Gladstone’s favourite childcare educator of 2023

A devoted advocate for promoting inclusivity and cultural diversity has been voted Gladstone’s favourite childcare educator of 2023.

Gladstone‘s favourite childcare educator of 2023, combines a lifelong dream of teaching with a commitment to inclusivity and cultural diversity.

A devoted advocate for promoting inclusivity and “mumma bear at heart,” Gladstone’s favourite childcare educator of 2023 has continued to create a nurturing and welcoming environment where every child feels valued, supported and cherished.

Raised in Gayndah, Emma-Lee Cocking started her career in childcare fresh out of school at a privately owned centre there and has since been the industry for more than a decade, working in centres across Bundaberg, Rockhampton and now Gladstone.

Ten years into her career, Mrs Cocking left childcare and had five children of her own.

“While my children were young, I worked in auto part sales, but now they’re at school, I’ve returned to childcare in a brand new town (Gladstone),” she said.

Mrs Cocking moved to Gladstone four years ago, and returned to childcare after two years (in 2020) as a casual educator at Milestones Early Learning Riverstone Rise, since transferring to a full-time position as the educational leader at the Goodstart Early Learning centre on Toolooa St seven months ago.

Dreaming of becoming a teacher since preschool, Mrs Cocking took on the nurturing role of caring for her many cousins during her childhood, acting as a mother hen.

“I come from a First Nations family; even as a child the weekends would be very social with the family all together, and I babysat my cousins a lot, so it all started there.”

Coming from a First Nations family, Mrs Cocking was inspired to return to childcare after having her children transition into schooling and seeing the lack of culturally safe and all inclusive experiences.

“It really inspired me to come back and make a difference,” she said.

“At our centre, we have recently updated our reconciliation action plan, embedding the First Nations culture throughout all the rooms.

We also nurture strong connections with our families and parents, not only with our First Nations children but with children of all cultures and backgrounds.”

Driven by her commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for all children, Mrs. Cocking is also passionate about providing support to those with additional needs.

“My philosophy is to provide an all inclusive environment that supports and nurture each individual child and their needs to make them feel like they belong where they are,” she said.

“I like to have an environment for a child that they feel safe to be who they are in.

The first five years count the most, “it’s easier to fix a broken child than a broken adult” they say.”

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Dedicated to her craft, Mrs Cocking sees herself continuing to work with children in the future through to retirement.

“It’s so rewarding to see children thrive and attain their goals.”

“In the future, I would really like to get into child psychology and the child safety and social work side of early childhood.

But it’s definitely still early childhood that I’ll be in, forever and ever.”

Paula Masters from Goodstart Early Learning Calliope came runner up with 12%.

“I actually worked in the Calliope centre with Paula, and she is definitely a well-deserved second place winner,” Mrs Cocking said.

As a First Nations women, Mrs Cocking wholeheartedly believes that for to us achieve true reconciliation in Australia, it begins with educating our children on inclusivity for all cultures.

“Not just white Australians and the First Nations people, but for all Australians,” she said.