"I am very passionate about transforming families’ perceptions of school readiness and supporting children to explore different subject areas through play.”

My qualifications and experience 

I completed a Certificate III and Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care, and then went onto study a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood 0-8 years) at Swinburne University, graduating in 2021. 

I started my journey with SDN in 2019 as a Programming Support Educator, progressed to a Room Leader in 2020, and then became Centre Director of SDN Bluebell at the end of 2020. 

Before commencing my career in Early Childhood, I was also accepted into the University of Sydney’s Early Achievers program for a double degree in Psychology and Law. 

Prior to SDN, I have worked in two other early learning services in Canberra, across roles such as Room Leader, Early Childhood Teacher and Educational leader. I have also done various placements in primary schools and other Early Childhood services around Canberra. 

What I'm most passionate about in my role 

I am very passionate about my role in the reconciliation journey. As part of my degree, I learned so much about the value and importance of this learning in the early years, particularly as children develop their concept of prejudice and bias. 

I am also passionate about transforming perceptions of school readiness and supporting children to explore different subject areas through play. I love chatting with families about what we can achieve through our play-based learning program.

What I love about working with SDN 

The team at SDN Bluebell are phenomenal and I credit my growth in my short time at SDN to them. We are all valued as people, which in-turn reflects in our roles as educators.

A little bit more about me 

I love going for walks and playing in the park with my two young children. I also love singing and teaching myself how to play different songs on the keyboard or piano.  

While I can’t speak these languages fluently, I can understand a little bit of Hindi and Punjabi. 

Growing bodies need movement and exercise. Growing minds need stimulus and exploration. Growing hearts need opportunities to play and mix with others.

At SDN we know that the best thing we can do for your infant or toddler is to support them to grow and develop in safe, unhurried, nurturing and challenging environments.

Because infants and toddlers are naturally curious, our centres have well-equipped indoor and outdoor areas that will keep your child moving and give them daily opportunities to explore their limits and grow their abilities.

Your child is unique and so we will devise a learning and development program within our curriculum pillars, based on what we know about your child’s interests, learning and development. Because they will always be changing and growing, we consistently review the program to ensure we are keeping up with your child’s development, providing them with the best learning opportunities.

Read more about our practice with children here.

Get more than school-ready, get life-ready 

Getting school-ready is a journey. It begins with your child’s very first day at our welcoming early education and care centres and continues with our dedicated preschool program.

Developed by university-trained early childhood teachers, our preschool program focuses on the whole child. Children learn to make friends and work together, while gaining the skills and independence they need to thrive through the big transition to school.

Our preschool program follows an evidence-backed, play-based learning approach. Children have fun and follow their curiosity, while we weave in vital skills and learning outcomes.

SDN uses Australia’s Early Years Learning Framework to explore a diverse curriculum from science to social justice. Our days are predictable but flexible, blending structured and spontaneous learning, free play, movement and quiet time.

Our curriculum pillars are:

Our centres have a transition to school program where our teachers and educators work together with local schools to prepare your child for a smooth transition, and support families through the process.

Read more about our preschool program here.

Families in our urban-based centres often call our outdoor areas their “green oasis”.

SDN's outdoor spaces provide opportunities for children to enjoy themselves and have adventures. They’re safe environments for children to run, jump and yell, make mud cakes, and use their energy.

Outdoor spaces provide more than physical benefits. Even though you may think that children only play outside to have fun, they're also improving their thinking, social, and emotional skills. When they’re playing outside, they’re inventing games, learning about the world at their own pace, and figuring out social customs like turn-taking.

These are just some of the reasons SDN invests in developing new, award-winning outdoor spaces with natural designs that inspire children’s curiosity, physical play, and social play.

The Ngunnawal People are the traditional owners of the Canberra area where SDN Bluebell is located.

Bluebell Child Care Centre opened its doors on 9 September 1996. The centre is geographically a long way from ‘head office’ in Sydney, but it is an important part of the SDN story.

A NSW-based organisation, SDN has been connected with the ACT since the 1950s, with SDN representatives often attending the Australian Pre-school Association meetings held in Canberra. SDN Bluebell was formed after SDN was invited to submit an Offer to Operate a new purpose-built early childhood education and care centre on behalf of a consortium of four Commonwealth Government organisations.

Since its beginnings, SDN Bluebell has always provided an inclusive and integrated approach to education and care. The centre has undergone many changes, always maintaining and reflecting a strong connection with the families in this vibrant and diverse community.

Read more about SDN Bluebell's history here.

From 1 January 2023, our fees will be $165 per day for children under three years old and $154 per day for children three years and over.

The majority of families in our centres do not pay the full daily fee because they receive Child Care Subsidy (CCS) from the government.

The subsidy you may receive through the CCS will depend on:

• Your combined family income
• The number of hours you work, study or participate in recognised volunteer work. This is called the ‘activity test’. If your child is in the year before school, if you are on a very low income, or if you are on parental leave, you will not have to pass the activity test to receive some CCS.

Your child will need to meet immunisation requirements and you will need to meet residency requirements to be eligible to receive the CCS.

Try our CCS estimater tool here. 

You can also calculate what your out of pocket child care costs will be on the government’s child care subsidy calculator.

If you’ve read this information and you’re still unsure about what you’ll pay, please call us or book a centre tour. We’re happy to answer your questions.

0-2 Babies

• Change of clothes x2
• Hat – sun safe  
• Shoes and Socks
• Warm clothes / Jacket (for outside play)
• Shoes and Socks
• Comforter – soft toy/blanket/dummy
• Bottles and milk formula/breast milk
• Blanket / Cot sheets

2-3 Toddlers

• Spare underwear
• Change of clothes
• Hat – sun safe
• Shoes and Socks
• Warm clothes / Jacket (for outside play)
• Drink Bottle
• Comforter – for rest time
• Blankets

3-5 Preschoolers  

• Spare underwear
• Change of clothes
• Hat – sun safe
• Shoes and Socks
• Warm clothes / Jacket (for outside play)
• Drink Bottle
• Blankets