Zoe Brown, originally from Thomastown, was recently awarded Whittlesea’s Access and Inclusion Citizen of the Year. She spoke with Tom Ingleton about what it means to win the award and her journey working in the early childhood space.
What’s your connection to Whittlesea?
I have lived most of my life in the Whittlesea council community, I was brought home from hospital at birth to a home in Thomastown and as I grew up, lived in Mill Park, Epping, Wollert and now Mernda
What do you like about where you live?
I’m very lucky to have my close family all within the Whittlesea council district making it easy to visit and spend time together
What, if anything, would you change about where you live?
I would love to see more inclusive playgrounds and spaces for children and adults with additional needs and their families and carers, but if I could really change anything it would be peoples mindsets, to break the stigma around individuals with additional needs and have all areas in the Whittlesea council district considered safe spaces as it should be.
Where is your favourite local place to spend time?
I love the Mill Park All Abilities Play Space and Splash Park.
At the end of each term the ‘Free to be Me’ families and facilitators attend the park to celebrate a term of learning and growing together.
Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you…
I once won the members draw and ran through the banner out on to the ground with the Collingwood football club when I was younger
What does winning Access and Inclusion Citizen of the Year mean to you personally?
It is such an honour, to have such heartfelt nominations sent in by families I’ve supported both past and current, and then be chosen as the winner by the judges panel was really special.
To me the award is a platform and an opportunity to be able to further advocate for children with additional needs and their families.
What inspired you to start your work in access and inclusion, and what keeps you motivated?
In 2019 I was working in the early years space as an educator and was the main educator for a three-year-old child called Danny who had recently been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
At that point I had never worked with a child on the Autism Spectrum ; but from the moment I began it started a passion in my career that I had never had before, it was the spark to a fire that burns so strongly to this day.
Together I worked collaboratively with Danny’s family and allied health supports for many years till he successfully completed kindergarten and transitioned to Northern School of Autism.
Danny, his family and I went through many ups and downs on his early years journey, there were tears, breakdowns, heart ache and the uncertainty of the unknown…….but that was all outshined by the wins and successes, what others would consider as something menial was everything and as it should be.
As time went on, I met many other families within the early years that were just beginning their journey of having a child with additional needs and besides having a child with additional needs they all shared one main common factor, they felt alone.
It was from that moment I knew something had to be done, there needed to be a local space where families could feel safe, supported, connected and most importantly seen, heard, validated and understood.
In 2021 with support from Jindi Goodstart Kindergarten and Brotherhood of St Laurence I began the ‘Free to be Me’ program, an inclusive parent support/play group, free from judgment for parents, carers and their children aged 18 months – 6 years that require additional support..
I have always said my work is a double edged sword, it can be so mentally and physically draining but when you get to see the true beauty of the children and families thriving and flourishing, that is the biggest reward of them all.
