My career took off after I joined Affinity…
Our latest Affinity Shining Star is Kim Cassar, recently promoted from her long-term Assistant Centre Manager role at the Exceeding Rated Milestones Early Learning Greensborough to Centre Manager of Papilio Early Learning Bundoora which is about to open in one of Melbourne’s fastest growing regions.
Kim has worked in early education since she was 20 years old.
“After school I’d worked as a swimming teacher for children which was fun, but I realised there was a lot more to early education and I wanted to be involved,” Kim explains.
“I took up a trainee position – back then we were called apprentices – with a privately owned company. It was ok but after a couple of years our little centre was acquired by Affinity Education Group which immediately led to my career taking off!”
“I was offered funded training to upskill to my Diploma in Early Education and Care through the Affinity Learning Academy, and since that time I’ve worked my way up to become Assistant Centre Manager, taken on temporary roles supporting newly acquired centres, being a Senior Educational Leader, and now been stepped up again to a Centre Manager role responsible for opening a greenfield (new build) centre at Bundoora.”
Kim says her colleagues in the sector working for other providers have been surprised each time she announces the ‘next step’ in her career journey with Affinity.
“I absolutely love the opportunities Affinity gives me to stretch into mentoring and coaching roles, facilitating Communities of Practice events, actioning our Quality Improvement Plans, embedding our Lifelong Learning Curriculum, upskilling in business management skills – if you are willing to learn at Affinity then so much is provided for you!”
Kim’s favourite Affinity Values are Living the Team Spirit and Creating Shining Stars – and as you can see, she absolutely loves to dress up for any purpose at all.
“My team are my ‘kitchen’, the heart of the home – they have to be nurtured, cared for and respected . They are the front-line and the culture has to be right,” Kim says.
Thank you Kim for your fantastic contributions to Affinity – we look forward to seeing the culture you build at Papilio Early Learning Bundoora!