making children's voices heard

Featherbrook Kindergarten's Monique Covacci is a finalist in the 2019 HESTA Early Childhood Education & Care Awards

Monique is recognised for her approach to early learning, which amplifies the voices of children and inspires inquisitiveness and a passion for learning.

As a graduate teacher, Monique’s pedagogy is highly influenced by her passion for creating an authentic sense of wonder and fascination in children. The voice of the child and their rights underpin Monique’s everyday practice and drive her program as an early childhood educator at Featherbrook Kindergarten, where she teaches four-year-old children.

In her graduate year, several barriers (including sharing a space with four other programs) limited the agency and sense of belonging available to children in her care. Monique successfully mitigated this issue by changing the way she documented children's behaviour; a process that has now seen success at three other kindergartens experiencing similar issues.