Teagan Armstrong, 24, wants to change the world and make it a better place for all children regardless of their circumstances growing up.
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Ms Armstrong left school in Year 11 to make significant steps towards achieving her goal. She is motivated by her desire to change stereotypes and stigma by drawing on her own experiences from childhood.
"I grew up with one parent. My dad raised me for most of my life," she said.
"There is a bit of a stereotype when you are growing up about being disadvantaged. My whole life I have wanted to change that stigma.
"While working with children from vulnerable communities and from diverse backgrounds I have tried to really promote their sense of belonging, regardless of where they are from or who they live with."
Ms Armstrong knew what she wanted to do at 17.
"I left school to pursue a traineeship in early childhood. I always had a passion for children," she said.
"I completed a Certificate III that first year and went on to do my diploma in Early Childhood Education with TAFE NSW.
"After my diploma I was given the opportunity to become the nominated supervisor of a child education service in a low socio-economic area with a really population of indigenous families and single parent families."
During three years at that centre she completed a bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education and Care at TAFE.
She has since worked in other centres and is presently a supervisor at Oxford Multicultural Childcare. It was while doing her bachelor degree that she realised she would like to help shape the future direction of the early childhood education sector.
"I want to continue caring for children, really make a difference in this industry and help build the quality of the sector," she said.
Ms Armstrong kept studying and completed a Master of Education in educational leadership at university.
'I am now enrolled in a Master of Research. I am conducting research in the early childcare field on educational leaders. I am hoping to articulate that into a PhD/Doctor of Philosophy," she said.
"My end goal is hopefully to inform government policy to really raise the quality of early childhood, not only in educational leadership, but raising the benchmark for children from all backgrounds to make sure they are getting high quality education.
"I hope my story shows it doesn't matter what background you are from, what family you are from, or whether you finish school or not, you can still succeed."
A National Skills Commission report has identified an acute skills shortage in the childcare industry. TAFE Children's Education and Care team leader Justine Poidevin said a bachelor degree is presently being offered at Shellharbour.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
