Karen Edwards is an Early Years Childhood Educator who has joined Integreat Queensland in Rockhampton to facilitate our Little Steps Multicultural Playgroup. Karen has worked as a childhood educator for 35 years and has worked with preschools, long-day care centers, and schools for the past 14 years as a facilitator for playgroups.

“I’ve worked in several areas as a childhood educator where many of the playgroups were held in parks, school settings, and community halls five days a week which were all free to the local community,” Karen said.

“I’ve also delivered many workshops for parents who provide child minding services.”

Moving to central Queensland in January from Wollongong in New South Wales, Karen said her past work was not just about providing childcare.

“It was also about providing a safe space for school aged children to hang-out,” she said.

“Many of the children came from a vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds where we even provided them with free swimming and surfing lessons and during school holidays, we would go on excursions which the children absolutely loved.”

Karen’s goal is to continue to grow Integreat Queensland’s Little Steps Multicultural Playgroup in Rockhampton and give families the knowledge of how important it is for children to attend playgroups.

“Playgroups build confidence for both parents and children as it is a soft entry point to preschools and primary school,” she said.  “It also teaches the parents the educational side of the activities provided as children learn through play.”

Picture: Karen Edwards is the new Rockhampton Little Steps Multicultural Playgroup facilitator.