Matthew Hogan
16 March 2016: The University of Canberra farewells Careen Leslie, who is retiring this week after being the director of the Wiradjuri Pre-School and Child Care Centre since 1992.
During her time at the University, Ms Leslie has managed the student-led pre-school, which is attached to the Faculty of Education, Science, Technology and Mathematics.
Having mentored 150 early childhood teachers directly, Ms Leslie has also tutored undergraduate units of study and course convened early childhood units.
Under Ms Leslie's leadership the centre became one of the most in demand in Canberra, as one of only four Australian Capital Territory education and care centres to receive an 'excellent' rating by the Australia Children's Education & Care Quality Authority's National Quality Framework ratings.
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Wiradjuri director Careen Leslie is retiring after leading the centre for 24 years. Photo: Vanessa Lam.
After a quarter of a century watching the University grow and the sector evolve, she said she loved working at Wiradjuri and has enjoyed seeing the children of staff grow-up and student educators develop.
"I still love working with the fastest growing minds in the country and it's been a privilege to work with young children, families and pre-service teachers," Ms Leslie said.
"I have been fortunate to be able to work in an area that is based on 'play' as the vehicle for children's learning."
Ms Leslie said she was also proud of her involvement in science and technology research at the centre in the mid-'90s, which was cutting edge at the time.
Having worked at the University through three vice-chancellors and six faculty deans, Ms Leslie is looking forward to her new life in semi-retirement.
I've moved to the coast and I hope to do a lot of writing, walking, swimming and volunteering," she said. "I also look forward to supervising early childhood teaching students completing professional placement throughout regional New South Wales."
Dean of the Faculty of Education, Science, Technology and Mathematics Professor Geoffrey Riordan said Ms Leslie was originally recruited to the University to play a leading role its early childhood courses and the Wiradjuri Early Childhood program, which at the time was a centre where student teachers could observe children learning through play and structured activities.
"She set about recreating Wiradjuri so that it could offer a full early childhood program," he said. "Students were still involved, but this time as prac students and employed staff. This is the model we still have and it is largely due to Careen's vision and leadership."
Professor Riordan credited the retiring directed for the long term partnership between the University and the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT).
"Careen and her CIT colleagues have effectively collaborated in the design and delivery of the degree in early childhood education," he said.
"Careen has also been actively involved in the broader ACT early childhood community as a strong advocate for children, students and families. The Faculty of ESTeM thanks Careen for her dedicated long service and wishes her all the best for a well-earned retirement."
Ms Leslie earned her Bachelor of Education at the University of Canberra in 1988 and won a Harmony Day Award in 2010, a Vice-Chancellor's Staff Excellence Award with her Wiradjuri teaching team in 2008 and a Children's Week Award in 2003 at the Governor-General's Residence.
Ms Leslie will be succeeded in the director role by associate lecturer Carmel Richardson, who has worked at Wiradjuri for more than a decade.
