Deb joined SDN in August 2002 as the Manager of the Supporting Children with Additional Needs (SCAN) program in South East Sydney. She went on to manage the entire SCAN program and our Aboriginal Programs. In 2010 Deb was appointed as the founding Director of SDN’s Aboriginal Unit, which was established as a result of identifying directions in which SDN services could move to further support Aboriginal children, their families and communities. In March 2008 she established an early childhood education TAFE course specifically for Aboriginal women. For this SDN won a national Equal Opportunity For Women Agency Award in 2008 from the Australian Government for the Advancement of Indigenous women. Deb was awarded an Early Childhood Australia advocacy award in 2007.

 Deb has more than 30 years’ experience in early childhood. She has been a teacher in preschools, long day care services and schools and has lectured at TAFE and University in early childhood and education faculties.