Workforce

Angel Tots educator says farewell to ECEC sector after more than 20 years of service

Freya Lucas

Jun 04, 2021

Save

Former special education teacher turned early childhood educator Lyn Coghlan has said her farewells to the children and families of Angel Tots (formerly Gumnuts) childcare centre in the New South Wales coastal town of Salamander Bay.

Ms Coghlan has worked at Angel Tots for more than 16 years, and has been in the early childhood sector for more than 20.

"It has been a humbling experience and I have cherished every day of my life as an early childhood educator," Ms Coghlan told local publication Port Stephens Examiner.

While the sector is not without its challenges, in terms of the work being undertaken by educators being undervalued, she continued, being part of the lives of so many local families was the highlight of her career.

"There have been times when parents of siblings of children approach me in the street or shopping centre to thank me for being part of their early childhood journey. That is the most rewarding part of the job," she explained.

Ms Coghlan was drawn to the sector as the result of reflection on her own life as a mother.

"Our role as educators is to be there for the children, to ensure they are much loved and safe. I also see it as our role to help the children better themselves while preparing them for their future," she told the paper.

As she retires, Ms Coghlan said she will miss the collegiality of the team she works with, and the children’s joy and laughter.

"I will miss the children, it is their enthusiasm that keeps me young," she added.

During her retirement, she will focus on spending more quality time with her husband, children and grandchildren, as well as volunteering in the community to support the elderly.

To read the full coverage of this story, please see here.

Don’t miss a thing

Childcare centres may have clear rules for staff numbers, but there are loopholes to get around them

There is a growing number of “serious incidents” in Australian early childhood services, including day cares.

What Can Australia Learn from Ontario’s Child Care Ratios?

As workforce pressures continue to shape early childhood education and care (ECEC) policy discussions in Australia, international comparisons provide useful perspectives. Canada’s approach, particularly in Ontario, offers a case study in how educator-to-child ratios, maximum group sizes and qualification requirements can be legislated as an integrated framework.

Burnout in early childhood education: Why leadership support is the missing lever

Early childhood educators have one of the most important jobs in Australia. We trust them to keep our kids safe, to educate them in their most formative years, and to care for them when we can’t do it ourselves. And far too often, educators are doing it all on empty.

Workforce planning in ECEC: from compliance requirement to strategic advantage

With workforce pressures continuing across early childhood education and care (ECEC), a structured approach to workforce planning is emerging as a critical leadership tool, not simply an administrative exercise.

National Early Childhood Worker Register: commencing 27 February 2026

The introduction of the National Early Childhood Worker Register from the 27 February, has signalled a significant shift in workforce oversight across early childhood education and care (ECEC).