The content of this article was updated on 6 December 2024.

Anitha Arul is driven by curiosity. Whether it’s expanding her own teaching practice or inspiring a love of learning in children, this curiosity fuels her daily work as an early childhood teacher (ECT).

“I’m deeply fascinated by the way the early years can shape a person’s future. Guiding children as they develop, learn, and grow into themselves is incredibly fulfilling," she said.

Anitha has been a passionate advocate for children’s rights throughout her 25-year career in the early childhood and care (ECEC) sector. In her time, she has developed a particular interest in how the natural environment can support unique play-based learning experiences.

Connecting nature and play

Children learn millions of things about themselves and the world around them in their early years, and their environment plays a big part in this process.

Over the years, Anitha has observed the impact of natural spaces on promoting physical, cognitive and emotional development.

“I’ve seen how open, outdoor spaces can spark children’s curiosity,” she said.

Her research proposal about this has earned her the NSW Premier’s Early Childhood Education Teacher Scholarship, which involves a five-week study tour and opportunities to immerse in exemplary practice around Australia and the world.

“I want to discover how outdoor environments and natural spaces can profoundly promote a child’s developmental outcomes and wellbeing,” she said.

“I hope to find and develop strategies for fostering truly holistic growth in young learners."

The study tour will take place in 2025.

The strength of community

For Anitha, being a Centre Director at St Therese Catholic Preschool and Long Day Care is more than just a job. It’s about community.

“Working in ECEC is a continuous journey of growth and discovery, for the children, myself, my fellow educators, and the families we help every day,” Anitha said.

“We have a community-focused approach at our service, and I love bringing everyone together to support a child. And when there’s challenges, we lean on this strong sense of community to find a way forward.”

Anitha is skilled at managing the diverse needs of children and families. A highlight of her long career was supporting a child from a trauma background progress through preschool, with the child’s education and care plan a careful collaboration between the family and Anitha’s team of educators.

“Seeing the child progress through key development milestones like eating, drinking and walking was incredibly rewarding. It showed the profound impact that we can have on a child’s life when we work together.”