Honouring Melissa Vitucci, 2024 Goodstarter of the Year 

Melissa Vitucci from Goodstart Griffith – Coolah Street was named as the 2024 Goodstarter of the Year at the Goodies Awards, an annual celebration and recognition opportunity for those employed by Goodstart Early Learning. 

With a career spanning over two decades, the provider said, Ms Vitucci exemplifies what it means to be a leader, advocate, and innovator in early childhood education.

Ms Vitucci joined Goodstart in 2002 and has held a variety of roles, including Educator, Senior Educator, Centre Director, Area Manager, and Cluster Lead. Her teaching philosophy is deeply aligned with Goodstart’s vision and values, emphasising the importance of quality education and advocacy for children to have the best possible start in life.

A powerful advocate 

Her passion for advocacy is evident in her work with children living in Out of Home Care (OOHC). She has established a network to support these families, enabling them to connect and share experiences. This initiative has extended to other Goodstart services in the local area, showcasing her ability to foster community collaboration.

She is also a champion of literacy, regularly purchasing books for the children and inviting local authors to share their stories. These efforts underscore her dedication to providing enriching and inclusive learning experiences.

Beyond the walls of the service she actively collaborates with community organisations like COMPACT, Next Level Careers, and Regional Development Australia to create opportunities for children and young people. Her leadership in developing programs that connect students with careers in early childhood education has been instrumental in addressing workforce shortages in regional areas.

Her motivation to undertake this valuable and valued work every day comes from the children. 

“Their laughter. Their engagement. Watching them learn and enjoy every moment is such an amazing opportunity, and one that should never be taken for granted,” she said. 

“I often refer to and share a TED talk by Rita Pierson: Every kid needs a champion. If we can make a difference to just one child by truly knowing and understanding them, then that is a true accomplishment.”

An empathetic leader

Ms Vitucci’s leadership style is marked by empathy, inclusivity, and a commitment to professional development. She played a pivotal role in establishing peer-to-peer networks for Centre Directors in the Riverina region, providing a space for collaboration, support, and shared learning.

Her dedication to mentoring both new and experienced educators has earned her the respect and admiration of her colleagues. Whether it’s guiding a school-based trainee or supporting fellow directors, her approach is always rooted in encouragement and empowerment.

This practical approach also includes encouraging her peers to embrace challenges. 

“Just have a go. You can’t really break it. Even if things don’t work the way we planned, it should be seen as a learning opportunity, and we move on and grow from this. And you never know – it might just work! Remember, you can’t really break it, and there is usually someone who can fix it – well, in IT anyway,” she joked.

Advice for others

For other educators and early childhood professionals who strive to make a difference, she offers the following advice: 

“Learn something new every day! Our work is so varied and different every day, no matter how small we should be learning something every day. This might be a fact shared by a child like the chicken is the closest living relative to a dinosaur, a new word in a new language that a family has shared with us; or a new way to work with neurodiverse children shared with us by allied health professionals. This could also be completing a new qualification. There is always a learning opportunity!”

“Remember your why! There are some challenging days in the world of early learning, but when you take 5 minutes to remember why we do what we do, it makes it all worth it. Only recently, I was reminded of my ‘why’ by 7-year-old Teresa, who made me a friendship bracelet and asked her nan to drop it to me. Teresa had been enrolled at our service for 5 years before going to school, and now she is working on her nan and myself to come and work in the centre over the holidays!”

A Deserving Recognition

Melissa Vitucci’s unwavering dedication to children, families, and her colleagues has made her an invaluable member of the Goodstart community. Her leadership, advocacy, and passion for early childhood education make this a well-deserved honour.

Her response to receiving this recognition reflects both her commitment and her humble nature.

“I really wasn’t expecting it and am truly humbled,” she said. 

“I believe the work I do is what many Goodstarters do on the daily. To have this work recognised by Jacqui, who nominated me; by those who shortlisted me as a finalist; and those who selected me to be Goodstarter of the Year for 2024, is such a privilege and an honour.”