Our Team
Management Team
Business Operations Manager
Paul Turner
Diploma in Management
Person with Management or Control
Approved Provider – Representative to the Board
Date Joined: 2017
Paul is instrumental in providing support to the Administration, Management, Catering, Cleaning, Maintenance and Expert Educator Teams in ensuring all the outcomes are working at Best Practice. All the Teams keep him continually busy with their new ideas for innovative projects. In Paul’s spare time you will often find him playing with the Tonka Trucks or trying to work through the never-ending to-do list – The team just keep adding more projects!
Director – Dudley Street and Nulkaba Educational Preschool
Nicole Morris
Advanced Diploma in Children’s Services
Nominated Supervisor
Date Joined: 1989
Nic is our Director of Dudley Street and Nulkaba Educational Preschool. Having grown up in the area and with over 29 years’ experience caring and educating children from 6 weeks to School Age within all our centres. Nic takes pride in watching our children grow from inquisitive babies into resourceful little people. Nic is passionate about our services and building collaborative partnerships with the community. Nic is always available for a quick chat if any families, or expert educators need advice! Nic makes great cakes, just ask her for one!
Manager Occasional Care and Playgroup
Joanne Calabretta
Diploma in Teaching (Bachelor of Education)
Nominated Supervisor
Date Joined: 1985
Jo is passionate about children learning through play, Early Education and Care. As Centre Manager, Jo ensures that families, children and educators are happy, safe and supported and that children’s learning is continuously extended. If you are interested in hearing further about quality care and education, make contact with Jo and she also makes the best Cuppa around…
Support Team
Chef
Luke Campbell
Chef
Date Joined: 2018
Luke has been a Chef for over 20 years and in this time 10 years has been spent in Early Childcare. Luke loves cooking for the children and creating healthy meals for the children. Some people just know him as Chef Luke!
Chef's Assistant
Gwen Ziebarth
Chef’s Assistant
Date Joined: 2018
Client Services
Lauren Evans
Cert IV in Business Admin
Cert IV in Human Resources
Date Joined: 2017
Lauren is the “go to” for the team for admin enquiries. Lauren has learnt from Dianne on how to multitask such as answering calls, processing pays, binding enrolment books and helping families at the reception with their ever challenging CCS enquiries at all the same time. By the way don’t bring your dog in the office as Lauren gets no work done!
Client Services, Brick Engineer and Flag Pole Coordinator
Kate Archer
Printing and Graphic Arts Cert II
Digital Art & Media Cert IV
Date Joined: 2018
Kate is the newest member to the team and is a master Graphic Designer! Kate is another master at multiskilling so in one hand Kate has the phone in her hand assisting a family with an enquiry and in the other hand Kate is designing something for one of the team! Don’t give Kate a camera as she also has qualification and experience with this area as well!
Quality and Compliance Coordinator
Cassie Smith
Diploma in Children’s Services
Date Joined: 2018
Cassie is one of our expert educators that is multi-skilled carrying out many roles. When Cassie is not assisting the Playgroup team and carrying out her role as our Quality and Compliance Coordinator she is engaging with the children providing best practice outcomes! Cassie brings a range of experience and knowledge with over 10 years experience working with children. Cassie has a passion for ensuring we deliver quality care for our children and families. If you have any thoughts, ideas or feedback Cassie would love to hear them.
Educational Practice Facilitator
Denika Green
Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood)
Date Joined: 2018
Denika has been an expert educator for over 7 years and over this time her commitment and passion has seen her progress with many opportunities in the sector. Denika is a very busy person, completing her Bachelor of Early Childhood and she has had experience educating and caring for children in a remote Aboriginal community in the Kimberley’s of Western Australia. Denika is very passionate with supporting our expert educators and ensuring the children receive the best possible outcomes! Denika always has time for a chat so why not ask her about attachment theory!
Client Services
Amy McNamara
Cert 50001 Typing
Masters of Everything
Date joined: 2019
If you want to meet the most super organised person in the world, Amy is the one! Amy is now the newest member of the team and we all have trouble keeping up with her. Amy oversees the day to day of all the families inquiries to ensure everyone is looked after quickly! If you want to ask Amy who can blow up balloons the quickest, she will tell you “Cessnock Multipurpose Children’s Centre expert educators”
Maintenance / Grounds / Driver / Chief Brick Challenge Sorter
Phil Goodwin
Cert III in Horticulture
Cert II in Conservation and Land Management
Motor Mechanic
Date Joined: 2019
Phil is our general guru of everything! Phil is a qualified motor mechanic and the team always put his skills to good use. When Phil is not driving the children to and from school you will find him fixing something or helping to ensure the backyards are first class for the children. When Phil has all his tasks completed, you will find him sorting out bricks for the children’s brick challenges.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Craig Thomas
Cert 50000 in Lawn Edging
Masters in Cleaning
Date joined: 2013
Craig is our expert cleaner and maintenance contractor. Craig and his team are kept busy maintaining all our centres. Regardless if it’s a mop or an electric drill, Craig has all the handy solutions and equipment to deliver on what needs to be done! In Craig’s spare time he is prioritising his to do lists as they keep getting bigger with all the ideas the Team Members are coming up with!
Team Leaders
Waratah Educational Preschool
Jane McCarthy Acting
Diploma in Children’s Services
Date Joined: 2014
Jane’s passion for literacy and the written word drives her teaching outcomes for children. Introducing children to the world of imagination and creation is what she is best at and is always fascinated to watch the children problem solve and work their way to independence and resilience. Jane believes that as an educator she learns as much from the children as they learn from her and is honoured to be given the opportunity to help your child grow, learn and flourish.
Gumnut Nursery
Tracey King
Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood)
Date Joined: 1986
Tracey has been an Early Childhood Teacher with us for over 30 years. She particularly enjoys supporting the rapid development and growth of the under 3’s. Tracey strives to encourage all children to reach their full potential, be creative thinkers and be self-resilient! Tracey enjoys interacting with the children in the garden, learning about sustainability, science, art and storytelling experiences.
Dew Drops Toddlers
Elise Bate
Diploma of Children’s Services
Date Joined: 2018
Elise is an enthusiastic early childhood educator with nine years experience. Elise is passionate about guiding children’s learning as she acknowledges that learning is dynamic, complex and holistic. Elise believes that children are curious participants in learning and enjoys engaging the children in a range of sensory and textile experiences. Elise acknowledges and respects that families are children’s first and most influential educators as she forms strong and respectful partnerships.
Blue Gum Educational Preschool
Jane McCarthy
Diploma in Children’s Services
Date Joined: 2014
Jane’s passion for literacy and the written word drives her teaching outcomes for children. Introducing children to the world of imagination and creation is what she is best at and is always fascinated to watch the children problem solve and work their way to independence and resilience. Jane believes that as an educator she learns as much from the children as they learn from her and is honoured to be given the opportunity to help your child grow, learn and flourish.
OOSH Coordinator
Coming Soon
Nulkaba Educational Preschool
Lauren Fara
Diploma in Children’s Services
Date Joined: 2004
Lauren has a strong passion and love for children which is evident in her scaffolding approach to the children of the future. Lauren has been educating and caring children for 21 years and if you asked any of the children they would tell you Lauren is the best at giving cuddles and having snow fights – a real child at heart!
Cessnock Occasional Care
Selena Wallis
Undertaking Diploma in Children’s Services
Date Joined: 2015
Selena has a background in fine art and she is constantly thinking of new creative concepts to enhance the children’s learning. Selena prides herself on developing respectful and supportive relationships with all of the children and families at Occasional Care and is committed to providing first class education and quality care.
Board Members
President
Barbara Rodham
Approved Provider – Person with Management or Control
Date Joined: 1976
Barbara has been on our Board since 1976 and has been President since 1995. Barbara is a retired health professional who worked for many years in Quality and Safety. Barbara has a vision that all our Centres are of Educational Excellence for Early Childhood and to meet the changing needs of our families, carers and the wider community.
Secretary
Lisa Edwards
Approved Provider – Person with Management or Control
Date Joined: 1996
Lisa joined the Board when her children were attending as a result of moving to an area with no support networks. Lisa found that Dudley St provided her children a level of care and education that was unparalleled in the area and joined the Board to contribute so that other families had the opportunity to have their children enjoy the same level of experience.
Treasurer
Colen Clenton
Approved Provider – Person with Management or Control
Date Joined: 2006
Colen has been a dedicated part of the Board since 2006, when his son Luke was at Dudley Street. Colen was impressed with the education and care that was given to his son and joining the Board was Colen’s way of giving back. Colen is a Toolmaker and runs his own business, and he loves bringing his business management skills to the Team. Colen is our Treasurer and he knows his dollars and cents!
Board Member
Mark Metcalfe
Approved Provider – Person with Management or Control
Date Joined: 2020
Board Member
Dr Alexys Ward
Approved Provider – Person with Management or Control
Alexys is the newest Board Member and was invited on as both her children are at the Dudley Street centre. Being a current parent at the centre Alexys will hopefully provide a parents perspective and new ideas. Alexys is a Dentist in Cessnock and runs her own business. Alexys grew up in the Hunter Valley and loves living here. She has a menagerie of animals and loves being outdoors with her kids.
Date Joined: 2020