They are the frontline workers who keep the economy ticking over while making sure children have a happy normal place to be.
Yesterday, G8 Education shouted lunch for every one of its more than 4000 educators and teachers in NSW, many of them in South Western Sydney and the Macarthur region.
The free lunch was G8’s way of saying thank you to team members in its 180 NSW centres dealing with their own personal challenges through the pandemic yet still as committed as ever to creating a safe, happy and normal place for children.
G8 Education CEO Gary Carroll said the free lunch was designed for two-fold effect – to raise the spirits of educators and also give local cafes and takeaway restaurants a much-needed economic lift.
“Early childhood educators have been at the front line of this pandemic since last year, making it possible for essential workers and parents working from home to do their job and keep the economy ticking over,” Mr Carroll said.
“It has been a time of enormous uncertainty and upheaval and many of our educators are personally impacted by lockdowns and restrictions on movement like the rest of the community.
“They also have children home learning, partners whose incomes have been lost or reduced and concerns for their own health and safety.
“Despite that they are there every day making sure the children in our care, especially the most vulnerable, continue their learning journey and have a happy place where the worries of the world stop at the gate.
“One lunch won’t change the world, but we hope it brings some joy to our team members, knowing they are appreciated and valued.”
Despite attendances in some areas of Sydney being well down on levels before the recent Covid-19 outbreak, Mr Carroll said G8 Education had committed to preserving the jobs of every one of its permanent team members.
“Like so many businesses, G8 Education is impacted by the necessary measures to rein in the spread of Covid-19 but we are looking ahead to a post-pandemic world when we will need every one of our team members, and more.”
