Mini Masterminds Riverstone

Meet Veenus – Centre Director at Mini Masterminds Riverstone

"As a Director, I lead with purpose, compassion, and a strong commitment to creating a nurturing and high-quality environment where children, families, and educators thrive together." - Veenus.

At Mini Masterminds Riverstone, Veenus leads with warmth and dedication, creating a space where every child feels seen, supported, and empowered to grow. The centre is known for its strong sense of community, personalised learning approach, and a passionate team that values collaboration and respect.

Children enjoy a variety of enriching extra-curricular programs that support their physical, cognitive, and social development - from cooking and sport to language and wellness-based activities.

Mini Masterminds Riverstone also embraces and celebrates the cultural diversity of its families through meaningful events like Chinese New Year, Holi, Eid, NAIDOC Week, and more - fostering a deep sense of inclusion and belonging.

Under Veenus’s leadership, Mini Masterminds Riverstone is a place where children are inspired to explore, connect, and thrive.

Mini Masterminds Riverstone sees innovation as a driver for development in our Minis. Our inclusive extra-curricular activities encourage diversity and inclusion, ensuring every Mini feels accepted and develops the ability to think, imagine and play freely.

Our Minis are exposed to the latest equipment to encourage creative free play, and all extras are included as part of the daily fee, including: 

Sports Program: For our Minis aged 3 and up, the centre offers the ‘Mini Champions’ sports program. This encourages our Minis to gain fitness regardless of their athletic ability, and helps build self-esteem and confidence.

Language Program: Our Minis are taught languages from native speakers at the centre, further developing and strengthening their cognitive function and problem-solving skills. 

Cooking Program: Our Minis can take part in the ‘Mini Chefs’ cooking class, a fun hands-on class that encourages our Minis to experiment in the kitchen while learning about basic cooking techniques and making smart food choices. These classes will teach kitchen safety, food preparation and proper food handling practices.

Yoga Program: Each week our Minis aged 2 and up will take part in ‘Mini Yoga Club’ at the centre. This practice is associated with learning, memory and regulating emotions. 

Regular Excursions: Our Minis can extend their learning outside of the centre by taking part in excursions. Some examples include the Easter Show and visiting local parks for a picnic day.

In-House Incursions: Special visitors to the centre can share a wealth of knowledge with our Minis, as they can learn, discover and explore new and exciting things. Some incursions include native wildlife and reptile visits, petting zoos, dentists visits and cultural exploration with visits from Indigenous artists.

In addition to the national curriculum, Mini Masterminds Riverstone is proud to have developed a bespoke curriculum in consultation with well-regarded Early Childhood Teacher, Jacob Camilleri. The unique Prep School Program which was developed in consultation with him exposes children to the NSW Foundation Font and focuses not just on the Early Years Framework but also the Early Stage 1 curriculum as well. By merging the Pre-school and Kindergarten lessons, our Minis will have a head start when it comes to their formal schooling. 

The focus of the curriculum is on play-based learning, which ensures each Mini develops, understands and takes responsibility at their own pace, capability and individuality. The individualised educational curriculum is based on our Mini's current learning and interests and is designed to further each child’s growth and development. 

The centre’s programs allow for our Minis to move freely around the activities, making their own unique choices, while ensuring that all key learning areas are promoted and explored. The overall aim of the curriculum is to develop our Mini's independence, while fostering confidence in communication and learning.

Our Educators at Mini Masterminds Riverstone aim to help guide our Minis towards healthy eating habits that will help them maintain good health in the long term.

The menus are designed by nutritionist and mother, Gabriella Ratner, to include nutrient-dense meals created with the freshest ingredients, specifically selected for growing bodies. These menus allow for the inclusion of different cultural backgrounds and special dietary requirements of our Minis at the centre. 

The in-house chef prepares the meals throughout the day, with a four-week rotating menu. Our Minis are given hands-on experience with growing their own vegetables in the centre’s garden, to teach them about where their food comes from and to encourage them to try new things. The centre also offers a private feeding room for breastfeeding mothers as needed.