Childcare worker: CatholicCare changed my life

By Veronika Cox

Three years ago, Leanne O’Keefe was in such a dark place she had almost given up hope of a better life.

Today, the Ludo Early Learning childcare worker bubbles with enthusiasm as she talks about the joy of her new role at Holy Rosary Catholic School in Claremont.

“I just love where I am now – the people I have met, the children I have met,” she said.

“I grew up in some places that were not good and I was treated horribly. I wanted to change that and make a difference and treat kids the way they should be treated.”

Leanne spent her childhood in foster care, and at 17 years of age was essentially homeless.

“CatholicCare offered me a unit through their Therapeutic Residential Care program,” she said.

“They helped me get my license and go back to school. CatholicCare workers sat down with me when no one else would.”

Ludo State Operations manager Theresa Blizzard said when she first spoke with Leanne she immediately saw her potential to connect with children.

“It was very clear that Leanne was drawn to working with children and they were magnetised to her,” she explained.

“Leanne‘s own troubled childhood has clearly defined for her what children need to be able to thrive and succeed, how to feel wanted and how to create a sense of belonging.”

Ludo is an Early Learning and Care initiative developed by CatholicCare Tasmania in partnership with Catholic Education Tasmania. Leanne joined the Ludo team, commencing a traineeship and undertaking her Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education and Care. 

“She has been able to use the adversity she has been through to benefit children in her care, through her level of patience, understanding and commitment to building positive relationships with every single child,” Theresa said.

The organisation has nominated Leanne for Young Tasmanian of the year in the category of transition to work.

“I used to wish I could be one of those people who could enjoy the children and encourage them and give them skills,” Leanne said.

“I didn’t think that would ever happen. For someone like Theresa to actually recognise me broke my heart open. Someone was watching how I was going. Someone believed in me. Someone saw that I went through hell and pulled out the person that I am today.”