2025 Newsletter

Staff Reminders

EASTER CLOSURE

A reminder that all Lady Gowrie Tasmania services, programs and offices will close for the Easter break at the usual time on Thursday 17^th April, 2025 and will re-open at the usual time on Tuesday 22^nd April, 2025.

We will also be closed for the ANZAC Day public holiday on Friday 25^th April, 2025.

Wishing everyone in our community a safe, happy and restful Easter break.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

As part of your employment, LGT offers you an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with Relationships Australia Tasmania, free-of-charge. This gives you a safe and confidential place away from your workplace where you can talk about concerns you are having at work or at home. You can usually access up to 3 free sessions. More sessions can be negotiated if required.

Employee Assistance Program
1300 364 277
tas.relationships.org.au

COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

Have you joined our Community of Practice? All educators are invited to join the Lady Gowrie Tasmania Community of Practice (CoP) which is a private online collaboration and shared learning space that connects centres and educators across the organisation using the Storypark platform. It enables successful practice and innovation to be shared by educators, peer-to-peer learning opportunities and fosters a deeper sense of connection with the wider organisation. If you haven’t engaged with this platform recently then please check it out, comment and contribute! If you haven’t accepted your invitation to join, please speak to your Service Manager to be reinvited!

Have Something to Share?

If you would like to share any personal or professional news, celebrations or achievements in the Gowrie Gazette please contact the Marketing and Communications team via email communications@gowrie-tas.com.au or phone 6230 6861.

What’s Happening in Our Services?

NEW PLAY & LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS AT BOWEN ROAD OSHC

Our Bowen Road Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) service started 2025 with an exciting new play and learning space within the school.

Returning OSHC children were thrilled to reunite with old friends, excitedly sharing stories about their school holidays. Meanwhile, new children were warmly welcomed into the space and are settling in nicely, forming new friendships.

In response to children’s voices and interests, the educators excitedly set up the new space to incorporate a permanent Dungeons & Dragons corner, an arts and crafts self-selection area and a construction corner. The children have eagerly explored these new additions, making the space their own.

During group time, educators introduced an engaging icebreaker activity to encourage children to get to know one another through fun and games. Using a spinning board from ‘Twister,’ educators and children labelled each colour with a number between one and four.

Children took turn spinning the board, introducing themselves, and announcing their unique number. Each number corresponded to a mystery question:

What do you like to do for fun?
What is one thing that always makes you happy?
If you could be any animal, what would you be?
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

This activity introduced concepts of chance and unpredictability while providing an engaging way for children to learn about their peers and share their own interests. Through laughter and connection, this game fostered relationships and a sense of belonging within our OSHC community.

As the year unfolds, the educators look forward to witnessing these bonds as they continue to grow, strengthening the children’s sense of belonging within our OSHC community.

NEW OUTDOOR PLAY & LEARNING OPPORTUNITES AT NORWOOD LDC

Our Norwood Education and Care Service were fortunate to be the recipient of a Tasmanian Government grant to re-develop the birth to 2.5-year-old outdoor play and learning space. When the building works began, the children and educators thoroughly enjoyed watching the digger and various other large trucks at work. This became a source of comfort for the children and following morning drop-offs, they were excited to see what developments had occurred overnight. The children talked about what they saw, heard, and particularly enjoyed having conversations with their educators about when they would be able to go outside and play in their new play space.

One of the main attractions of the new outdoor space has been the sandpit. The children enjoy using diggers and trucks to engage in play and often mimic what they saw with the real machinery. They have been using rocks, transporting them around the sand pit, and placing them into circles (like our real sandpit), using the diggers to dig holes and filling their dump trucks with sand.

Sand play not only encourages creativity but also fosters social interactions, allowing children to recreate real-world experiences through play. It supports the development of both fine and gross motor skills while strengthening friendships and collaborative play. This new outdoor play and learning environment also supports the Early Years Learning Framework:

Outcome 2: Show appreciation and growing appreciation and care for natural and constructed environments.

Outcome 5: Interact with others to explore ideas and concepts, clarify and challenge thinking, negotiate and share new understandings.

The Basics Update

Lady Gowrie Tasmania (LGT) is delighted to announce that we have partnered with The Basics Tasmania to support our families and educators in helping children from birth to three years of age to thrive and reach their full potential.

We understand the importance of working in partnerships with families to ensure the best outcomes for children and we believe The Basics provides practical tools and strategies for our educators to help strengthen these partnerships.

The guiding principles of The Basics closely align with LGT’s values and our purpose of ‘Children First’, so we look forward to seeing the outcomes of this program in our pilot education and care services. These pilot services are Pedder, Kingston and the Integrated Centre for Children and Families in South Hobart.

Kerrie (LGT’s Learning Development & Inclusion Research & Development Manager) and Kate and Maree (The Basics Tasmania) had the great pleasure recently of visiting our Pedder Education and Care Service to meet Kendell, Courtney and Jess to share some of The Basics resources and posters.

To learn more about The Basics program and to access the fabulous family resources to help children from birth to three years of age to thrive, please visit:

https://www.thebasicstasmania.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thebasicstasmania
https://www.instagram.com/thebasicstasmania/

Pay Less Tax through Salary Packaging!

Salary packaging is an easy way to give yourself a pay rise! All part-time, full-time, permanent or fixed-term employees of Lady Gowrie Tasmania are eligible to receive salary packaging.

What is Salary Packing?

Salary packaging means you can use some of your salary to pay for everyday expenses before income tax is calculated, meaning you pay less tax and have more money to spend. That’s because your salary packaging money is deducted first and then your tax is calculated on the remaining amount.

What does Salary Packaging Include?

Salary packaging is an easy and convenient way to pay for regular expenses such as your mortgage or rent, credit card and personal loan payments, or even regular daily items such as groceries and petrol. There are also lots of other benefits you can include in your salary packaging arrangement.

Below you will find all the information you need to start paying less tax and have more money to spend every fortnight!

To find out more about how salary packaging works please visit:

https://accesspay.com.au/salary-packaging/

https://accesspay.com.au/wp-content/uploads/AP_Salary_Packaging_Summary.pdf

To view videos about how salary packaging works please visit:

English – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff3LkF2ZzTI

Mandarin – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsZZzuN4FFk

Nepalese – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVTN5ERkJFo

Filipino – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLl0-w-FKTE

To calculate how much money you can save each pay please visit:

https://calculator.accesspay.com.au/salary-packaging-calculator

To apply for salary packaging online or over the phone please visit:

https://accesspay.com.au/getting-started/

Salary Packaging through Access Pay is easy to register for and the staff are very helpful, so contact Customer Service anytime on 1300 133 697 and start paying less tax today!

Free Flu Vaccinations

As part of our Wellbeing program, Lady Gowrie Tasmania is providing free flu vaccinations for employees through the Guild Pharmacy Flu Vaccination Program.

Vaccinations can be booked in at a time that suits you, outside of work hours, through the link below or scan the QR code.

BOOKING INFORMATION

Booking link: guildcorporatehealth.com.au/book-now

Organisation Code: 25LGT50

Bookings are open between 31^st March 2025 to 31^st July 2025.

FURTHER INFORMATION

You are welcome to book in your flu vaccination with your GP or another provider, however it will be at your cost.

The flu vaccination is not mandatory, however is encouraged as part of our wellbeing program.

You can view a copy of the information sheet on the flu vaccination here.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to peopleandculture@gowrie-tas.com.au.

Our Staff

TINA BARTLETT – CELEBRATING 25 YEARS!

Even though Lady Gowrie is celebrating my 25^th anniversary this year, I actually started at what was then called ‘University Community Childcare Centre’ (changed to Lady Gowrie University North in May 2008) when it was brand new back on 8^th April, 1996. I was there for 2 years to the day, but needed to leave for personal reasons. During that time, I remember preparing the centre for weeks for the arrival of children in May, so unwrapping a centre load of new toys and deciding which room they would go to was pretty fun. In fact, some of the bikes are still going – costing $300 each back then so proved they were worth it! I remember starting in the baby room with my first baby, Jessica, who was only 6 weeks old, born 9^th April 1996. I have remembered Jessica every year on her birthday and wondered how and where she is, having turned 29 this month.

I have worked with children from all age groups, as well as After School Care (Launceston Preparatory School) and Vacation Care (Frederick Street), but being in long day care is where my heart truly lies. I have seen this service evolve for the better over time, especially when Lady Gowrie intervened, what a difference it made! We learned the word ‘ratio’, if only you knew the numbers back then, it was frightening. The programming has seen massive changes, and when I think back, I can see why, it is all about the children and Lady Gowrie’s philosophy reflects this enormously. I remember the centre’s outdoor environment starting to grow little trees which are now shading our playgrounds, and how educators have impacted the play space outside over the years to benefit the children and us in so many ways.

Over the years being in this profession I have learned so much about myself, people and life. I like to think I am always learning and helping others with what I have learned, not just the children but the families and younger co-workers new to education and care. What drives my passion for working with children is hopefully that I have helped them to have the best start in life, knowing my words and actions have impacted them positively, but especially helping children to understand their true value and worth.

Working with children, I thrive when telling children stories of all kinds and I have learned the more in character I am – the better! I love displaying the children’s work, the learning behind their work is always interesting, and the curriculum continues to motivate and keep me enthusiastic to implement a stimulating learning program and a fun working environment. Having children greet me on arrival by screaming my name as they run for a hug or to tell me their news – how could I be anywhere else?

The people at Lady Gowrie Uni North are incredible. Their continued support of me over the years makes me feel really blessed to be here, and it shows with the longevity of my career at the same centre.

INTRODUCING ANDY O’NEILL – FACILITIES MANAGER

My journey with Lady Gowrie Tasmania (LGT) actually began 13 years ago! Both my daughters attended Bowen Road Long Day Care Service 5 days a week from age 6 months moving up through the rooms until leaving for Primary School.

I have fond memories of Bowen Road and the educators who cared for my daughters, a few have moved on, but most of the educators are still working at Bowen Road or moved into another role within LGT. I think this is testimony to LGT’s leadership and strong support for their employees. This sentiment was backed up by a family member who was on the LGT Board some years ago and confirmed that LGT would be a great place to work.

I take great pride in my role as Facilities Manager, which is to make sure all facets of our facilities are well maintained and safe for all, including children, parents, staff, tradespersons and other visitors. I’m really excited about the future projects that are in the pipeline, both large and small.

My interest in building really stemmed from a young age, I would play with building blocks commonly known as Lego! After finishing school, I worked for a local building company in Shipston on Stour England, gaining my Certificate IV in building and construction. After moving to Tasmania around 20 years ago, I studied civil engineering and refreshed my Certificate IV in building and construction to gain more knowledge around the Australian building industry.

My hobbies, yep, building! Lego, and home renovation and loving my wonderful partner and kiddos. We’re part way through a full house renovation, just a few rooms to go!

Staff Q&A

MATT HARRIS – EDUCATOR (UNIVERSITY NORTH)

What is your role at LGT?
I am an educator working at Uni North in the Woodland Room with 3-5 year old children.

What do you love most about your job?
Making the children laugh.

What is something surprising that not many people know about you?
When I was 18, I had my first lead role in a musical. I also write music and have designed soundscapes for an award-nominated children’s theatre company. Music and theatre is my passion outside work.

What is the best thing that has happened to you this year?
Being nominated for three Tasmanian Theatre Awards after already winning one two years ago.

If you could pick any superpower, what would it be and why?
I would pick shape shifting so I could become anything with any power!

What’s one thing you can’t live without?
Being silly! I would be so bored if everything I said was 100% serious all the time.

What song would you choose to turn up the volume and sing out loud to?
Not Afraid by Eminem.

What is your favourite memory of your time at LGT?
The first time a baby stopped crying in my arms.

VANESSA LILLY – INCLUSION SUPPORT PROGRAM (NORTH)

What is your role at LGT?
Lady Gowrie Tasmania’s Inclusion Support Program aims to enhance inclusive practices in early childhood education and care services across Tasmania. As part of this program, my role involves:

Supporting educators to reflect on their understanding of inclusion and providing practical support to overcome specific inclusion barriers.
Assisting services in building their capacity and capability to deliver high-quality inclusive practices.
Working with services to develop and implement Strategic Inclusion Plans that outline both short and long-term strategies for improving inclusive practices.

If you could pick any superpower, what would it be and why?
I think I’d have to choose the ability to instantly learn and understand anything – being able to master any skill, language, or subject in the blink of an eye!

What is one thing you can’t live without and why?
This is easy! My morning coffee! There’s something special about my first cup of coffee to kickstart the day. It sets me up ready to start the day ahead, with maybe a few more along the way!

What is your favourite memory during your time at LGT?
Over my 20+ years working for Lady Gowrie, I have shared many memorable experiences. One that stands out recently involves supporting a dedicated team of educators working alongside a child who had significant difficulties with speech and communication. This child often experienced anger and frustration due to their inability to express themselves like their peers. However, with the ongoing support of the educators, who implemented various inclusive strategies and tools, the child gradually began to recognize visual cues and use sign language in everyday programs as well as with their peers. This experience was a powerful reminder for me of the profound impact that patience, understanding, and inclusive practices can have within education and care settings.

CASSIE KIDD – OSHC MANAGER (NORTH)

What is your role at LGT?
I am one of two Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) Managers based in Launceston.

What do you love most about your job?
I love spending time in my services and building relationships with the children and their families. The children amaze me every day, with their sense of imagination and the amazing things their little brains come up with.

What would your perfect weekend look like?
Camping on the beach with good friends and my dogs.

What is the best trip you’ve ever been on and why?
Last year I went to Phuket and it was my first real trip out of Australia. It was an amazing experience to travel to another country.

What is your favourite memory during your time at LGT?
I have had so many good memories over my 10 years working for Gowrie. As my passion lies in OSHC, I do love a good excursion. Most recently we took all the northern vacation care services to Camp Banksia for a joint excursion. This was a fantastic experience that I would love to do again.

Do you have any pets? What are their names?
Yes, I have 2 black Labradors, and their names are Trouble and Uno.

Staff News

CELEBRATING ANNIVERSARIES

To the people who have reached significant anniversaries at Lady Gowrie Tasmania (LGT) since the last Gowrie Gazette was published, thank you for your passion and dedication to the children, families, clients and learners in our services and programs. We truly value you and your commitment to our organisation.

5 Years
Melissa Bartlett, Susan Richardson, Shirley Vandewater, Brianna Jeanneret, Kumjoo Kim, Amanda Wise, Laura McCarthy

10 Years
Bridget Shea, Vickie Walker, Nicole Ruddock, Donna Jackson, Hayley Archer

20 Years
Fraer Sherwood

25 Years
Tina Bartlett

*NB – Anniversary letters and vouchers are distributed to staff at the end of each quarter of the anniversary date i.e. end of March, June, September and December.

REWARD & RECOGNITION RECIPIENTS

Since September 2023, educators across our education and care services have been nominated by their peers as Reward and Recognition recipients, highlighting their incredible work across three categories:

Excellence in our work
Leadership for children
Wonder, Investigation, Connection and Possibilities

From January to March 2025, we received a number of excellent nominations and after review the recipients for this quarter are:

Breanna Young (Pedder): Excellence in our work
Tamara Whyte (Youngtown OSHC): Leadership for children
Sim Casim (Integrated Centre): Excellence in our work
Heena Kouse (Fahan): Excellence in our work

Congratulations to all our award recipients and we hope you enjoy the professional resource hamper coming your way!

To find out more and to nominate someone for an award, scan the QR code, click here or speak with your Service Manager!

BIRTHS

Congratulations to Jess Wilson (Assistant Manager at Kingston) and family on the arrival of Lola-Joy on the 22^nd March, 2025.

Congratulations to Kate Chequer (Educator from Norwood) and family on the arrival of Ivy Kate on the 8^th November, 2024.

WEDDINGS

Congratulations to Emma (Educator from Midway Point) and Alex who enjoyed their wedding day on 1^st March 2025, whilst cruising the South Pacific together.

GRADUATIONS

Since the last Gowrie Gazette was published, we extend congratulations to the following staff who have completed their qualifications in Early Childhood Education and Care through Lady Gowrie Tasmania’s RTO (45602) and other training providers:

CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
Jade Davie, Diane Kerrison, Maysoon Mohammed, Lillian Mourant, Katrina Sweet

CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
Yafei (Nancy) Wang, Erin Brooks, Asha Wijesinghelage

‘MORE THAN JUST A GAME’: A REFLECTION FROM RITU

Our very own Ritu Maharesh (RTO Administration/Trainer & Assessor) shares below a special reflection of her recent cricket title win:

“More than just a game! Community we build. Women’s cricket is more than just runs on a scoreboard. Under the scorching sun, with helmets on and sweat dripping, the focus never wavered. Every single boundary, and even the wides added to the journey – learning from mistakes, supporting one another, and growing stronger as a team with each game. I had the privilege of experiencing it all. Then came the moment – the Slab Road coach, smiling, shaking his head, and saying, ‘Ah, we are fed up… gosh, three times in a row’!

Passion evolved into dedication. Hard work turned into triumph. A quiet yet overwhelming sense of pride and joy filled the air. But beyond the game, there’s a deeper story – one of resilience, balance, and the unwavering spirit of women in sport. Mums tending to their babies between breaks, putting them to sleep before stepping back onto the field. Hubbies cheering, families beaming with pride, and kids running around, soaking in the excitement. This wasn’t just a match; it was a celebration of commitment, camaraderie, and the sheer love of the game. So proud to the part of this amazing team”.

From Cindy

LGT EMPLOYEE WELLBEING STRATEGY

At a recent meeting the Senior Leadership Team endorsed the Lady Gowrie Tasmania (LGT) Employee Wellbeing Strategy. LGT truly values all employees and is committed to providing a safe, healthy, respectful and harmonious working environment that is inclusive for all.

The LGT Employee Wellbeing Vision is to strive to actively look for opportunities to support your overall wellbeing to aide you to live healthy, happy lives and provide support to flourish in a culturally safe environment.

Within the workplace, LGT is aware that our feelings of wellbeing at work are influenced by our day-to-day experiences, how purposeful and safe we feel at work, the work that we do and our relationships with colleagues and with management.

The LGT Employee Wellbeing Strategy identifies four priority areas in which to focus and explore initiatives within the workplace to support its Employee Wellbeing Vision:

Values and Purpose
Leadership and Management
Person Focussed Supportive Culture
Safe, Respectful and Fair Working Conditions

These priority areas are informed in part by employee feedback including the Employee Wellbeing Survey. They will be supported by an Action Plan and an Employee Wellbeing calendar of initiatives/events.

A Plan is currently being finalised that will support the roll out of the LGT Employee Wellbeing Strategy, including a Calendar of initiatives/events to all LGT employees and everyone can expect to hear regularly about our plans.

I would like to acknowledge and thank everyone for their input into the development of our LGT Employee Wellbeing Plan through our survey last year. Plans of this nature are not commonplace in many workplaces, and this is an exciting time for us all and worthy of celebration.

WINTER WELLBEING TIPS

Although we are still enjoying some mild weather daylight savings has now ended, the days are shorter, mornings are crisp, there is a chill in the air and winter will be here before we know it. Some of us will be thinking about hearty winter soups, bringing out the winter woollies and taking steps to reduce our risk of catching some of those illnesses the winter is known for.

We all might take different approaches to keeping ourselves warm and well throughout the winter months. One method known to be effective is having an influenza vaccination. LGT employees are able to access an influenza vaccination for free. If you are yet to book your free vaccination, please follow the link here and book before 31^st July, 2025.

Rug up, keep warm, pull out the winter recipes, enjoy the season and don’t forget to notice the glimmers!

Cindy Woolley
MANAGER – EMPLOYEE WELLBEING

Harmony Week Celebrations

Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings everyone together from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. Lady Gowrie Tasmania (LGT) honours and celebrates the cultural diversity of our community not only during Harmony Week, but through our everyday practice and the provision of safe and inclusive programs for our children, families, staff and learners.

Special activities and events took place across all our services and programs to celebrate the diversity of our community. From ‘Taste of Harmony’ gatherings, to ‘Festival of Colour’ Holi celebrations, to designing a Harmony Tree, to creating Harmony Week team mentimeters, to sharing family stories and traditions – we certainly embraced and celebrated the theme of ‘Everyone Belongs’!

A huge thanks to the 2025 Harmony Week Working Group (Miffy Wedd, Lynette Mason, Danielle Lowe, Cindy Woolley and Katherine Harris) who came together to help coordinate LGT’s efforts to support meaningful and engaging celebrations across our services and programs. A special thank you to Cindy for the interesting daily reflective questions and to Danielle for collating this wonderful video to capture the essence of our Harmony Week celebrations, which can be viewed by clicking here.