Working at YPK means a lot to me as a place I can use all of my skills in education, HR and finance, so I was excited to join the team in 2023. I’m loving the team and community aspect of my new workplace after running my own bookkeeping business as a sole operator for five years! YPK is such a delightful place and the aspect of working in a community centre with embedded local connections is wonderful.  

! was delighted to join the YPK team in 2022 and see both my children thrive in this beautiful kindy. I have a background in education in various international tertiary settings including the UK, Japan and Singapore. I am happy to bring my administration and communications experience to the early education sector and enjoy working with teaching staff and parents to help our kindy run efficiently and smoothly. 

I was thrilled to join the team at YPK in 2023 as Teacher and Director. Community Kindy is a special place for teachers, children and families to grow together. My personal and professional passion revolves around social and emotional learning, child protection and instilling children with a strong sense of self.

I bring to my work with children a wide range of knowledge and experience of education in different settings - community/public health education, language teaching abroad in primary and high schools, corporate communications, and of course, being a mum!

I have three children who have all had the benefit of a great start at community kindys and this led me to narrow my teaching focus on the early years. Being part of a quality service is a privilege and I look forward to connecting with the wonderful YPK families each year.

I have been at this beautiful centre for 26 years and have been working in the Early Childhood sector since 1987! I love the relationships that grow between the children, their families and me.  

​

I believe children will thrive when they feel acceptance, love and appreciation from those around them. I try to give each child agency and value their individuality and creative problem solving - it is what our world will need as we move forward. I have a wonderful family that consists of my two children (Alex and Brighid) and two beautiful grandchildren (Luca, 6 and Lara, 4).

I love nature and the bush and love to mountain bike each weekend and during the week if I can manage it. I also love yoga and try to keep my mind and body healthy and fit. 

The children call me Kelli or Miss Kelli. I started teaching at YPK in 1987 (2024 is my 38th year!!) after two years teaching in a state preschool in Tin Can Bay.

I have seen many changes in education since I started teaching many years ago but the one thing that remains constant is that children will always need to feel SAFE, WELCOME, CARED FOR and VALUED before they can learn. Adults also need to value the child’s need for PLAY! I feel strongly about children being allowed to be children, to enjoy the natural world, to know how to relax and have some calm in their very busy lives.

I have two adult children, Dylan and Abby, as well as two very spoilt dogs; a Rottweiler called Tushka and a Groodle called Alaska. We spend our valuable down time doing what we love best which for Iggy is golf (yes I am a golf widow), and for me reading, painting and craft. I practice yoga too. We love to travel when possible - I think a trip back to Tassie is called for very soon!

I have a Certificate III and Diploma in Children’s Services - Education and Care. I am married and have 3 teenage daughters. Before starting my family I worked as a nanny in Sydney, Brisbane and London. 

I first came to YPK as a parent when my youngest daughter spent her kindy year here. When I was studying my Diploma, I did my prac here and also some relief work and have been part of the YPK family since 2012.

I love working with kindy age children. Their curiosity and imagination is just endless and I can’t wait to see where that takes us each day. I love the conversations we have and getting to know them and learn about what interests them. I enjoy watching the children learn and grow and see how much they change throughout the year. 

When I am not at kindy I enjoy spending time with my family. I love going to movies, cooking, long walks on the beach at sunset and reading. 

I have worked at Yeronga Park Kindy for 20 years, but have been a part of this service since I was a child.  I love working with children and families, helping them to navigate the joys and trials of the early years of their families’ lives.

I am happily married with three fur children and many other pets. I have a love of art and gardens. In my spare time I love to do lead lighting, mosaics and painting or spend time in the garden. I have a very productive garden, full of fruits and vegetables, which I love to share with the children and families I work with, as well as my colleagues. 

I have been working with children since 1992 and have enjoyed each and every day. I enjoy meeting each child and love how unique, curious, and filled with wonder they are. I approach each day hoping to make each child feel safe, secure, and loved.  

​

In addition, I strongly advocate for children having the opportunity and time to explore nature. On the weekends I also enjoy spending time in nature exploring different beaches. I also have a passion for cooking and experimenting with different recipes that I like trying out on my family, especially my two adult sons, Hollan and Mace, and my fiancé, Tony. 

I’m so excited to be joining the team at YPK this year in After Kindy Care. 

​

I’m originally from Bangkok, Thailand and have been working with children in education and care settings for three years. I also have two children of my own aged 12 and 10, which keeps me very crazy busy!

I love to make children feel safe and comfortable at kindy and help them to learn and play together.

I have worked at Yeronga Park Kindergarten since 2022 doing inclusion support and I have loved every second of it! I personally have such fond memories of this kindy having come here myself so I feel really grateful to have the opportunity to work here.

​

I’m currently studying my Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care. I also nanny for a local family and in my spare time you’ll find me at the beach or reading a good book.