Marianne Gardener - Master of Early Childhood Education

A love for the wide-eyed wonder of children initially inspired Marianne Gardener to pursue a rich and rewarding career in ECE.

“I previously held a part-time job at the interactive science museum Science Alive! Seeing how young children reacted with eager fascination and interest to new experiences really encouraged me to pursue teaching.”

After completing a Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood Education) with New Zealand Tertiary College (NZTC), Marianne was inspired to further her learning with a postgraduate qualification.

“I found the learning environment to be highly supportive, and loved the convenience of being able to study online while still being able to interact with students and staff through the online discussion forums.

“This experience encouraged me to complete the Master of Early Childhood Education online while living in Australia. I was always asking questions, reading interesting studies and articles, and pondering the different aspects of ECE, and I knew this qualification would provide me with the skills needed to be able to do my own research.”

Marianne enjoyed investigating a topic of her own choice throughout her studies.

“Teaching in Australia I wanted to learn more about indigenous culture, so I took part in a self-directed study focused on how indigenous perspectives influence the teaching of sustainability in early childhood services.

“This involved looking at the interconnectedness between people and nature. Researching this topic allowed me to explore the indigenous culture in a way that related to both mine and my centre’s values and beliefs, as we place great emphasis on sustainability.”