We're excited to introduce Marly as our new 'Early Learning Family Diversity Inclusion Training Coordinator'
With nearly 20 years of experience in teaching and various government roles, Marly brings a wealth of knowledge and advocacy for inclusive practices in early childhood centres and schools.
Marly's journey began when her now 19-year-old Jesse was a baby. As a new parent, she wanted to ensure that Jesse and their family were treated with the same respect as others, even though their family looked a bit different with two mums. She talked with Jesse’s educators about ways to frame information that would make Jesse feel included and helped prepare them for comments and questions from other parents. Friends in the rainbow community often asked her to speak to staff at their children’s childcare centres and schools, and her ‘accidental advocacy’ grew into something much bigger and more importantly, much-needed.
She wanted educators to understand the importance of supporting children from non-traditional families so that they felt seen, validated, and developed a sense of belonging.
Marly has a much-loved diverse family in Sydney, including her wife Tracey, two children—19-year-old Jesse (they/them) and 16-year-old Jules (he/him)—and two cherished Cavoodles named Buddy and Lexa.
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Starting her role this month, Marly will connect with children’s services across the state to offer two professional development options: family diversity training and working with gender-diverse children training. She will identify each centre’s particular needs and personalise the training to ensure educators have the best experience and feel confident in moving ahead with changes in their practice and service.
"Being entrusted to drive the Rainbow Families Family Diversity Training is an honour. This has been a passion of mine for a couple of decades now. I look forward to educating on a much broader scale to centres across NSW about the importance of inclusive practices and embedding family diversity into everyday conversations and learning experiences," Marly said.
Marly is deeply passionate about training educators to understand diverse families and gender diversity, giving them the tools to work respectfully, navigate language including pronouns, and facilitate inclusive discussions. She wants to ensure that all Rainbow Families that walk through the door of a childcare centre feel welcome and supported from the beginning.
“I want to see all diverse families represented equally so that children and families feel authentically welcomed in their educational environment. Rainbow Families are on the rise, and we need to make sure that all family structures are respected. All children and families need to sense that they belong – it’s a fundamental human right,” she said.
Marly will use the training to help centres meet national education requirements. This includes the National Quality Standards, the ECA Code of Ethics, and the Early Years Learning Framework V2.
For more information, click the link and get in touch.
