Unsung Heroes: Starr-Lee Hovey is building a home for the community

It is often said that being a mother is the best job in the world, and that one does not know true love until they have raised children of their own. A passionate Dalyellup mother has turned the job into a successful career, in the hope of providing the very best for all children across the Greater Bunbury region, sharing her love and knowledge with everyone in the community. Starr-Lee Hovey is a highly-regarded early childhood educator of 33 years, currently leading the team at Discovery at Play in Dalyellup, where she serves as centre director. A born and bred Bunbury woman, her career in the early childhood industry started at 15, leaving school to pursue a diploma in the field. Coming from a big family herself, she hopes to reciprocate that family feel to the children she works with. “I come from a very large family, I’m one of 10, my family tree is huge and that’s how I want it to be (at the centre),” she said. “Yes, we’re here as educators and staff but some of these children are here more than they are at home so we want it to feel like home and family to them.” Starr-Lee’s dedication and positive work ethic was quickly noticed by colleagues, leading her to become a qualified educator and centre second-in-command in just two years before later becoming a director. Critically acclaimed for her work in the field, in 2010 she was named G8 Education’s Children’s Services Director of the Year, with her centre receiving Children’s Service of the Year, as well as taking out Bernardo’s Mother of the Year award. Starr-Lee is often selected to visit other centres throughout the State to help them grow and develop their services, with a personal focus on inclusivity and belonging. But despite her love for helping centres and teams grow their skills, her true passion is to focus her attention on a single centre to allow her to provide the “highest quality care” everyday — a dream which came true when Discovery at Play owners Phyllis and Vijay Narula approached her about directing their new Dalyellup centre. As a director, Starr-Lee aims to promote community and involvement and belonging among her staff, children and families, to allow children to benefit as much as possible. “I’m very passionate about providing care to children with additional needs and also the less fortunate children in our community,” she said. “I enjoy working as one with families and the community to help our children prepare for school and to be the most confident, well adjusted person they can be because each child is unique and we need to help them achieve each step of the way, the smallest steps to us are usually the biggest steps for a child. “Inclusion is a big thing for us ... everyone needs to feel they belong, and that’s the children, right up to the staff and parents, anyone.” The Dalyellup centre features many community initiatives including a community wardrobe and pantry, where families can trade unwanted pieces of clothing and canned goods with one another. Maintaining a strong relationship with health services, women’s refuge and the elderly community, Starr-Lee believes collaboration and connection are the best ways to thrive. “I feel like we’ve provided something different here than every other centre in Bunbury, we’re just a little bit different, we’re open and very communal,” she said. “The biggest thing for us is trying to be out there in the community, to collaborate and work together to learn and grow. “We have a great connection with the elderly community because some children don’t get to have that interaction in their lives ... and we’ve reached out to health professionals to allow them to come here direct to the centre, which makes it easier for some parents to get to.” A previous foster carer herself, the centre also has a strong relationship with the Department of Child Protection, providing a safe space for children in need. Starr-Lee said her experience as a foster carer had given her new insight to her early childhood education. “Being a foster carer has taught me so many things to bring on board as an educator and director,” she said. “It showed me the other side of children’s lives that I may not see at the centre, me and my children were both very lucky growing up, but not everyone has the same opportunities. “When I first opened the centre, I was very adamant that one of the first things I wanted to do was help every child and create that solid relationship with the DCP, which we now have and we often take emergency care calls from them.” She also believes in child-led learning and loose parts play, providing young children with a stimulating environment, with free-flow between indoor and outdoor spaces to allow kids to grow and learn at their own pace. A whirlwind 12 months that saw the centre gain a waitlist after just six months of operation, she said none of it would be possible without her “amazing” team. “’I’m lucky because I truly couldn’t do it on my own,” she said. “We all bring something different to the table ... different traits that make all the other educators on the floor know who to come to in certain scenarios. “It really is family, even though we have different rooms and our admin office team, every staff member knows every child and gets the same level of love and care.” The centre will celebrate its one year anniversary this weekend, with families invited to an open day on Saturday from 9am-11am.