Shirlene Murphy

Aupouri

“There are many opportunities to advance in the early childhood sector,” Shirlene maintains.  “I am passionate about promoting leadership within centres and helping to manage our own professional development instead of relying on outside people to do it.”

Shirlene is team leader of the 3 to 5 year olds at Auckland Hospital’s purpose-built centre, officially opened in June 2004. She has come a long way since she left school and went to work in the local factory. “I was quite happy just to cruise along there as I didn’t know any different,” Shirlene recalls. However it is thanks to her boss who saw her potential that Shirlene is where she is today.

“He said I should be looking to go further with my life and that meant leaving work and home to study.” Shirlene took his advice and began studying a nannying certificate as she enjoyed working with children. “I really enjoyed the study part and found I had a thirst for learning.” Shirlene’s lecturers also recognised her potential and encouraged her to go further so she began studying for an early childhood degree.

“I had huge whanau support from the moment I started and when I graduated, I was the first graduate ever in my family,” says Shirlene proudly. Financially the hospital crèche were really supportive as well.

Her love of learning is extended to her staff whom she is currently mentoring through training. “As the years go by, I can appreciate the importance of having a qualification as I can now relate the theory to practice.”

Shirlene is totally supportive of the new early childhood professional requirements and can see it is already changing the way they work as a team. “We no longer have to support untrained people and explain things in great detail any more. We now all work together at the same level and that helps to run a centre more smoothly,” Shirlene feels.

“Approximately 90 percent of children are enrolled in some form of early childhood education. They need professional teachers teaching them,” Shirlene asserts.

“There are many opportunities to advance in the early childhood sector,” Shirlene maintains. She is actively involved in the Education Leadership Project which is a Ministry of Education professional development initiative for centres. Shirlene is currently putting together resources and facilitating workshops for increasing the bicultural focus in early childhood education. 

“I am passionate about promoting leadership within centres and helping to manage our own professional development instead of relying on outside people to do it.”  .