“I lived at Clermont, Queensland for 15 years on an outback cattle station, raised our three children and helped run a sizable cattle aggregation. In 2020 I built a non for profit called AGILE Inc. (*Australian Geographically Isolated Learner Education Inc.) – its sole purpose was to prove that governess’s on rural stations were executing curriculum and are very much in a teaching role. There’s no recognition currently for the teaching that they do and no RPL for it. This needed to change.

Two very decorated University of Southern Queensland – Australia doctors of Education with a great care for the bush and making change in this space, a long-term friend and I, helicoptered around Western Queensland gathering the evidence, of which we already knew was true. And we academically published many articles on the problem as well as solutions, one of which is this.

I soon realised that the power of making change in this space was in training, delivering a genuine pathway to these remote teaching roles, as well to provide high quality educators to metropolitan areas, who are really ready for giving children their best day ever.

My greatest goal of lifting quality for the children in the home classrooms in the bush, by which they have no other choice because they lived geographically isolated drove me forward. I just couldn’t stand that children’s education was being impacted just because of where they lived … AND their families are producing food for Australia. Looked like education Ethiopia for me.

So I set to building an institution that cannot only bring bush quality, home-like, genuine care and education to Brisbane, provide rewarding jobs for women in the city as well as the bush, and at the same time upskill educators for the remote areas of Australia.

A long-term friend and I built a registered training organisation this year Little Village Education Academy. It’s not open just yet, soon! It will deliver the Certificate 3 and Diploma in Children’s Services and we will carefully and genuinely RPL educators work in the bush and at the same time provide hands on real training in Brisbane!

I opened my first nature inspired long daycare and kindergarten Little Bush Village Paddington in June of this year. It will be a vehicle via which we will deliver quality – real child work training, and at the same time give the children and families of Brisbane the secure & nurturing – childcare that they deserve.

We’ve been through a significant renovation at Paddington. With new indoor and outdoor nature play spaces!!

To my team, Sarah Tuckey, a long-term friend, Laura Crane, … Hebe Backus, Henrietta Russell, Lila Zimmer, Millie Russell, Aria Holt, Mia Musumeci, Terry O’Neill, Manuel Waschier, Carl Greaves, Joseph Masters, Lily, Allegra, Boo, Maral, Caitlin, Rani and Sue, Monika and Darcie. + a stealth cleaning team as well! + others that make it all happen …builders, architects, landscapers, painters, skip blokes, truck fellas, bob cat drivers…. Log cutters!

Plus everybody who contributed to getting us here of which there are so many to name: Alana McFarlane Moller, Georgina Paschke, Jordan Ezzy, Kelly Mcdonald, Elisha Parker, Hayley Howe, Juliet McConochie, Sal Bradford, Rural Women Unite, ICPA Aust – Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association, Fiona Stanley…. Sascha Estens… for capturing it from the beginning…

… To all the governess’s who participated in the 2020 survey!!! To all of the parents who allowed their children to be researched and welcomed us onto their stations… to the children most of all thank you!!! For telling us your story!!! And to the huge number of followers on social media who keep sharing the issue… squeaky wheel!”