Staffing
Our staff are our most valuable asset. Each teacher and carer brings their own individual skills and experiences to the classroom enhancing their own personal teaching style.
We believe that the foundation of quality educational childcare for children lies in the experienced and qualified staff in our centre. We encourage and support staff to continue their personal and professional education and development within the workplace both through formal study and on-the-job training.
All of our staff meet the requirements set out by the Department of Community Services Regulations 2004 and offer the highest levels of childcare. All staff hold First Aid certificates and regularly update this training.
We encourage you to come and visit the centre, meet the carers who will educate, support and care for your child, see the friends your child will make, read about the day’s activities and adventures, let us show and tell the treasures we’ve created and inspect our first class facility and fun-filled playground!
Amy Kewley – ECT
Director
Amy started as Director of Brookvale Early Learning Centre in 2008. She holds a Bachelor of Teaching (Birth to 5 years) and a Diploma of Children’s Services. Over her years of experience in Long Day Care she has worked as a Room Leader, Assistant Director and now Director. Amy also worked as a Nanny whilst living in the UK.
She has a great passion for working with children and guiding them through their developmental stages. Amy really enjoys her role as Director of the centre as it allows her to experience both the teaching aspect with the children and her staff and also the managerial sides of a childcare centre.
Clare McEwan – Cert III
Assistant Director & Kangaroos Room Assistant
Clare has been at our centre since March 2005. She has completed her Certificate III in Children’s Services and is currently in the final stages of study for her Diploma in Children’s Services. Clare works in our Preschool classroom and loves being a part of the final stages of the children’s preparation for ‘Big School’. Clare is also Assistant Director of the centre which involves her overseeing the running of the centre when the Director is not present.
Lissa Burnett
Administration Assistant
Lissa joined the team in June 09 and helps Amy with general office and accounts duties. Lissa has a background working in the IT industry and currently works Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Lissa provides an important link to Brookvale Public School for our centre and ensures that the School can benefit from our activities and vice versa.
Lissa has two daughters at Brookvale Public School and loves the opportunity of working within an industry that plays such a meaningful role for the community.
Natalie Cooke – Diploma
Natalie has been working in the Early Childhood industry since 2004. She holds a Diploma in Children’s Services and a Certificate in Caring for Children with Special Needs. Natalie has also worked with children of Primary School age but most of her experience is with pre-school aged children. She started with us in 2009 and has taken on the role of Room Leader of our Nursery children. Natalie brings to the Sugargliders a wealth of knowledge and a fun and nurturing personality. She also brings some of her Irish culture to our centre!
Sammi Chapple
Sammi started at Brookvale in September 2010 as a casual assistant. She moved to a full time position with the centre in February 2011. Sammi is studying to complete her Certificate III in Children’s Services. She was working in all the classes in the centre covering the staff for programming, traineeship study time and courses but has now taken on a permanent position in the nursery. Sammi’s quiet and calm nature is wonderful for helping the children to settle.
Fitria Suud
Fitria started at our centre in April 2009 working 3 days a week as our cook. After spending time in the classrooms with the children, Fitria decided to begin working 2 days in the classrooms when she was not cooking. Fitria enjoyed preparing the children’s meals and working alongside our other cook to devise menus that are nutritionally balanced and healthy for the children at the centre. She has completed courses in Safe Food Handling and Menu Planning & Nutrition. She enjoys working at the centre as she also gets to spend time with the children and watching them grow and develop. She is currently studying her Certificate III in Children’s Services and is now working fulltime in the Sugargliders room at the centre.
Anthea Hyland – Cert III
Anthea joined the team at BELC in May 2010. She had previously studied and had a career as a Beautician but decided to make the change to childcare. Since starting with us she has been working as a room assistant with our Toddlers class and has now moved to our Nursery. Anthea has completed a Certificate III in Children’s Services. Anthea enjoyed working with the Toddler class and helping them achieve vital milestones such as toilet training and social skills. She will now be expanding her experience with this new age group of 0 to 2 year olds where she will be helping to develop the childrens physical abilities with both fine and gross motor skills.
Karen Curran – ECT
Karen has worked on and off at our centre since early 2010. During her time with us she has worked as a Room Leader and class assistant across all age groups at the centre. Karen holds a Degree in Early Childhood Education. She is from Ireland and has now taken on sponsorhip at the centre. In 2012, Karen will move into our Toddler classroom as Room Leader.
Karen feels passionate and privileged to be working with the 2 to 3 year age group as these are the prime years in a child’s life and development. She is looking forward to working with staff and parents to maintain a warm and nurturing educational environment for all the children in our care.
Paola Bentivoglio – Cert III
After visiting Australia in 2009 she decided to move her to live with her partner at the beginning of 2010. Paola previously worked as a children’s party co-ordinator and host whilst in Italy so decided to move into the childcare field in Australia. She started at BELC in July 2010 as a room assistant in our toddler class. She completed her Certificate III in Children’s Services through a traineeship in 2011.Paola brings her passion for creative arts to our toddler room.
Pat Corben – Cert III
Pat moved to Australia from Thailand in 2005 to live with her husband. She previously worked in factories when she first arrived but has always had a passion for working with children. Pat started with us mid 2010 as an assistant teacher with our Nursery children. She has completed her Certificate III in Children’s Services through a Traineeship whilst working at the centre. Pat brings to our centre her caring and nurturing personality and enjoys expressing her culture in her activities with the children.
Monica Cortes – ECT
Monica started with us at BELC in February 2011. Originally from Columbia, Monica and her family migrated to Australia two years ago. Monica is a degree qualified pre-school teacher who majored in Spanish and religion. She has worked in childcare for over 16 years. This wealth of experience, a love of children and a passion for teaching are all qualities which will enhance the learning process for the children and staff alike.
Michelle Cohen – Cert III
Michelle started at our centre in 2007 as a teacher with our Before and After School Care. Michelle really enjoyed working with this age group but decided she wanted to experience working with other ages as well. She then moved to working as a Floater in the centre which allowed her to work with all the different age groups. Since 2011 she has worked in our Quokkas room as an assistant teacher. She has completed a Certificate III in Children’s Services and a Certificate in Youth Work. Michelle is currently studying a Diploma in Children’s Services. She enjoys watching the children grow and develop knowing that her care guides their achievements.
Jenayah Bennett – Cert III
Jenayah joined the teaching staff at BELC in 2010. She has completed her studies of Certificate III in Children’s Services. Since starting with us she has worked as a room assistant in our Preschool classroom. In 2012 she will be moving to our Kindy class to hain more experience working with children aged 3-4 years. Jenayah has built her awareness of children, their wants and needs and their learning milestones. She has enjoyed working alongside her preschoolers getting them prepared to take the next step into ‘Big School’.
Marinella Russo – Diploma
Marinella moved to Australia from Italy in 2008. Since then she has completed an Advanced Diploma In Children’s Services and started with us at BELC mid 2010. Marinella has brought to the centre her Italian culture and her passion for teaching. As Kangaroos Room Leader she is responsible for developing, planning and delivery of a high quality School Readiness program to all the children to help ensure they are ready to start school the following year.
Gai Cohen
Relief /Room Assistant
Gai started at Brookvale in February 2011 as a casual assistant. She moved to a full time position with the centre in October 2011. Gai has a wealth of practical experience with three grown up daughters and two granddaughters. She currently works in all the classes in the centre covering the staff for programming, traineeship study time and courses. She is currently studying a Certificate III in Children’s Services.
Rose Rumble – Cert III
Relief/Room Assistant
Rose began with us at Brookvale in August 2010. She holds a Certificate III in Aged Care and after years of working with elderly people she decided to change to working with young children. Rose completed a traineeship whilst studying her Certificate III in Children’s Services. Rose has children of her own that attend Brookvale Public School. She loves working with children and the satisfaction of knowing she has helped them reach their achievements. After working in our Kindy class since starting with us, she will be moving into a floater position in 2012 to allow her to extend her knowledge and experience with all ages at the centre.
Farah Diba
Afternoon Assistant
Farah works in the afternoons at the centre. During this time she covers in all classrooms assisting with cleaning and supervision of the children.
Ashley Archer – Cert III
Before & After School Care and Vacation Care Co-Ordinator
Ashley started with us as a casual relief teacher with our Vacation Care program. After a few months she decided to take on a full time postion working with our Before School Care and as an assistant in the Long Day Care. In 2011 Ashley took on the role of BOOSHC Co-ordinator. Ashley’s programs cater for all the children’s different interests from arts and crafts, cooking and sport coaching. She is currently studying a Diploma in Children’s Services.
Belinda Comber – Cert III
After School Care & Vacation Care Assistant
Belinda has worked in the childcare industry since leaving high school and has worked at our centre since 2006 in our After School Care. She has completed her Certificate III in Children’s Services. Belinda enjoys working with the older children from Brookvale Public School, planning exciting activities and helping them in the afternoons with their homework. During school holidays she works at our Vacation Care developing an interesting program and taking children on excursions. Belinda also enjoys helping in classrooms in the centre when needed.
Donna Thalib
Donna began at our centre as an afternoon assistant but soon took on the role as one of our cooks making all our delicious fresh meals. Donna also enjoys spending any free time she has in the classrooms with the children. Donna has her Safe Food Handling and Menu Planning Certificates. She has a large input into our menus and daily nutritional intakes for the children.
Liron Ezra
Liron is a Certified Chef and holds a qualification in commercial cookery. Liron has Safe Food Handling and Menu Planning Certificates. Liron has significant cooking experience as a head chef in Australia and overseas and enjoys using fresh local ingredients to prepare nutritional meals.