"I am always able to focus my attention towards supporting children and families. I know that SDN is committed to this too, and that they enable our team to carry out this support."

My qualifications and experience 

I started working casually as a Cert-III trained Educator in 2003 in my hometown of Dubbo. 

I began my journey at SDN in 2010, starting as a Diploma-trained Educator at SDN Erskineville. During this time I studied and gained my Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood from Macquarie University in 2011. 

I worked as an Early Childhood Teacher at SDN Mosman, before moving onto become the Centre Director at SDN Riverwood in 2015. I returned to SDN Erskineville in 2017, where I’ve remained as Centre Director to this day. 

Prior to all of this, I’ve always been interested in teaching and caring for children from a young age. When I was in high school, I had an amazing science teacher who demonstrated that a passionate teacher can have an astounding impact on the children they teach.

What I'm most passionate about in my role 

I see my role as a leader to support and enable my team to promote better outcomes for children and families. This includes researching or attending training, which will enhance my team’s knowledge and confidence. 

Within my training, I have ventured on some interesting paths such as trauma informed practice and leadership. I share this knowledge with my team and support them on their learning journey so together we can deliver high quality education and care.

What I love about working with SDN  

I chose to work with SDN because I felt that our philosophy aligned. Working here, I am always able to focus my attention towards supporting children and families. I know that SDN is committed to this too, and that they enable our team to carry out this support.  

A little bit more about me 

In my spare time I listen to audio books including all the old classics. I love cooking and finding all the hidden little restaurants around Sydney.  

I’ve travelled to some amazing countries and there is still many I would like to visit, though recently I have been exploring more of NSW and all its little gems. 

I have also recently returned to university to study Nutrition. 

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.

At SDN we want to ensure that all families have access to high quality, inclusive education and care as we provide at SDN Erskineville. That’s why we offer the opportunity to enrol for occasional care at this centre.
Families in flexible care have the opportunity to take a full or a half-day place and must make at least one booking every 8 weeks.

Occasional care bookings are taken subject to availability on the day and you can book occasional care for either a full day or a half-day.

Half day fees will be $115 for children under three years old and $102 for children three years and over.

To find out more call us on 1300 831 445.

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.

As one of our oldest centres, SDN Erskineville’s outdoor play area has the natural protection of a grand old tree that was planted in its middle. It also showcases a piece of pioneering female history. One of Australia’s first female architecture graduates, Ellice Nosworthy, was hired to design a ‘new and modern’ nursery for Erskineville. A pram access ramp encompasses the ground floor outdoor space, giving the space a feeling of majesty and adventure. There’s also an infants’ play space, nestled amongst the treetops, on the first floor of SDN Erskineville.

SDN Erskineville first opened its doors on 25 August 1937 – run out of a house at 88 Swanson Street with an enrolment of 23 children. At the official opening, Lady Mayoress Mrs G.A. Parkes announced that Erskineville Nursery School would be a place “of love” where children would be taken care of and developed into good citizens.

Quality, affordable childcare had been in high demand in inner Sydney since SDN’s foundation in 1905. With the introduction of nursery schooling in the 1930s, SDN’s focus turned to providing early education for the children of workers living in Erskineville’s crowded terrace houses.

In 1945, the school was completely redesigned by Ellice Nosworthy, one of Australia’s first female architecture graduates, re-opening in 1947 as a ‘new modern nursery’. Many years later in 1999, a cot room for babies was added.

The traditional owners of the land are the Gadigal people of the Eora nation.
Over the years the area has seen many changes, and since its beginnings, SDN Erskineville has welcomed children from many different cultures and backgrounds. SDN Erskineville maintains and reflects strong connections with this vibrant, diverse and ever-changing community.

Read more about SDN Erskineville's history here. 

From 7 August 2023, our fees will be $203 per day for children under three years old and $178 per day for children three years and over. 

SDN Erskineville also offers half day sessions. Half days are $115 for 0-3 years and $102 for 3-5 years, from 9am to 2pm.

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 estimator tool here.

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

Additional Preschool fee relief

In addition, the NSW Government is providing up to $2110 in fee relief for preschool aged children who are enrolled in the preschool program at SDN Children’s Services from 2023.

If your child will be 4 on or before 31 July 2023, this additional funding could mean up to $40 a week in fee relief to your family, on top of the existing child care subsidy.

Read more about the NSW early years commitment. 

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