Cheryll KOOYMAN

Country Cubs Preschool & Outside School Hours Care has been operating for over 20 years. We spoke with Owner/Director Cheryll Kooyman to find out more.

Tell us about your business

My business provides care and education services to children and families, within the Orara Valley and Coffs Harbour Area.

Our service operates Long Day Care, Before & After School Care and Vacation Care. Country Cubs provides a free transport service for families to access the services we provide which is essential for families. What motivates you in your role and business?

I have had a strong passion for working with children since I was 16 years old. I left school to follow my career in caring and educating young children, and I knew right from the very beginning that it was the path for me.

I am motivated by families and their children, providing care and supporting families to provide that care and education is something I feel is a special thing. To have families trust you with their most precious things in the world is very special.

I am motivated by my team. I want to ensure that my team are always striving to improve care and education standards. I have worked with my educational leader Tracey Cooper for the past 20 years. To have those friendships and professional collaborations is the most amazing thing. I value my team, as I couldn’t do what I do, without them.

I have a wonderful family and I have the support of my family 100% of the time, so this makes doing what I do easy. When the support is unconditional, it’s easy.

What have you learnt over the past

12 months and how has your business changed?

The industry is changing regularly. COVID was a particularly challenging time for our business as we had so much to manage on the go. You have one opportunity to get it right and make sure you are up to date and current. However, things changed so quickly, it was definitely a challenging time, however one that we learnt from and grew through.

Describe for us your definition of ‘success’ relevant to your industry/role?

I think success is going home at the end of the day and being proud of the person you are and the service that you manage and provide on a daily basis. Some days are challenging; however you have another opportunity to come back and do it again tomorrow. There are always opportunities for improvement and changes to practice to promote quality. I did receive some advice once that said on your worst day, you have to be your best, and it’s stuck with me.

What or who has been your greatest influence in business and why?

I think I have had some past Directors who I have been mentored with along the way. You develop skills, knowledge and leadership based on the principles you learn along the way that align with yours. I think I have also had the benefit of having that strive to work hard, and be driven which has stemmed from my childhood. My greatest influence again is my family. I am very lucky to have a supportive family who have been with me each step of the way. My husband Drew and all of my children have been involved with the service in one way or another.

What would you say is your greatest professional and personal accomplishment to date?

My greatest professional accomplishment to date, is the success of Country Cubs. From the commencement to now, and to see how the service has grown and adapted is very fulfilling. To be a part of families and children’s lives each day is really special.

On a personal note, I have managed the business whilst raising 3 children. This has had it’s challenges, however I am so proud of my family and my 3 children. On another note I have been on a personal journey over the past couple of years and have managed some major health changes, where I have lost 60kg’s which I am also super proud of.

Where do you see the business and yourself in 10 years?

I have a 10 year plan to continue on our journey with Country Cubs. I still have the passion each morning when I get up to be able to continue to provide the care and education for families and children. I want to continue to be the best version of myself and maybe look at retirement somewhere after that.

Congratulations on celebrating 20 years in business. Describe how you got started in your business and how far you have come along?

Drew and I moved to Coramba 20 years ago. We purchased the Long Day Care and at the time it was licenced for 25 children. Over the 20 years we have increased our licence to provide care and education for 50 children at Long Day Care. The service also commenced it’s Outside School Hours Care – Before, After School and Vacation Care. This service is licenced for 38 children per day. Over this time, we have also raised 3 children of our own. Tell us about your team and their areas of expertise?

We have the best team. They are all amazing, and we are really blessed to have such a great team. The educational leader at the long Day Care, Tracey Cooper has been with us for the past 20 years on this hectic and changing journey. Our educators have a vast array of skills, knowledge and qualifications and bring an element of personal expertise to the team. I am very thankful to have Debra, my administration manager by my side, she has a monumental role in supporting myself, our educators and families. We also have our transport drivers who work alongside our educators in transporting children to and from our service.

What makes you different from other services in our region?

We have a free transport service which allows families to access free transport to and from our service. This service commenced 18 years ago. It initially provided free transport to families who were unable to access quality care and education due to transport or travel restraints. We commenced that service with one bus and next month we will add our 6th bus to that transport service. That has definitely allowed the service to adhere to it’s philosophy in ensuring all children can access care and education without barriers.

What have been some of the highlights over the years?

We have now done a full circle where families of children we commenced care with are now returning to the service and enrolling their own children in care. We are lucky enough to meet up with children whom we cared for over the years and we get to share in their personal and career success. It is nice to see the success of these children and feel like you have had a small part in their lives.

We have been able to support refugee families, low socio economic families and at risk families with the support, care and education that their families need. This is an important factor for the service and one we find really empowering.

What challenges have you faced over the years and how have you overcome them?

There are a lot of regulation, law and compliance changes occurring in the industry regularly, so being responsive to those changes is always challenging. In the past we have been affected by fire, flood and COVID. We have always managed to plan, improve and bounce back better than ever. We have always continued to provide family and local support throughout these times.

What’s the best way for other businesses or readers to connect with you?

We have a webpage where you can find information about our service. You will find current information and events on our

Facebook page. You can phone the office or call in anytime at the service. We have an open door policy at the service where anyone is welcome to visit at any time.

How much longer will you continue to provide the service?

We have had offers to purchase the service throughout the years through some multi corporate organisations, however we have always been driven and passionate about maintaining a high standard of family care that we can be proud of. We want to continue to provide care and education to families in Coffs Harbour and The Orara Valley.

Is there anything new happening for your service?

The service has been lucky to receive 2 recent grants to extend it’s Before & After School Care Service. Our service is now running transport services to Glenreagh Public School and Upper Orara Public School. This adds to the current schools we already service which are Karangi Public School, Tyalla Public School, Narranga Public School, Nana Glen Public School, St Augustine's Catholic School, and Coramba Public School. It is always great to be able to extend current services to ensure that working families outside of our original location can access care for their school age children. Thanks Cheryll.