Staff Profiles
Emily - Director
Emily has been in the early childhood sector for many years. Emily holds the following qualifications:
– Bachelor of Education Early Childhood
– Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Education
– Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play
– Victorian Institute of Teaching – Effective Mentoring Program
– Department of Education Coach and Mentoring Program
Emily aims to provide strong leadership and direction to our teaching team at OPK, our families and for the future of our kindergarten.
When Emily isn’t working at OPK she is Lecturing at University level to help support, guide and nurture our future teachers.
Emily enjoys spending time with her husband, 4 teenage children and her cavoodle, loves travelling, practicing yoga and going to the gym.
Alex - 3-year-old teacher (Tea tree group)
Alex fell in love with education 13 years ago, when she started teaching English as a Second Language in Brazil, her home country. Alex holds a Master of Early Childhood Teaching and likes to keep up to date with current research and best practices.
Alex works to provide a warm, safe and inclusive environment, where all children and families feel respected and heard, and children are seen as capable and active participants of their own learning journey. Alex’s passion is to inspire children to be curious and inquiry-oriented about the world around them, instigating a lifelong love for learning.
When Alex isn’t working, she loves spending time with her family, at a park, the beach, or relaxing at home. Alex enjoys cycling, running, reading and watching movies. Alex loves cooking Brazilian homemade food and playing Pokemon games with her son.
Bee - 4 year old teacher (Banksia group)
Bee has a dual Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Psychology. She has been working in the education industry for the entirety of her working life. Bee has always had a passion for teaching young children and loves seeing them reach different milestones.
Bee’s inspiration for working with children is embedded in the fact that they are full of inspiration, curiosity and imagination. Throughout Bee’s teaching career, she has had the chance to grow with students in Singapore, America, and Australia. She believes that emotional engagement is the key to all powerful learning.
Bee is a proud mother of three wonderful children, loves travelling and cooking.
Andi - 4-year-old co-educator (Banksia group)
Andi joined Olive Phillips Kindergarten in 2018. Andi believes that children learn through exploration, and has
experience with the Reggio Emilia approach to education. Andi has a love of the creative arts, drawing and painting, nature, photography, physical activity and the outdoors.
Andi has a Diploma of Children’s Service. Prior to her time at Olive Phillips Kindergarten, Andi worked for many
years in the early childhood education profession as a 3-year-old lead educator.
Vicki - 3-year-old co-educator (Tea tree group)
Vicki has been working with children for 35 years in sessional kindergarten programs and multi age group settings. Vicki is passionate about her work in early childhood and enjoys working with this age group. Vicki believes that play-based learning, inquiry learning, creativity, stories and music and movement are all important parts of early childhood. Vicki enjoys watching children grow and develop throughout the year and getting to know their families. Vicki holds a Certificate 111 in Children’s Services and continues to follow her interest in professional development to keep up to date in the field.
Vicki has her own family who are very important to her, including her two adult sons. She enjoys reading books, going to concerts, the movies and going to the gym.