About Our Team

For me the start of the Alkira ELC journey was securing the beautiful acreage property from which I envisioned creating a special place for children to learn and grow:  Designing a building that was spacious and filled with natural light and an outdoor environment that had space for children to explore, test their boundaries and connect with nature.

I love that we educate Children about the environment and sustainability through “hands on” garden projects and making the link with growing food, harvesting and eating in a healthy, holistic way. Through my study gaining a Certificate III in Children’s Services, attending professional development workshops and researching current pedagogical practices, I realise what a privilege we have of being an influence in the early lives of children who will be the custodians of the planet tomorrow.

I believe in fostering an environment that creates a strong sense of wellbeing and belonging for children, families and Educators, a place we can share knowledge and learn from each other.

My goal is to provide children with an enjoyable and challenging play based learning environment, provoking their interests and engaging their imagination. Acknowledging that learning takes place best when it is motivated from within. These things inspire me to learn more and strive harder to be the best we can for the children in our care.

I was born in South Africa where I spent my first 10 years, in a time and place without opportunity to receive a crucial pre-school foundation. This has inspired devotion in me to making Alkira ELC a safe haven for our children. With our frantic lifestyles of today, I believe the importance of helping children learn and connect with nature has never been greater.

Alkira ELC represents this grassroot learning space, nurturing the “whole child”. I am particularly passionate about the wonderful environ of the babies room, a space where parents will be at ease to have their bundle of joy cared for, in a home away from home setting.

After recently having a little one in pre-school myself, I have ensured that we created a Pre-kindy program for ages 4-6, with the focus to learn skills that will build confidence and prepare the children for their school years and for lifelong learning. At Alkira ELC the children start do things such as, making their own lunches, packing school bags, dressing themselves. It’s all about children developing relationships with their peers, having confidence and hunger to learn. On the adventures they build resilience, learn to make a fire and make dough to make bread themselves. The satisfaction you see in the children achieving these tasks are wonderful to watch.

My greatest satisfaction is Alkira ELC connecting our children to Nature and Beyond. Always grateful to Claire Warden for inspiring Jill and I to take our Centre to this level of Nature Pedagogy. We continue to evolve and grow in our curriculum.

With a Certificate III in Children’s Services, attendance to numerous Early Childhood Education courses, conferences and seminars, I have become even more motivated to continue to create and maintain a unique place of community and belonging. A place for our children to learn, play, grow…. and shine!

I have been a part of the Early Childhood sector since 2004. I have been a room assistant when I first obtained my Certificate III in Children’s Services and then was offered a room leader position. This is when I realised that the early childhood sector was my calling and pursued my Diploma in Children’s Services and a Bachelor in Early Childhood Studies. Through my journey, I became a director of a large centre and continued on my career path of becoming an Area manager of nine centres where I mentored, guided and offered support to the Nominated Supervisors and Directors.

I have a passion and a drive to motivate Educators to teach our children the importance of play and understanding of their natural environment. I believe that the first few years of children’s lives are the most crucial and this is the reason why I chose the early childhood field as my profession to be a part of their growth, learning and development.

Everyday coming to Alkira ELC is a fun and exciting day, the Educators are so dedicated and show so much passion in providing our young children with the best education we can offer.

My goal as Nominated Supervisor at Alkira ELC is to ensure that all of our children, families, staff and the wider community feel safe and secure within our environment but most of all feel welcome and part of our family.

I began my career in Early Childhood Education in 2000 as a childcare trainee. My passion for the profession soon grew and in 2006 I completed my Diploma in Children’s Services.
In 2014 after working in the profession with children and families from a diverse array of multicultural and social backgrounds, I completed my Bachelor of Teaching-Primary/Early Childhood Studies. I am committed to being an advocate for the rights of children and share the philosophy that children should be given the opportunity to enjoy their childhood, just being children. My Pedagogical practices stem from various proven practices with strong influences from Reggio Emelia, emerging practices and some Montessori aspects. I am a very aesthetic person who loves to use nature and natural items within the learning environments.
As Educators, we play a vital part in their experiences and lifelong learning. I believe that learning occurs through investigation, intentional teaching and play. Play is learning and the foundation to developing the skills children need throughout life, but most importantly play is fun! I can’t wait to share in your children’s journey as they embark on a new chapter in their life.

I began my journey in Early Childhood in 2009 and from this beginning my passion for teaching children has continued to grow. I have had experience with and enjoy teaching all ages, spending the most recent years guiding and supporting the 3 to 5 year old’s, as well as those children with additional needs.

Throughout my time as an Educator, with knowledge gained from my studies and professional development, as well as approaches such as Reggio Emilia, I have created a strong personal pedagogy. I believe in the importance of play and allowing children time to be and develop in their own way. I view children as capable, confident, and creative learners, with my role being to support and foster curiosity, facilitate research and encourage exploration. I feel passionate about the importance of children being involved in a social community and the role it plays within their development.

I consult with Educators to create an environment and program that enriches the learning and development of our children. I am passionate about my role within the classroom and as Educational Leader and the difference we are making in the lives of our children and families.

I studied theatre and visual arts at the University of Southern Queensland. Following on from my studies, I worked with Queensland’s Art Council, directing educational programmes for schools before travelling overseas to China. I taught English for six months in China before moving to Thailand to teach both English and an arts programme throughout the school holidays.

It was after travel that I realised my passion was not only the arts but how arts could be used to educate youth. On my return home from my two years abroad I completed my education degree.

Over the years I have worked with, and alongside some of the best art and drama teachers in Sydney.

When I moved to the Central Coast, I started my own business. One that has brought arts to the children of the coastal area. It is something that has provided joy and learning to many including my own two beautiful girls.

I am excited to be involved with Alkira ELC because of our shared passion and philosophical outlook. Children should be seen, heard and supported to express their ideas as creatively and as messily as possible!

Children should have full confidence within themselves and to always feel they have a voice and a place in this world that is unique.

My career in Early Childhood began after completing my Masters of Teaching (0-5 years) in 2015.
During my studies I had the opportunity to work with children across the birth to five year age range, but I chose to complete my final internship with the under two year olds as I found this to be the most challenging but rewarding age group.

I believe it is important to develop trust and understanding with infants and toddlers as they begin to understand where they belong in the world.
My philosophy involves providing a supportive and responsive environment, both physically and emotionally, where the youngest child can be an equal member of our community. Through caregiving and supported play, a vast amount of learning happens every minute at this time of life. I love working with children and their families to celebrate each milestone along the way.
Alkira Early Learning Centre has a vision that mirrors my own personal and professional philosophy and I am extremely privileged to be a part of such a wonderful community that values Early Childhood Education and Care.

I finished my Bachelor of Early Education through Charles Sturt University in 2016. During this period of study I was able to explore electives including focusing on children’s wellbeing and how to support children from a range of backgrounds. I feel this has helped me to better understand children from diverse backgrounds and to implement a range of strategies to help them.

Prior to this I had completed my Diploma in Children’s services in 2008. Spending time involved in professional development and furthering my studies ensures that I am able to implement new practices and stay up to date with new information and research.

I believe that play based learning is vital to children’s development, especially in the first five years of life. They are able to challenge their thinking, question and answer their learning and be involved in social interactions. All of these aspects help children develop holistically and to create a love and passion for lifelong learning. When children are provided with the opportunity, resources and time to explore they are able to create a positive disposition for learning and Educators can then challenge views and extend on opportunities for learning. I love being able to work alongside children and see their passion for learning and be involved in their development as they create new awareness and understanding of the world around them. Seeing a child’s face light up as they grasp a new concept or skill brings a thrill to me everyday.

I am a Diploma qualified educator and Certified Rainbow Kids Yoga Teacher and have created a Yoga Programme designed especially for the children who attend Alkira ELC.

I was born and raised on the Central Coast and whilst completing my HSC in 1996, I started my first certification towards becoming an Early Childhood Educator. From then on it has been an amazing journey of growth and discovery both personally and professionally. I enjoyed travel in my 20’s, then moved back to the Central Coast where I met my husband and had two beautiful children, Ella and Taj. It was in 2007 during my first pregnancy that I discovered and fell in love with practicing Yoga.

I started to introduce Yoga to Children as part of my everyday practices in child care settings and quickly realised how receptive they were and how much fun they have using stories, games and music to move, breathe, stretch and learn about their bodies. I feel so blessed to be part of the Alkira ELC team and I look forward to getting to know all the Alkira ELC families.

I started my journey in childcare in 2011 through a traineeship.

Upon gaining my Certificate III in Children’s Services, I wanted to extend my knowledge in the childcare profession, which then led me to complete my Diploma in Children’s Services in 2013. My career goal is to obtain a degree in Early Childhood Education.

I believe the early childhood years are a vital stage in human development and recognise that these years provide the foundation for future learning. I believe it is essential to take a holistic approach to each child’s development and I recognise and respect each child’s unique and individual differences.

With this belief I aim to provide the highest level of care and education for all children, in a nurturing, safe and valued environment as part of the Alkira ELC community.

I am so excited to be a part of the Alkira ELC Team.

I began my journey as an Educator in an after-school care setting which was a daily fun-filled adventure until I found my passion working in an Early Learning Centre with children from 0-5 years of age.

In my everyday practice I strive to create warm welcoming environments for the children to settle and build their sense of belonging. I aim to develop each child’s intrinsic motivation. I love to engage with the children exploring their environment, building on their ideas and shaping their understanding of their interests.

I am thankful for the opportunity that I have at Alkira ELC to be able to spend time creating enjoyable experience and building supportive respectful relationships with the children.

I have been looking after families and caring for their children over a range of ages since 2008.

In 2012 I travelled to America and worked at a Summer Camp teaching arts and crafts, and then travelled around Europe. I love teaching the children about the world we live in from the experiences I gained from my travels.

I believe each child carries their own unique personality with a variety of skills and ideas, and through unhurried blocks of time to play and explore, these skills and ideas shine through and guide children’s learning.

The natural environment provides us with time to constantly explore, create and live though our senses. Nature can be used and celebrated in a variety of ways, and through play children can become connected to themselves, peers, families, educators and the wider community.

I love being a part of the Alkira ELC community as we explore and learn together.

I began my journey with Alkira ELC at the opening of the Centre in 2015 and it has been the most fun filled time!

I started my career in childcare back in 2010 studying my Certificate III in Children’s Services, then going on to study my Diploma in Children’s Services, both through traineeships.

I love seeing the children’s personalities begin to develop and I believe forming strong relationships with both the children and their families is crucial to help make the parting on drop-off just that little bit easier.

As an Educator I believe it is very important to make the children feel comfortable and confident within their learning and I believe the home-like environment of Alkira ELC is the perfect setting.

I look forward to building strong, supportive relationships with all the children and their families.

I have been working as an Early Childhood Educator since 2007, with children from birth to five years.

Children are the future of our world and I believe they need all the support, care and guidance to help them learn and develop whilst exploring and discovering exciting new opportunities and possibilities.

I believe the role of an Early Childhood Educator is to teach, nurture and guide children through their development. This is done whilst building strong and trusting relationships, providing freedom, flexibility and rich experiences. As each child is unique and develops at different stages, experience should be based on each child’s strengths and interests within their learning environments.

I love being an Educator as I have had the opportunity to help young minds develop. I love to see the children grow, learn and develop every day. I love watching the thrill, excitement and joy on children’s faces as they explore and discover new things. I look forward to meeting you and your family.

I am an Early Childhood Educator and mother of two who has been working in the Early Childhood sector since 2010

I believe it is important to create a stimulating atmosphere where all children and families feel welcome and respected. I find that children will learn and prosper in an environment where they feel a sense of Love, Support and Belonging. Children also need consistent encouragement and praise to learn and be resilient in situations.

I find working with children a rewarding career and I love that the Early Years Learning Framework now encourages and allows all parties to be actively involved in shaping the curriculum and the learning Is “Endless”.

I finished my schooling years with no idea which career path I should explore for my future until a very wise somebody said to me “You’re great with children, why don’t you explore childcare”. This was the day that I explored the option of becoming an Early Childhood Educator and having completed my Certificate 111 and Diploma in Children’s Services I have worked in the industry since 2009 and haven’t once looked back.

As an Educator, I am passionate about providing a safe and supportive environment where children and families feel a sense of belonging and I believe that building strong relationships and bonds with all children, families, staff and the community is crucial in achieving this goal. I believe that children learn and develop through their own explorations and play, with Educators by their side to support and foster their learning.

I love my job as an Educator and I feel that every single day is rewarding, just knowing that I am a part of so many children’s lives in supporting and guiding their learning and development is such a personal satisfaction.

I feel privileged to be a part of the Alkira ELC team.

I started my childcare career by completing a traineeship in Certificate III in Children’s Services.

I’ve since furthered my studies by completing my Diploma in Children’s Services. I’ve worked within the industry since 2006 in between raising my beautiful daughter. The reason I started in the childcare field is because I am passionate about the emotional well-being of a child.

I am lucky to be able to work at Alkira ELC where I can provide children with opportunities to aid in their growth and development and be a positive role model.

One of my favourite things about watching children grow is seeing how they live from their hearts and not their minds.

My journey as an Early Childhood Educator began with a Certificate III traineeship in 2008 and I have been working within this industry since then. I am currently studying the Diploma of Children’s Education and Care through Alkira ELC and am very excited to be furthering my learning!

Working with children and travelling have been the most fulfilling experiences in my life. I love learning about different cultures, languages and people, especially the way that children grow and learn within different communities around the world. I am passionate about seeing children develop a strong sense of belonging and wellbeing. Giving love and care, and creating a space which makes it easy for children to feel that they belong brings me joy!

It is amazing to see the confidence and capabilities of children when they feel safe, secure and supported, and this is something that I love to foster.

I Look forward to being a part of your child’s learning journey.

I started my career in childcare in 2016 as a trainee at Alkira ELC in the Yaringa room. My love and passion for children and teaching has been non-stop growing ever since, and I’m so excited to expand my knowledge and experience at Alkira ELC.

I have accepted a Diploma trainee position that allows me to continue working full-time whilst I study. I have a passion for sustainable living and enjoy teaching the children about caring for our environment.

I completed my Certificate III in Children Services in 2016 and am currently studying my Diploma in Children Services.

I have always had a passion for working with children and after traveling to Europe in 2015, where I worked as an Au Pair, I decided to pursue a career in childcare. My goal is to promote a sense of belonging and encourage each child to actively participate, challenge, investigate, question and connect with the natural environment and the world around us. Each day is a new opportunity for them to grow, learn and explore and I am so excited to be able to be a part of this journey!

I look forward to continuing to form positive relationships with the children and families of Alkira ELC.

I started to pursue my passion of caring for children in 2011 when I became a nanny. As I enjoyed caring for these children I decided to pursue my career further in the Early Childhood field by completing my traineeship in Certificate III in Children’s Services in 2013. I have enjoyed experiences working in different environments caring and educating children. To further my knowledge and passion I am now studying my Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care through Alkira ELC.

I believe it is the greatest reward caring for children. I value my relationships, supporting children and their families, offering a safe, secure and nurturing environment. I love to support children in their discovery and inspire creativity in caring for our environment and building opportunities through our natural materials.

I have been active in the field of Early Education and Care since completing my traineeship in 2011 and have been with Alkira ELC since the opening in 2015. I am also a qualified dance instructor teaching children of all ages since 2005.

I believe children are competent and capable learners who are active investigators. Children should be guided without interference through positive role modelling and reinforcement. I feel it is important for children to connect with nature, to develop a respect for and show appreciation of the land and the natural environment, believing that this will foster a sense of place and belonging.

I encourage children to use their home language, as Educators endeavour to support them by learning key words to facilitate communication.

As an Educator, I have the opportunity to make a significant difference in the world each and every day. I gain great satisfaction to be a part of their journey, to watch and help them grow as they develop into the little people they are today.

I have been working in childcare since starting my career undergoing a Traineeship in 2014.

I really enjoy creating and maintaining friendships and bonds with the children in my care and strive to help them achieve goals and milestones throughout their time with me. I am eager to work in partnership with families to ensure the best care and environment for their children.

I am keen to continue my studies in childcare to further develop my skills and knowledge and extend on my passion in this field.

I have been working in Early Childhood sector since 2010 and what an amazing journey it has been.

I have always had a passion for working with children and began my journey to become an Educator in 2008 when I attended TAFE, completing my Certificate III in Children’s Services. I have gained much experience and increased my knowledge since this time, working with all ages in Early Learning Centres and am passionate about providing each child with the opportunity to extend on their interests and enrich their learning through play based experiences.

I acknowledge that each child is unique and I aim to work in partnerships with families to enhance their learning and develop new interests.

I believe that the first few years of a child’s life are the most important, and I am very excited to be a part of that with Alkira ELC and their philosophy of enriching children’s live through nature play.

I have been working in the childcare industry since 2012 when I obtained my Certificate III in Children’s Services.

I chose to work in the early childhood sector as I believe the environment provided in the early years setting allows each and every child the opportunity to be themselves and learn through their own unique development. For me personally I believe the early years are the most important stage in a child’s development and recognise that these years provide the foundation for future learning. As a male in a usually female dominated industry I feel like I have been given a great opportunity to form lasting, genuine relationships with children and their families.

I first discovered the magic of what it is to be a Childcare Educator at Alkira ELC in 2015 when I was offered a traineeship, and since then I have absolutely fallen in love with the profession. Now being Certificate III qualified, I have been lucky enough to have gained full time employment where I have continued to absorb as much knowledge possible; not only from my fellow educators, but from the children as well. Having gained my Certificate III in Music, I thoroughly enjoy a good sing – along, making music and dancing!

Being an Aboriginal woman, I relish in the opportunity to share my culture with the children, highlighting the vital connections and relationships we share between us and our natural surroundings. I believe in letting children “lead the way” in an environment that scaffolds a child’s unique interests and individuality, a place where children are free to just be.

I was lucky enough to start my traineeship Certificate III in Children’s Services here at Alkira ELC in 2015.

Since then I have worked with children from 2-5 years of age. I have enjoyed gaining knowledge and skills from my studies and other Educators that I work closely with to support the development of children.

My biggest motivator for working in the Early Childhood sector is building beautiful and meaningful relationships with children and their families.

I look forward to meeting you all and working to support the learning and development of your child.

I studied nursing at the University of Technology Sydney. My career path then turned and I worked in the fashion and PR industry for 15 years. It was when I had my first child that I found a new passion which was for the early development of children.

I moved to Hong Kong and taught English to preschool children for a year. When I returned home I completed my Certificate III in Children’s Services and opened my own family day care in Bondi which thrived on good, wholesome foods and natural play. I also assisted in children’s yoga at Jois Yoga Bondi Beach.

After having my second child I decided to move back to the Central Coast to bring my children up in a more natural environment.

I look forward to furthering my studies in early childhood teaching and am absolutely thrilled to bring my experience with children and my love of nature to Alkira Early Learning Centre.

I have been in the Early Childhood Sector since 2014, starting in before and after school care. I thoroughly enjoyed this role especially working with the younger children and was given the opportunity to complete some casual work at a preschool and fell in love instantly.

I am thrilled to be a part of the Alkira ELC team. I love the natural environment and animals which are a big part of my life. I love working with the children, watching them learn and grow using the natural world around them, watching their cheeky smiles and innocent laughter is an incredible experience to be a part of.

I was born in Brazil and have lived in Australia since 2001. In this time, I have had two beautiful children who I cherish and adore and pursued a career in childcare by finishing my Certificate III in Children’s Services. In this time, I have worked in both before and after school care and in long day care settings which has provided me with so much joy and pleasure. I adore being around children and having the opportunity to be a part of their education. They are honest, loving caring and compassionate beings and I am privileged to be a part of their lives.

I enjoy working with Alkira ELC  team and look forward to being a part of your children’s early years.

I was born in Bangkok to a large Buddhist family. Everyday my mother would prepare and cook fresh food for all of us. In my culture we learned early on that the food we eat daily will determine our health.

I strongly believe in the power of fresh food to promote wellbeing and to prevent disease.

It is this philosophy that I bring to Alkira ELC – the importance for the children to establish healthy eating habits early in life, when they are young and bursting with energy.

I originally trained in Product Design and have a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Arts. For 15 years, I ran my own business as an architectural model maker. I was always interested in cooking and the relationship between food and health.

I hold a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery and have worked in hospitality in Thailand, England and Australia.

Since 2008 I have been working in the Administration area of Child Care. I thoroughly enjoy working alongside children and families and assisting them in any way.

Prior to having my two gorgeous girls, I was a Senior Resourcing Consultant for the AsiaPac region for IT multinationals. With a background in Human Resources and a BA in Social Science I am now combining both passions into Alkira ELC’s Administration Team.

I am passionate about building and creating strong relationships with children and their families. I believe investing in our children is such a privilege.

I have lived on the Central Coast now for 21 years and am actively involved in our community volunteering my time at the school canteen, P&C and school literacy program.

I am looking forward to meeting you and your beautiful children.

I am currently studying for my Certificate III in Business Administration (Education) at Alkira ELC.

Before embarking on my journey with Alkira ELC, I worked as an Administration Assistant for a Registered Training Organisation, assisting the Business and Training managers of the Online Education Department and later, the Director of the organisation.

I am very excited to gain more knowledge and experience within business and education amongst the wonderful Administration team at Alkira ELC.

I am looking forward to communicating and liaising with the families during their child’s journey with Alkira ELC.