Congratulations to Borroloola educators Andrea Norman (Yanyuwa), Amanda Johnson (Garrwa) and Deandra McDinny (Garrwa) on a tremendous 10 years with Indi Kindi. In this time they have become highly respected community leaders and have been instrumental in shaping Indi Kindi and its Walking Learning® curriculum, supporting hundreds of children to get the best start in life.
With a decade of service, these women, along with the Indi Kindi educator cohort, are challenging the status quo in early education employment. The average tenure for Indi Kindi educators is 5+ years, compared to the early childhood sector average of just 3 years.
According to new research from The Front Project, workforce stability is a key determinant of high quality early childhood education services.
“For children to thrive, early childhood educators need to feel looked after and motivated by their work. That means time for planning and assessment, support to undertake professional learning, support for leadership roles, and attractive pay and career pathways. We know that children who attend higher quality centres in the two years before school have better developmental outcomes. But quality depends on consistent, nurturing relationships,” said Front Project CEO, Dr Caroline Croser-Barlow.
In 2024, Deloitte Access Economics research found the quality, tenure and experience of Indi Kindi’s team helped to drive transformational developmental outcomes for children. When Indi Kindi started in 2012, 74% of Borroloola’s children were classed as vulnerable, by 2021 this number fell to 42%.
Since starting with Indi Kindi, Andrea, Amanda and Deandra have individually broken through many barriers and we celebrate their many achievements.
With the support of Moriarty Foundation, Andrea and Amanda have completed a Certificate 3 Early Childhood Education and Care through the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education. Andrea is currently undertaking Diploma studies. In 2022, Andrea’s contribution to early education was recognised when she was named Outstanding Aboriginal Educator of the Year in the Northern Territory Education and Care Awards.
In addition, along with the Indi Kindi educator cohort, they have achieved several certifications, including Body Safety for Children, mental health first aid, first aid and CPR, baseline brain health training, safe food handling and Circle of Security training (Andrea).
Indi Kindi’s human-centered, Aboriginal-led employment model creates meaningful opportunities and careers in communities with severe unemployment. By employing 100% local Aboriginal educators, Indi Kindi fosters deep community trust and cultural security through a “relational” workforce design, leading to improved developmental, educational, health and wellbeing outcomes for children.
You can help us continue to provide sustainable and meaningful employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
(Pictured below L-R: (1) Deandra McDinny (Garrwa) and Andrea Norman (Yanyuwa), (2) Amanda Johnson (Garrwa) and Alinta DeSatge (Waluwarra), (3) Deandra McDinny (Garrwa), Alinta DeSatge (Waluwarra) and Andrea Norman (Yanyuwa).
