Busy Bees Australia appoints Fiona Alston as Chief Pedagogy and Safeguarding Officer

Busy Bees Early Learning Australia has announced the appointment of Fiona Alston as the organisation’s Chief Pedagogy and Safeguarding Officer, a new role focused on both early education and children’s safety. 

“The creation of this new role reflects the importance Busy Bees places on the early childhood education and safety of children in our care, and this as an investment into further expanding this commitment and focus.” Robert Hughes, Chief Executive Officer of Busy Bees Australia & New Zealand said.

“Fiona brings more than 30 years of experience in the early years sector and in this role will provide pivotal operational expertise through leading and creating opportunities to grow and develop the educational team with a lens on both the child and the adult and how these all connect.”

Ms Alston will work alongside Busy Bees Head of Learning and Development, Tara Maynard, Busy Bees Head of Safeguarding and Compliance, Busy Bees registered training organisation, Australian Child Care Career Options (ACCCO), to embed the safeguarding and protection of learning and development objectives for all children in the provider’s care.

Ms Alston transitioned to Busy Bees Australia as the Group’s Chief Operating Officer post the acquisition of Foundation Early Learning by the global early education provider in June 2018. Prior to working at Foundation Early Learning Ms Alston spent time in a range of roles at other leading Australian providers, including Affinity Education Group and Goodstart Early Learning. 

“As well as initiating and supporting a culture of contemporary early childhood practice and pedagogy across our early childhood education and care services, Busy Bees consistently delivers high-quality practices and environments that contribute to positive outcomes for all children.” Ms Alston said.

“My new focus is elevating this further via bespoke programs and training specific to Busy Bees with a key focus on the Educational Leader, child-led journey, position and role clarity, employee experience and career pathway, and customer experience.”

“With more than 90 per cent of Busy Bees Centres rated as meeting or exceeding through the National Quality Framework (NQF) at the end of 2022, these programs and this investment continues to ensure Busy Bees delivers innovative, practical and strategic facets of pedagogy, safeguarding and compliance to complement and exceed in all areas of education and care.”

In addition, Ms Alston is accessing Busy Bees’ global pedagogy practice to ensure the provider is drawing on the best from across its global organisation for the benefit of its children and educators here in Australia.