Photo by Mayara Caroline Mombelli
“Every time a child runs into my arms like I’m their whole world—that’s when I know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.”
Aisha’s Story
Aisha didn’t plan to become an early childhood educator. “I was studying psychology,” she laughs, “but I kept volunteering at my cousin’s centre and falling in love with the way children see the world.”
Twelve years later, she’s still here—now a team leader at a multicultural service in outer Melbourne, known for her calming presence and creative provocations.
What Keeps Her Going
“It’s the little things. A toddler handing me a crumpled drawing with ‘I love you’ scrawled in marker. A parent saying, ‘You helped my child find their voice.’ Those moments stitch me back together.”
Aisha admits there have been hard seasons—staff shortages, policy changes, and moments of deep exhaustion. “But I’ve learned to protect my joy,” she says. “I journal. I dance. I remind myself that I’m not alone.”
Her Practice, Evolving
Aisha is passionate about trauma-informed care and rhythm literacy. “We use music to help children regulate—tapping, humming, moving together. It’s powerful.” She’s also co-designed visual storyboards for children navigating family separation, using gentle language and familiar symbols.
Her Message to the Sector
“We are not ‘just childcare.’ We are memory-makers, safety-holders, and joy-restorers. Don’t let anyone shrink that.”