Our Educators at Wulguru Feel free to scroll down and meet our fabulous staff – Ii was always a goal of mine to introduce this ‘Educators' section into our website because I think it is a great way for families to see the people who care for their most treasured possessions as well as allowing families to see us in our roles outside ‘kindy', as mothers, carers, sports enthusiasts etc… and besides this, I am so proud of our team – I just want to show how great they are so please take a moment and meet the group who give their all and support each other and our families each day…. |
Susie - Our Director Susie has her Advanced Diploma and has been caring for children and their families in Townsville starting as an Assistant in a Nursery and refining her ideas and discoveries ever since. She believes this is a fantastic way to become a Director as you gain first hand knowledge of all the roles involved in the centre having spent time doing all of them and is a firm advocate of the incredible value that childcare professionals play in each young child's life, striving to work in conjunction with families to provide the highest quality of care. I love my job – the families and staff at Village Kids are a constant delight to make me laugh and they are also a constant challenge to keep me on my toes! I came to work in childcare over 10 years ago inspired by a genuine love of children and a desire to spend the rest of my days doing something that I believed in 100%. Outside of work Susie is up to her ears in house renovations, has started a new passion learning Salsa Dancing and is a dedicated family person. Should you have any queries, concerns or are just eager for a chat, come on in! | |
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Majella – Centre Coordinator Majella is almost the face of Village Kids! She began with the opening of our first centre at Wulguru in 2003 and has been the initial Director of 4 of our 5 Townsville Centres in the 5 years since, setting up and instilling the strong philosophy and practices that make Village Kids such a high quality care provider. Aside from this , Majella officially took on the energetic role of Centre Coordinator in 2007 which means that she moves between all 5 Townsville Centre assisting the Directors, staff and families with all aspects of their days at Village Kids as needed… sometimes you'll see her, sometimes you won't but she is always around and happy to help. Should you ever want to chat, simply see Susie and she will provide your contact information or arrange a meeting. I am kept constantly busy in my work role but I love the Wulguru centre, having opened it as a Group Leader myself in 2003, I still enjoy visiting to see the wonderful work that the staff do each day just as part of their normal week. Outside of kindy, I am busy, busy, busy! I have a love of life and a great desire to live it to the max so my spare time is spent trying to cram as much as I can into it! I love spending time with my family and enjoy exercising although they say I talk more than I walk. | |
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Toddler Room Educators
15 months – 3 years
2 adults: 10 children |
Rhonda – Toddler Group Leader Educator Village Kids Wulguru has only recently welcomed Rhonda to our team in 2010 and are very glad of it! Rhonda holds her Diploma in Childrens Services and is even thinking of taking on the challenge of further study to complete her Advanced Diploma. Rhonda has already added to our information exchange with our families through daily Communication books and with a lovely calm nature to settle and calm our boisterous toddler crew we are looking forward to getting to know her even better! With a tribe of 3 boys of her own, Rhonda is aware of the challenges of being a parent to help calm our 'big people' too! Hi to all our families. It is an exciting adventure to join such a wonderful community and one I am really looking forward to so feel free to come in for a chat... or even stay for a play! | |
| Julie – Toddler Assistant Educator Julie began with Village Kids in 2004, having worked previously at another local centre for seven years until the thrill of having her own baby led her to have a break. Her ‘baby', Jesse, is now 11 years old. Jesse was the first to come to join the gang at Village Kids and he had so much fun, Julie wisely decided to join him. Julie completed her Certificate in Children's Services while working with us which was a great achievement for her and one we are very proud of. She enjoys the challenge of being the Assistant in our Toddler Room where the children are a constant delight and so full of affection. Hi, my name is Julie. I have always loved childcare since I was young and it has always been a fun and happy place. Working at Village Kids is very rewarding which makes me happy. I am also very busy outside of Village Kids. My other interests include partying with friends, spending time with Jesse and I also like fishing. |  |
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Junior Kindy Educators
2-3 years
2 adults: 12 children |
| Bernadette – Junior Kindy Group Leader Educator The early childhood profession has been a passion of mine since I was young (er) and I have been working within the area for the past 11 years. In this time I have gained my Diploma and even more enthusiasm and am continuing to extend and learn new things myself with this being my first year experiencing an emergent curriculum in action with Bev. It is very exciting for me having had my previous experience in a more structured format but it is a wonder to see how much each child can benefit from having a more individually focused program within the room. Outside of the Kindergarten, I like to keep busy with family, friends and am a real animal lover with my Tessie Claire, a German Shepherd at home. I enjoy sports and keeping active in almost any way, especially touch and like to continue that energetic interest both in and out of the centre. I invite all our families to come in, spend some time with us and get to know us a little better- we’d love to have you! | |
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| Beck – Junior Kindy Assistant Educator Rebecca is another find that originates from the west of Queensland out Mount Isa way. Holding her Certificate III and accepting the challenge of studying towards her Diploma, 'Beck' has held a variety of roles within our centre... bus driver, schoolies support, relief Group Leader just to mention a few but has found a happy home with our Junior Kindy crew. But having covered all areas within the centre also means we all know and love her! There are many reasons why I love my job. I am constantly learning more about how young children develop, learn and live. I love to interact with all age group and families as well as support the staff in their very busy and demanding roles. I enjoy my job because it is rewarding. Seeing a child achieve a new goal is the best feeling and knowing that I contributed to that achievement is priceless and knowing it's in a place of happiness and teamship makes it even better! | |
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Senior Kindy Room Educators 3-5 years
2 adults: 24 children |
Michelle – Senior Kindy Group Leader Educator Michelle comes to us from the ‘wilds' of Mount Isa bravely moving to support her high school aged soccer star, son. She has always maintained to be here until Marcus finishes high school and then she will move back to her home in Mount Isa... that was 2 years ago now! Michelle holds her Advanced Diploma in Community Services and having worked within the early childhood field for over 13 years, Michelle has a fabulous array of experience and a firm and fair attitude with the children, staff and families that is loved by all. This year, she has had the new challenge of taking on Acting Director for some our of sister centre but she always come back to Senior Kindy … a great relief for Susie Hi to all! Outside of Village Kids life, I am still very actively involved in my children's sporting activities and enjoy traveling around Australia watching them and supporting them. Though now Marcus has graduated, my trips may be a little sparse – shall have to find another hobby! | |
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| Petre - Senior Kindy Assistant Educator Born and bred in Townsville, Petre possesses her Diploma in Children's Services and a wealth of experience within the Early Childhood field having worked at several local centres over the past 10 years. With a beautiful gentle nature that is a blessing for our littlest group, Petre is enjoying the daily drama and discoveries of our Toddlers as they learn new skills and concepts every day within our Village Kids Centre. Being the Group Leader of a Toddlers group certainly keeps you busy and when not at kindy, I like to be just as busy. I enjoy catching up with friends and family, being heavily involved in the local Pigeon Club and socialising within the club. | |
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Kindergarten Educators
4-6 years
2 adults: 25 children |
Bev – Kindergarten Teacher Bev is our International Traveller – having been born and raised in South Africa, Bev gained her Teaching qualifications and years of experience before the thrill of New Zealand drew her to live there. Within the 10 years that she lived and loved New Zealand, Bev continued her studies as well as developing a passion for the early childhood teaching philosophy of Reggio Emilio, which features prominently in the Senior Kindy room's programming. Luckily for us, the draw of the sunny easy lifestyle of Australia and North Queensland led her to Townsville and a sheer stroke of luck, gave us Bev at Village Kids Wulguru. Bev holds her National Teachers' Diploma and a Bachelor of Arts. Her love and belief in the Reggio Emilio philosophy sees wonderfull child centred activities at the forefront of her room and the children are flourishing with this. Hello…I love the involvement of the children in my days – you never know what each day will bring and what discovery we will make together. Outside of kindy, my husband and I have bought a yacht and sailed back from San Diego, via all the tropical islands in between! It was truly a wonderful adventure that I have been sharing with the centre all the way and ever since! Now we are back, we plan to enjoy the weekends exploring the Great Barrier Reef. I also love to keep fit by walking and cycling. | |
| Chrissie – Kindergarten Assistant Educator Chrissie is our youngest on the team but comes to us complete with her Certificate III and several years of field placement with our centre. we loved her so much - we kept her! She is now the second half of our fabulous Kindergarten team and working hard to learn all the ropes of a fulltime position. It is fantastic for the centre to see our team members growing professionally and personally within our little community. Chrissie has already formed many strong partnerships with our families and we all delight in her youthful enthusiasm which is perfectly coupled with a maturity beyond her years. Aside from kindy, which takes up lots of energy and gives us lots of fun, this year I am enjoying life and having fun with family and friends. I am happily settled close to the centre – and loving it! |  |
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Support Educators These educators are essential to our centre as they assist to relieve our core team for lunch breaks, illness and absence
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Nadine – Support Group Leader Educator Nadine is our treasured 'Jack or Jill of all Trades' you might say. Holding her Diploma in Childrens Services and a wealth of previous experience within the early childhood education, Nadine joined us recently in March 2011 and we haven't looked back since! You will have plenty of opportunity to get to know her a little better as she supports our core Group LEaders over lunch times and days absent as well as taking on the energetic schoolies group each morning and afternoon...fantastic! Welcome Nadine! |  |
Kristy – Support Assistant Educator Kristy is a young spark who joined our Village Kids' Team as our Junior Trainee in 2004 completing her Certificate III. She has been a wondeful part of our community ever since and has worked within all facets of the centre to be known and loved by all. Having an ambition to undertake studies to become a nurse, Kristy left a fulltime position in our Junior Kindy team and is now the part of our fantastic support group that assists the Centre in ensuring that we have regular and experienced relief staff to allow our core members to sneak away for some well earned 'R & R' and maintain the consistency and quality Village Kids is known for. Kristy is about as good as you can get! Aside from kindy, which takes up lots of energy and gives us lots of fun, this year I am enjoying life and having made some big moves to live away from home, I am happily settled close to the centre – and loving it! I also enjoy meeting up with friends and family socially and going out on the weekends. |  |
Kiersten – Support Assistant Educator Kiersten is one of our more recent additions to the Village Kids team having joined the team in 2009 and is in the throes of completing her Certificate III through a centre based traineeship. Having done relief work at other kindys, Kiersten enjoys the flexibility and sense of community that Village Kids Wulguru offers both to staff and families. Having done some time in Toddlers before moving to a more global position within our support team to assist in her studies, Kiersten is well on her way to gaining her qualification. Hi, I not only enjoy children but I realise that early childhood education is one of the most important jobs you can have – I take my role very seriously. I do like to laugh though and am busy outside of kindy- getting active in the local netball competiton and am an avid supporter of the Townsville Crocs - just ask me! |  |
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