Collaborating with care

We see collaboration as supporting and showing up for one another. It’s something we live by, every day. Here’s how it made all the difference for Kirsten Walker.

At the beginning of 2024, our service was under pressure. We had an influx of new educators and families. I was managing without an ASM, supporting a new RPIC and trying to hold everything together. The cracks were starting to show. Everyone felt stretched and out of their depth.But then people jumped in to help. They stepped away from their roles and helped me build my confidence and leadership skills. They listened to our barriers and struggles, and immediately took the steps to help us recruit, improve inductions and put the right structures in place.It was a truly collaborative response that drove real change. After this, new team came members come on board to continue that support, helping us strengthen quality and compliance and truly safeguard our children.In other organisations I’ve worked for, these decisions often happen from the top down, but Jabiru is different. Personally, I believe this approach has led to happier and safer educators, higher quality practice and better care for our kids.