When you walk into one of Big Fat Smile’s Fun Clubs, you’re immediately hit with those quintessential out-of-school care vibes. Colourful art covers the walls, a role play café is set up in the corner, and laughter echoes through the hall. For long-time employee Christine, this vibrant atmosphere is more than just a workplace – it’s her happy place.
“It’s just about being around children,” she beams. “They’re such incredible little humans – innocent, naive, natural, non-judgmental.” Christine’s eyes light up as she talks about the powerful impact educators can have.
“We don’t go in with goals of changing lives, but that’s exactly what happens. Over the years, I’ve seen first-hand how much of a lasting impact we can have on these young, influenceable people.”
Bringing transferrable skills and experience
Christine’s own journey with Big Fat Smile is one of self-discovery, growth, and unwavering passion. Before finding her home at Balarang Fun Club, Christine had explored a number of different career paths, including a camp counsellor and Queen’s Guide with the Girl Guides. “I learned so many invaluable skills there that I’ve carried into Fun Club,” she explains.
“Things like survival skills, primitive camping, boot camp activities, rope tying. No devices or technology here, it’s good old-fashioned, outdoor fun.”
In a classic right-place, right-time scenario, Christine’s journey merged with Big Fat Smile when she was working as the cleaner at the school and Fun Club. “For 10 years, they kept asking me to join the team,” she laughs.
“I finally took a casual educator role and loved it, but I knew I was missing formal knowledge on things like programming and cycles.”
Fun Club can be your launchpad to great things
Ever the go-getter, Christine strapped in and studied for her Certificate IV in Children’s Services (Outside School Hours Care), juggling classes during the centre’s split shift (the morning and afternoon shifts are a huge bonus– it gives you so much flexibility and freedom.). “At 50 years old, I graduated and even got a high achievement award,” she shares proudly. “Changing careers was honestly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
From there, Christine’s career took off. She quickly moved up from educator to second in charge, then job-shared as a director before scoring her own centre as the Director. These days, she’s paying it forward by mentoring new educators across the organisation. “I actually retired for a bit, but somehow I’m back!” she laughs. “I just can’t leave this place.”
A job that is meaningful and rewarding
When you ask Christine about her favourite part of the job, her answer is simple but powerful:
“The parents don’t have a choice – they need before and after school care so they can work. But we educators? We have a choice to be here. The children spend more time with us than at their own homes sometimes. This Fun Club becomes their living room, their backyard. That’s why I go all-out creating that space for them to just be children, especially if they don’t get that opportunity much at home with their busy parents.”
It’s that sense of higher purpose that drives Christine and her colleagues to foster such a nurturing, enriching environment for the children to thrive.
“I’m not here for a pay check. I choose to embrace this place and what it offers me as much as what I can offer the children.”
Gain valuable skills and experience that goes way beyond the sector norm
Christine has been able to share these career heights with some thanks to the amazing people she’s worked with and the growth opportunities she’s had at Big Fat Smile. “They’ve allowed me to explore so many different training paths over the years,” she says.
“And they’ve really pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way possible. I used to be terrified of public speaking, but now I run regular inductions and present at forums. These opportunities have given me so much growth.”
More than just personal development, Big Fat Smile creates an environment where team members are actively encouraged to share their expertise and insights. “The different centres are clustered up, so we’re constantly learning from each other through forums, meetings and site visits,” Christine explains. “And because I’ve been here so long, I’ve become like the community ‘elder’ – I’m kind of weaving everyone together.”
This culture of continuous learning is woven through the fabric of Big Fat Smile. “We get admin days to work off the floor, and everyone uses that time to reach out and learn from each other,” Christine says.
“Directors can say, ‘Hey, can I come and look at your centre and observe your routine?’ or ‘How do you do it that way?’ We’re fortunate to have access to amazing, experienced leaders too that we can learn from and reach out to.”
As Christine reflects on her decade-plus journey, she highlights the valuable, practical, on-the-job experience and training opportunities Big Fat Smile provides those looking for a rewarding career in early childhood education. “Here, you learn the things that aren’t written in a book,” she reflected. “It’s not just going to uni or doing assessments. This is giving you the basic tools, and if you can learn them, it’ll help you right through life.”
Work around you
If out-of-school care isn’t already on your career radar, listen up:
“I don’t think a lot of people even know this is an option, which is a shame! The flexibility and the hours you work are great. I worked in an office for 20 years – if I knew this existed back then, I would have never worked in an office! This is a career. A really good, rewarding career.”
At the end of the day, Christine and her Big Fat Smile colleagues aren’t just educators – they’re memory makers, influencers, and life mentors for the children they spend so much time with. “If you run into these children years later and they acknowledge you and say, ‘I miss you’ or ‘Do you still remember me?’, then we know we’ve done a good job.”
If you’re seeking a launchpad to something truly great, a career with Big Fat Smile Fun Club’s might just be your calling. We’re always on the lookout for Educators and Directors for our centres in the Illawarra, Southern Highlands, Goulburn and Sydney areas.
Find a job where you can bring your awesome, tap into your childlike wonder and create imaginative experiences across sports, arts and craft, outdoor, cooking and more. Click here to learn more about the out of school hours and vacation care opportunities at Big Fat Smile.
