Leslie is an early childhood educator at Banksia Cottage, one of three high quality on-campus early learning centres operated by Campus Life. 

Campus Life educators are provided valuable opportunities to engage in research. Leslie is particularly interested in how educators can support children to understand their rights, and recently penned an article for Every Child magazine in which she explains how Banksia Cottage has actively embedded understandings of children’s rights in their toddler room.

^{The article linked above has been republished with permission from Every Child magazine.}

1. Something people usually ask you when they find out what you do for living
“You must like children, then?”, which is funny – other professions never get asked if they like adults! Of course, the answer is yes, I like teaching and learning with children and helping them to become their fullest selves.

2. Your definition of success
When the people around me are happy and content.

3. A Macquarie person you admire
All the amazing early childhood educators on campus. Our educators had already been providing excellent education and care, but during the pandemic their dedication is all the more remarkable. We’ve continued  face-to-face teaching throughout the pandemic, often putting concerns about personal safety aside so that young children can receive the continuity of care that is so important to their physical and emotional wellbeing.

I’m also grateful to all the medical personnel, frontline workers, retail and hospitality workers, delivery drivers, and all the other people who continue working in these risky circumstances to keep society going.

4. Something you’ve read recently that has had an impact on you
I enjoyed this recent article in the The Atlantic, about Americans receiving ‘unsolicited’ packets of seed from China in the mail during the pandemic. It was an interesting exploration of the way that the pandemic has heightened people’s paranoia and xenophobia, causing them to reject the simplest explanations.

5. Something you’d like staff to know about
I will be presenting at the upcoming 2021 Early Childhood Australia National Conference and two of my Banksia Cottage colleagues, Aniela Mihaila and Suet Mie Lee, will also be doing poster presentations. 

6. Something you feel proud of
The Banksia Cottage team, for having three educators being chosen to present at the ECA National Conference. It shows the dedication, hard work, professionalism and commitment of our whole team.

7. The first person you go to for advice
My mum, because she is the smartest person I know and manages to be both honest and kind.

8. Something you’re trying to do differently in 2021
Take more time off!

9. A personal quality you value in others
Compassion.

10. A website or app you can’t live without
Google. I couldn’t answer half the children’s questions without it!