SDN Riverwood Long Day Care and Preschool

"I believe that the early years of a child's life are the most influential. It is in the first years of their life that young children develop a sense of themselves and their place within the community."

My qualifications and experience

I have a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Learning Disabilities, from the University of Notre Dame.

I have been working with SDN since 2013, starting at SDN Ultimo and moving to SDN Riverwood in June 2018. I feel incredibly privileged to be working with children and families in the Riverwood community.

Prior to SDN, I had been working in the Early Childhood Education sector for 18 years and have been a centre director for the past 14 years.

What I'm most passionate about in my role

I believe that the early years of a child's life are the most influential. It is in the first years of their life that young children develop a sense of themselves and their place within the community.

I also enjoy collaborating with children, educators and families and love being able to help children achieve their full potential.

I am very passionate about inclusion and community. I have many close connections within the local Riverwood community. I often find ways to tie these passions into our educational program in the centre and share this with our children and families.

My most memorable experience as a Director was when I had the opportunity to support a family that was to become homeless. I referred the parent to a support agency that provided accommodation and I was able to place the child in our care. The child and family are now thriving. The smiles on their faces fill me with a sense of achievement and the drive to continue the early childhood journey that I have started at SDN.

What I love about working with SDN

I have the privilege to work with an amazing team of talented educators who share the passion of seeing all children in our community achieve their full potential. In October 2021, I was fortunate to lead the SDN Riverwood Team to be awarded the Excellent Rating by ACECQA.  This rating acknowledges the exceptional standard of education and care that we provide in our community, and our commitment to improving outcomes for children and families.

At SDN Riverwood, inclusion of all children and communication with our families is paramount and is at the heart of everything that we do.  We prioritise keeping you informed about your child’s learning and wellbeing every step of the way.

We look forward to the opportunity of meeting you and your child and the potential of offering them the best education and care they deserve.

A little bit more about me

I love spending time with my family, including my husband and two girls – they all love to go swimming and exploring new parks. I also love to go camping and fishing!

Preschool educational program

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:

• Relationship and social skills
• Critical thinking and problem solving
• Early literacy and numeracy
• Health, wellbeing and movement
• Science, technology, construction and design
• Nature play and sustainability
• Creative arts
• Equity and social justice

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.

Excellent outdoor area for kids to play. The educators are very engaged, and my child is happy to attend. 

-Kathy H

SDN staffs are very friendly and caring. My child enjoys attending the centre and often talks about how her educators would interact with her, she is having a great time there.

-Ivy J

The staff are so attentive and supportive towards all children. All staff go above and beyond for the children and their families, ensuring children are as settled as can be. They have fantastic transition procedures to support the success of each child. Communication with parents is constant, giving families a clear understanding of how their child's day has been at the centre, including the menus for the week, what children have eaten in a day, nappy changes, sleep times and staff absences.

-Francoise D.