ECEC Provider in Focus: First5Years Emerald

First5Years Emerald is a newly established service in the Queensland community of Emerald, with the capacity to educate and care for 93 children from six weeks to five years of age. 

 

CEO Melissa Webster has been a proactive spokesperson for early childhood education and care (ECEC) options in the region, encouraging major regional employers such as BHP to consider their responsibilities as stakeholders, and to work creatively with ECEC providers, the government and the community to co-create workforce solutions for their employees. 

 

The history of First5Years Emerald

 

The service opened in May 2023, with a vision of providing further education and care options for families with children in the region. 

 

What is the First5Years Emerald vision and approach to learning? 

 

Inspired by the schools and preschools of Reggio Emilia, First5Years Emerald aims to provide high-quality education to rural and regional communities in Australia. 

 

“We want to give all children, no matter their location, the opportunity to access the best quality education and care,” noted Director Hollie McCarthy. 

 

“We create beautiful environments, recruit the best people, and implement a pedagogy that aligns with the community.”

 

Are there any unique aspects to the First5Years Emerald offer? 

 

The service has a state-of-the-art playscape designed by Wearthy, and has a focus on supporting women to return to the workforce. 

 

The educator team is led by Hollie McCarthy, who was recognised as Rookie Centre Manager of the Year with her previous employer. 

 

First5Years and Sojitz Blue have also conducted a design-led thinking workshop with mining families to understand the barriers to ECEC access that they face, the impact it has, and what they would gain if these barriers could be solved.

 

 “One of the most heartbreaking themes that emerged for me was the stress and pressure a lack of childcare (sic.) puts on relationships and marriages,” Ms Webster said. 

 

“When one partner is earning big money in the mines, the burden of childcare inevitably falls upon the other, yet they often have a career too and feel hard done by in the tug-a-war of whose job, career or study is more important.” 

 

Ms Webster is eager for the findings of the Productivity Commission review of the ECEC sector, saying “there are many barriers to development and investment in childcare for private operators”. 

 

“Having just been through a new design and build, they are numerous. Right now, the numbers don’t stack up for a private operator to develop more childcare in Emerald.”

  

To learn more about First5Years Emerald, please visit the website, Facebook or Instagram pages. For employment opportunities, please see here.