I will be able to afford to study which will lead to better pay opportunities in the future, as my wife and I tackle the finances of buying a house and having a baby.
Without this scholarship this is not something we would be able to even dream of.
Where did you hear about The Fraser Foundation?
I saw advertisements for it or posts about it in an early childhood education and care group that I was in on Facebook, it interested me but at the time I was wrangling a 4 year old and definitely didn’t have the time with work and being a single mum to do uni. In the last year though, my daughter is older, I have a very supportive partner and I have the confidence in myself to complete my graduate diploma, with thankfully the support of The Fraser Foundation to complete my degree. I’ve even gotten a distinction for my first quarter!
How does it feel to be the recipient of The Fraser Foundation scholarship?
This scholarship will alleviate the financial pressure of living, allowing me to focus on my studies and not where I’m going to get the funds to pay for it.
What made you want to work with children in the first place?
I am a musician, I left school and joined University of Queensland to become a primary music teacher I unfortunately had to defer. After having my daughter at 20 years of age, I knew that I had such a passion for the development involved in the early years, I knew I could spark curiosity with music on a larger scale, care for our most vulnerable members of the community and be with my daughter in her most formative years in a way that not many working mothers get to.
When did you decide to study further to become an early childhood teacher?
I have worked within the kindergarten room for 6+ years alongside a very supportive ECT and have wanted to follow in her footsteps for the past year and a bit, I put off applying until after my wedding. The week of my wedding I applied and it all happened quite quickly, I was accepted for the scholarship and a week after that I was enrolled at Swinburne Online!
What’s your favourite part about working in this sector?
Forming those connections and relationships with children and families, helping children to thrive and prepare them for formal schooling and variations of what that looks like for them. My ultimate passion is advocating for the children within our campus and wider community that need a safe, calm and loving space.