Meet our Staff

My Name is Lindsay Duck & I am your Centre Director here Holland Park! You will also notice that I am the Centre Director at our sister service in Eight Mile Plains as well 😊

I have been working in this sector for over 12 years now & have been in a Centre Director role for over 10 years. I have completed my Advanced Diploma in Early Childhood Education & always participating in ongoing professional development and child psychology courses.

The early years of a child’s life are very busy. I know my life before my love of early education has only emphasized to me what I was meant to do. I believe learning id happening all the time and is interwoven between all developmental domains. Which is inclusive of physical, social/emotional, cognitive and communication.

Therefore, my goal is to make on going learning experiences safe, positive, and fun, nurturing the whole child as I strive them into the next stage of development with confidence in themselves and an excitement for continued learning.

As a pedagogical leader, I work alongside my educators and support practices that enable them to be thoughtful and intentional about their work with children. I promote a deep professional and pedagogical engagement through research, reflective practice, and critical, collaborative dialogue.

Families and parents are our children’s most important relationships. These may take on may forms, all of which are equal importance to the child.

I will try absolute best to be the best leader for the children that I work for, by role modelling appropriate behaviours, not only with the child, but families and colleagues a well. Making sure I am knowledgeable with current trends and issues in all early childhood education and other areas that affect those in this sector.

My name is Danielle. I have three children Amy 25, Charlotte 19 and Emma 18. All I have known is how to be a mother and care for children, so it only made sense for me to choose a career in childcare.

Up until recently I was lead educator for the babies in the nursery. It was during this time that I completed my Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care.

I am so excited to begin this journey with you and your children. It is my hope that you can put your trust in me to continue what you have started with your children, so together, we can help them with their development and guide them on their pathway to become the person they will grow up to be.

As a teacher, I believe that each child will grow and develop in their own, unique way. I believe that each child should have the opportunity to work individually and socially, and through this play I will ensure to provide opportunities for the children to develop and achieve each of the appropriate milestones. Theorist Steiner says that children need free and creative play to best develop their spirit, body, and mind. Like this theory, I believe that children learn through play, and I will use and value each child’s strengths, interests, skills, abilities, and knowledge to provide opportunities for them to explore, discover, create, and imagine.

I believe that children need to be given the opportunity to make their own decisions and choices. Through my style of teaching, I hope that children will grow to become independent and confident learners. I guide and support children’s learning through documenting learning journeys and an emergent curriculum. These provide me with an insight of each child’s learning, current skill levels and current interests. Whilst developing my weekly, emergent program, I aim to provide ongoing, age-appropriate experiences for the children to discover and explore new and emerging abilities. These experiences will be positive, safe, and fun as each experience has a purpose to guide children into the next stage of development.

I always aim to create a calm and welcoming environment for all children and families.

Theorist Bowlby says that children who have healthy and strong bonds with familiar caregivers will develop socially, emotionally, and form strong self-identities. Like this theory,

I believe it is important to form strong and meaningful relationships with children and families to ensure families feel confident whilst their child is in my care, and children feel safe, secure, and develop a string sense of belonging.

I believe that verbal communication with families is essential regarding their child’s day, current interests, and development. I believe that family involvement is a great way for myself as a teacher, to learn about and implement activities and experiences that respect and value diversity and each of our individual backgrounds.