SDN Marrickville

“I am passionate about transforming families’ perceptions of school readiness and supporting children to explore different subject areas through play.”

My qualifications and experience 

I received my Diploma of Teaching Early Childhood Education from the Sydney College of Advanced Education in 1988. 

I started working at SDN Redfern from April 1988 to December 2006 in both a teaching role and as Centre Director. I transferred to SDN Marrickville in 2006 as the Director. 

In 2016 I also had the opportunity to spend a year as the Senior Practice leader with SDN’s in-house Professional Learning and Development team. 

What I'm most passionate about in my role

As a Leader with this dedicated team at SDN Marrickville, I am inspired by each of the staff, their strengths and what they bring to the team. A strong sense of belonging and a family like bond is unique to this team. Majority of the staff have worked at the centre for over 10 years! With a blend of long standing and new staff all from diverse cultures, the team is enriched in partnership, which is a joy to be part of each day.  

The Marrickville Community is a bustling fusion of many cultures, diverse families, and a strong sense of community. Families will start in the 0-2’s room and stay until they start their next journey at school. Children and families form friendships at the centre, which will continue outside of SDN Marrickville as well. 

The daily conversations with families and children are so rewarding to me on a daily basis. Hearing their stories and sharing my stories about my family, is the bridge for building a trusting and respectful relationship with the children and families.

What I love about working with SDN 

I have only ever worked for SDN because I feel SDN’s values align very closely with mine. We are not only about providing a high-quality education and care service, but also about making a genuine difference in the lives of children, families and in the community.  

A little bit more about me 

I am a 5th generation from Lord Howe Island. My mum still lives on Lord Howe Island. I try and go back at least 2-3 times a year to see my mum and extended family. 

My ultimate joys are sitting under a palm tree with a good book and swimming in the crystal blue waters of the lagoon. I enjoy the quietness and escape from the ringing of mobile phones, the traffic and the hustle and bustle of Sydney! 

Growing bodies need movement and exercise. Growing minds need stimulus and exploration. Growing hearts need opportunities to play and mix with others.

At SDN we know that the best thing we can do for your infant or toddler is to support them to grow and develop in safe, unhurried, nurturing and challenging environments.

Because infants and toddlers are naturally curious, our centres have well-equipped indoor and outdoor areas that will keep your child moving and give them daily opportunities to explore their limits and grow their abilities.

Your child is unique and so we will devise a learning and development program within our curriculum pillars, based on what we know about your child’s interests, learning and development. Because they will always be changing and growing, we consistently review the program to ensure we are keeping up with your child’s development, providing them with the best learning opportunities.

Read more about our practice with children here.

Get more than school-ready, get life-ready 

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:

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.

Read more about our preschool program here.

Families in our urban-based centres often call our outdoor areas their “green oasis”.

SDN's outdoor spaces provide opportunities for children to enjoy themselves and have adventures. They’re safe environments for children to run, jump and yell, make mud cakes, and use their energy.

Outdoor spaces provide more than physical benefits. Even though you may think that children only play outside to have fun, they're also improving their thinking, social, and emotional skills. When they’re playing outside, they’re inventing games, learning about the world at their own pace, and figuring out social customs like turn-taking.

These are just some of the reasons SDN invests in developing new, award-winning outdoor spaces with natural designs that inspire children’s curiosity, physical play, and social play.

The traditional owners of the Marrickville area are the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.

SDN Marrickville opened in 1944, providing nursery school education in a long daycare setting. Women workers were favoured by many of Marrickville's early manufacturing industries, and their role in the workforce had created a need for long daycare. The purpose-built centre on Illawara Road also answered a growing demand for early years education in the 1940s.

The holistic care of children at SDN Marrickville was a priority. The guiding principle was that, in order to fulfil their potential, children needed nourishing food, proper rest and a program of exercise with free and guided play by trained staff. More than 70 years later, SDN Marrickville continues to provide quality child care and education for local children.

Since its beginnings, SDN Marrickville has reflected a strong connection with local families in a diverse, vibrant and multicultural community, and has supported SDN's vision and commitment to enhance the wellbeing and development of all children.

Read more about SDN Marrickville's history here.  

From 1 July 2024, our fees will be $207 per day for children under three years old and $180 per day for children three years and over. 

The majority of families in our centres do not pay the full daily fee because they receive Child Care Subsidy (CCS) from the government.

The subsidy you may receive through the CCS will depend on:

• Your combined family income
• The number of hours you work, study or participate in recognised volunteer work. This is called the ‘activity test’. If your child is in the year before school, if you are on a very low income, or if you are on parental leave, you will not have to pass the activity test to receive some CCS.

Your child will need to meet immunisation requirements and you will need to meet residency requirements to be eligible to receive the CCS.

You can also calculate what your out-of-pocket child care costs will be on the government’s Starting Blocks Child Care Subsidy Calculator.

NSW Start Strong funding - Additional Preschool Fee Relief

On top of any CCS you may receive, the NSW Government is providing additional fee relief:

• If your child turns 4 years old or before 31 July 2024, is enrolled in a preschool program at an eligible long day care service and doesn’t receive preschool relief (also called start strong funding) from another preschool, you will receive up to $2,110 in fee relief.
• If your child is 3 years old and not yet 4 years old on, or before 31 July in 2024, is enrolled at an eligible long day care service and doesn’t receive preschool relief (also called start strong funding) from another preschool, you will receive up to $500 in fee relief.

Find more information about the Start Strong program here. If you’ve read this information and you’re still unsure about what you’ll pay, please call us on 1300 831 445 or book a centre tour. We’re happy to answer your questions.

0-2 Babies

• Change of clothes x2
• Hat – sun safe  
• Shoes and Socks
• Warm clothes / Jacket (for outside play)
• Shoes and Socks
• Comforter – soft toy/blanket/dummy
• Bottles and milk formula/breast milk
• Blanket / Cot sheets

2-3 Toddlers

• Spare underwear
• Change of clothes
• Hat – sun safe
• Shoes and Socks
• Warm clothes / Jacket (for outside play)
• Drink Bottle
• Comforter – for rest time
• Blankets

3-5 Preschoolers  

• Spare underwear
• Change of clothes
• Hat – sun safe
• Shoes and Socks
• Warm clothes / Jacket (for outside play)
• Drink Bottle
• Blankets