Community partner spotlight: Ebony Lee

Published

Monday, May 19, 2025 - 2:30 PM

Ebony Lee is an Early Years and Engagement Leader at Gowrie Victoria. We asked her a few questions for our Community Partner Spotlight in our May newsletter.

Can you share a highlight from your time at Gowrie Broadmeadows?

It has been a huge highlight to be able to connect the team to RSTO, and celebrate together when we can see what we are testing is making a difference. I’ve seen this project grow and teams get excited on what they are implementing.

What does your role as Early Years and Engagement leader involve? Where does Restacking the Odds fit in?

As the Engagement leader I oversee and support leaders with families experiencing complex situations. I also support the overall participation with participation and referral pathways.

I am also an Early years leader in a kinder classroom on Mondays and Friday. In this role I work closely with children and families, and the team in the classroom. I’m am also there to coach and mentor the team.

By being in both these roles, I am able to see the big picture how to best support families.

From your perspective, what’s been the biggest benefit of implementing Restacking the Odds?

I’ve loved learning about the story stats can tell. Coming together to put a plan in place, has great benefits, and supports us to do the best we can for our community.

What’s one change would you like to see for children in the future?

I would really love to see more resources to support children to attend and access kinder.

At Gowrie Broadmeadows we work with families who may have 4 different drops to do in the morning, and many people living in big households. It’s complex, and can put children meeting their 15 hours at risk.
It would be amazing to see the drive of attendance in early years grow.

Watch Ebony talk about her experience in the video below.