Picture a Big Fat Smile Fun Club, buzzing with energy and creativity. Imagine walls covered with colourful artwork, giggles filling the air, and children fully immersed in imaginative play. This vibrant scene is brought to life by our passionate educators, who wouldn’t have it any other way.
Just ask Kyla Littley, the Director at Lakelands Fun Club. For her, this upbeat atmosphere is what makes work so enjoyable. “It would have to be the children that make me smile most. No day is the same,” she beams.
“It’s wonderful to come to work and watch how they grow. They learn new things every day, and it’s the best experience when children walk in wanting to share this new knowledge or how they’re feeling.”
At the core of Kyla’s Fun Club joy is the incredible bond she’s built with her team – a super supportive, trust-based friendship that makes the workplace feel like a second home. “I feel that within my service, alongside colleagues and management, I have always had opportunities to reach out and receive advice or encouragement whenever I needed it,” she shares. “That means everything.”
This positive dynamic doesn’t happen by chance. At Big Fat Smile, fostering strong relationships between staff is prioritised. “The team strives to create strong relationships with the people they work with by getting to know one another,” Kyla explains.
“This allows to help develop an understanding of who they are and what strengths, areas of improvement and even biases they may hold as an educator.”
A key part of this tight-knit culture? An ethos of mutual respect, where every voice is heard and valued. “We’ve encouraged a speak up culture within our place,” says Kyla.
“Any concerns are validated and acknowledged within our team. It can be really difficult to work within a team that doesn’t respect you or feel validated. There are always times that can get tough in the workplace, and having a team who supports you really allows for educators to feel that they can get back up and keep going.”
As a leader, Kyla goes the extra mile to create an environment where her team feels engaged, uplifted and empowered. “Receiving regular feedback is crucial. If we don’t receive feedback, how do we grow to become the best version of ourselves.” she reflects.
Her approach is personalised to what each team member needs. “I find it really important to ensure as a leader that I am supporting and encouraging my team. I think one of the things that I’ve grown to learn as a leader is that everyone is different, there is not a one size fits all approach when it comes to feedback and support,” Kyla shares. “I feel that a lack of support from a leader can lead people to feel that they’re not valued and as leaders, we are nothing if we don’t have a team to support us.”
This supportive management flows through everything Kyla does. She’s always checking in on her team. This supportive management style extends far beyond formal feedback sessions. Kyla makes a conscious effort to validate her team’s emotions, check in on their well-being, and encourage self-care when needed.
“I always ask if they need more support in certain areas and try to understand how they’re feeling within situations. Do they need a break away for 10 minutes or a day off to recharge?”
The result? A workplace vibe that’s all about trust, fun, collaboration, care and respect. And when challenges pop up, this tight-knit team is unstoppable.
Kyla vividly recalls the key moment when Lakelands Fun Club relocated earlier this year. “Our biggest accomplishment was moving into our new space,” she shares. Facing the daunting task of setting up an entirely new environment, the team rallied together. “Educators got their heads together, bounced back ideas, and suggested new approaches to facilitate practices in our new space. They worked tirelessly to create new routines, environments, and procedures.”
This collective effort paid off, allowing Lakelands Fun Club to hit the ground running and continue providing children with an exceptional experience day after day. And at the heart of that experience are meaningful relationships – not just between staff, but between educators and the children themselves.
“Any time a child comes into our service and lets out all their feelings, whether frustrations from their day or pure excitement, it shows they’ve identified that this is actually their safe space,” Kyla reflects. “When they open up and we listen, it recognises the strong relationship we’ve formed where they feel free to be themselves.”
These powerful connections extend way beyond the Fun Club itself, creating positive ripples throughout the community. As Kyla shares, “I often have families enquire about our service because they’ve been referred by current families. It’s a wonderful reminder that we’ve built meaningful relationships not just with the children, but with their families too.”
It’s these human experiences that elevate working at a Big Fat Smile Fun Club from just a job into something far more fulfilling. As Kyla puts it, “OSHC allows children to experiment with different experiences and social situations. It allows them to discover who they are or who they could be.”
For anyone considering taking the Fun Club plunge, Kyla’s advice is simple:
“Give it a go! Fun Club plays such an important role in children’s lives, whether it’s facilitating friendships or providing play-based learning experiences for them to explore their identities.”
More than just having fun, working at a Big Fat Smile Fun Club means making a tangible impact. “You’ll gain experiences working alongside children and creating lasting memories,” Kyla shares. “But you’ll also gain invaluable skills from the people you interact with daily.”
In a job where fun is quite literally baked into the job description, what more could you ask for? Big Fat Smile Fun Clubs offer a rewarding career filled with laughter, special bonds, personal growth, and a whole lot of good vibes.
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.
