Our team

I am the Nominated Supervisor and Director of Darwin Montessori. I entered the Early Childhood sector in 2008, and since then, I have cultivated skills in teaching both Traditional and Montessori methods. Over my career, I have been an assistant director and director, providing me with opportunities to support and train numerous early childhood professionals. I actively collaborate with services and organisations in our community and beyond, aiming to support students, families, and children, while also incorporating community input into our practices. Passionate about Early Childhood Education and Care, I consistently attend conferences to stay up to date with the latest developments and enhance my knowledge. The University of New England recognised my expertise and invited me to work for them as a PASS Student leader. This experience not only allowed me to further develop my mentorship skills but also provided exposure to the early childhood sector nationwide.

As a dedicated Early Childhood professional, my advocacy revolves around inclusion, diversity, and individualised support for every child and family. I firmly believe that every child has the right to high-quality care and education. My enthusiasm extends to neuroscience, and I am committed to understanding what benefits each child and how educators can foster individual development while respecting the child’s and their family’s beliefs.

Through my years in the Early Childhood sector, I have gained profound insights into myself as a professional and as a mother. I have a genuine interest in people, their experiences, and their stories, contributing significantly to shaping the person and early childhood professional I am today. Beyond work, I dedicate time to further my early childhood studies, and I cherish moments with my husband and two children. Watching my children participate in sporting events and embarking on holiday trips with friends and family bring me immense joy. My family, friends, and work hold great importance in my life. I believe that every child deserves quality care and education.

I started my Journey as a school based trainee in 2013, from there I went on to my Diploma and became Room Leader. To further my development as a educator I became Educational Leader. I like working in the childcare industry as I get to assist children grow, learn and develop. I love working in the Montessori environment as it follows the individual child, encourages independence and gives children hands on learning experiences. Outside of work I love spending time with my daughter going on adventures exploring our beautiful area.

My name is Alicia, I am currently the Room Leader for the 2-to-6-year old’s and lead the educational learning in the one-to-one lessons. I have been training in the Montessori Theory since 2011. I have a qualification of Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care and I am working towards an Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) qualification. I have been working in the early childhood industry since 2006 and teaching children has always been a passion of mine and I have always wanted to work with children as long as I can remember. I have a caring, playful, nurturing nature and I love to learn new things and working with children is a huge learning experience.

I love to share my artistic and creative side and bring out my inner child. I am motivated by the opportunity to influence and shape the lives of young children and to see children’s development and learning firsthand as the children grow and flourish under my care. Outside of work I love to spend quality time with my family, especially with my nieces and nephews. I also like going on adventures and enjoy travelling.

Hi, I’m Amelia!

I’ve always loved being around children and have been surrounded by younger ones for as long as I can remember. Even from a young age, I enjoyed helping to take care of them, which is what led me to early childhood education. I’m passionate about creating a fun, supportive, and nurturing environment where children feel safe to explore, learn, and grow.

Outside of work, I’m an active person who loves rugby league, surfing, and pretty much any outdoor activity. I enjoy bringing that same energy into my work, encouraging children to be curious, confident, and engaged in their learning. I’m excited to be part of their journey and to help create positive early experiences that set them up for the future!

My name is Bishu Dotel and I preferred to be called Lyna. My home country is Nepal. I moved to Australia in early 2022 for my marriage. I am currently completing my Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.

I started my journey in early childhood education in 2015. I had a golden opportunity to have three months of Montessori training at Grisae Montessori in South Korea. During that time, I gained valuable experience and learned about Montessori philosophy in depth. I was really inspired and motivated by the director YoungHee from Grisae Montessori hence I decided to become an early childhood teacher. I graduated from an early childhood education course (ECEC) conducted by Kathmandu University and supported by NLA University College (Norway) in Nepal. After working as an early childcare teacher for 5 years, my friends and I started Ark Montessori School in 2019.

I love working with children and I believe every child is very special in their own way. I enjoy working with children from different backgrounds and I believe I have better understanding of different cultures and languages from my diverse cultural experience.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending good quality time with my lovely and caring husband. We both enjoy exploring different local café and restaurants. We also enjoy going for a walk along the beach.

My name is Colleen, and I have enjoyed working within the childcare sector for the last 30 years, starting at a center in this area of traditional learning. Throughout this time, I completed my Diploma in Early Childhood, giving me the knowledge and best training for this profession. I have been lucky to work alongside other educators who share my beliefs about why we enjoy what we do, and that is our focus. We are forever learning, just like the beautiful children in our care.

I am married with two amazing children who have children of their own, and I enjoy watching them grow. My go-to activities are simply spending time with family and friends, camping, and enjoying the fresh air in any way I can.

My name is Emily, and I am a passionate and caring individual who has always had a desire to work with children. Currently, I am working towards obtaining my Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care. I thoroughly enjoy engaging with children and discovering their unique personalities, as well as finding ways to provide individualized support within our service. I eagerly anticipate pursuing further studies to deepen my understanding of early childhood development.

Despite having limited exposure to the field thus far, I hold a deep appreciation for the Montessori philosophy.

In my spare time, I take pleasure in spending time with my family and expressing my creative side through art.

Hi, my name is Huyen Phan, and my English name is Quinn. After over 12 years in the corporate world, becoming a mother inspired me to explore children’s development and education. My journey began with a desire to better understand and teach my son, which eventually led me to pursue a career in early childhood education. I now taking training at Darwin Montessori center, where I’ve been fortunate to learn and grow alongside incredible children and colleagues.

I enjoy incorporating active activities like yoga into our daily curriculum, helping children stay active, calm their minds, and develop a love for movement. My passion is to bring out the best in each child and to be part of their joyful early memories. Outside of work, I cherish time spent exploring the beautiful local beaches with my partner and son and staying connected with loved ones overseas through video calls.

Hi my name is Maxine and I have worked in the early childhood sector since 2013. I have worked both in mainstream and Montessori. Montessori is more interesting in the fact of letting children learn at their own pace and learning life skills from a young age. Being able to provide the opportunity for children to learn, grow, and develop to their greatest potential is what inspires me to work in childcare.

My professional ambition is to become an early childhood teacher that can help children from 6 weeks to 6 years become more confident learners and assist them in becoming who they are. When I’m not at work I enjoy going on adventures from fishing, camping and driving to unknown destination with my partner and our dog Biggie.

All Our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. W.Disney, 1966