Our Team

Zijing (JING) Zhang

Jing is passionate about early child hood education and care.

Education

• Diploma in Early Education and Care
• Currently Studying Bachelor of Early Childhood QUT 3rd year

Maria Costa

Maria Costa loves children and they love her.  Maria has recently completed her certificate 3 in early childhood and has a long history with children.  Maria is from Brasil and was a Ballarina for many years.  She is qualified to teach children Ballet and runs play based dance classes at Rachels Place.

Rachel McLaren

Rachel adores children and believes that they make life playful, fun and joyful. Connecting and enjoying life with children and their families is one of her favourite things to do. Rachel has had over 22 years experience in working with children and families in a diversity of roles. She is inspired to develop programs that support children’s sense of self, confidence and independence through providing warm relationships and environments that support healthy and secure attachment. The development of Rachel’s Place Child Care Centre as a hub for families has developed from understanding that connection to community and support in the early years of parenting and a child’s life are vital to their health and well being.

Education

• Diploma in Children’s Services
• Bachelor in Social Science Human Services

Meg Richards

I  hold a passion for working in a kindy environment as I believe that these years set the foundation for competent, motivated and creative children to become pro-active and successful adults. I look forward to sharing each child’s moments of delight, recognition and learning throughout their journey at Rachel’s Place.

Education

• Bachelor of Early Childhood (Preservice)

Paola Castro

Paola believes that we all are born with a full bag of compassion, kindness and love. “It is our role as adults to keep the levels to the maximum, demonstrating children how respect for others and being valued contributes to develop strong and positive relationships that are beneficial in a holistic way. Everyone is different and unique and in such a diverse country it is important to celebrate those differences and work together towards connection.” She’s interested in developing children’s confidence and common sense in order to help them make the right decisions for themselves and their environment.  Paola can be found to work here Tuesday to Friday.

Education

• Diploma in Early Childhood Education
• Diploma in Graphic Design

Magnus Monge

Magnus has been working in childcare for half a decade, both overseas and in Australia. He believes that childcare is a place where children should learn life skills, cooperation and self-discipline so they can succeed in life and their future education.  He loves coming to work to both teach and learn in partnership with our team.

Education

•   Bachelor in Early Childhood at QUT completed 2019

Nadika Ranathunga

Nadika is committed to provide children with love, care and education and has over 12 years of experience in early childhood settings. She dedicated to creating an atmosphere that is motivating, encouraging, safe, and adaptive to each child’s needs. She believes that young children learn from playing, questioning, and experimenting. She plays and uses other instructional techniques such as storytelling and games to improve children’s social skills. She loves her job because of the culture of the Rachel’s Place centre and of course the childrens love and affection.

Education

v   Diploma in Children’s Services- Central Queensland Institute of Tafe.

v    Certificate 111 in Children’s Services (Child Care)

Sabina Veronelli

Sabina has a diverse and rich experience with  with working in Early Childhood education.  Her goal as a teacher consist of providing a caring and nurturing environment where exploration, imagination, creative thinking and problem solving are welcomed, modelled and encouraged.  She particularly enjoys designing activities aimed at promoting agency and creativity, such as “invitations to play” open to child-led exploration and play based learning.   Sabina works us three to four days a week Tuesday to Friday and is key in developing our curriculum.

Education

• Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care 2016
• Certified Hand in Hand instructor
• Degree in Pedagogy with honours (thesis: creativity in teaching methods, ideas and experiences, Milan 1995)
• Post Graduate Course in Translation Italy 2007
• Currently working towards Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

Kyung Eun Lee

Kyung Eun is dedicated to learning everyday with the children.  She is very passionate about early childhood education and care and is currently studying her third year in her Bachelor of Early Childhood at QUT in Brisbane.

Education

• Diploma in Children’s Services

Hannah Caldow

Hannah believes all children are special and unique little people, who should be treated as individuals. She is very passionate about the Early Years and believes that children first need to feel safe, secure, supported and loved before any learning or development can occur.  Hannah has worked in Early Childhood for 9  years, both as a professional Nanny and in Early Learning Centres. She holds both a Certificate and Diploma of Children’s Services, and is currently studying her Advanced Diloma in Early Childhood. Unstructured, imaginative and open ended play are a huge part of her philosophy, and Hannah believes there should always be plenty of opportunities for hands on learning and messy, sensory exploration! Hannah loves helping children to explore and discover themselves and the world around them, at their own pace and in their own way.  Hannah works with us Monday to Friday.

Education

• Diploma of Children’s Services
• Certificate 3 in Children’s Services

Orawan Weeks

Education

• Diploma in Children’s Services
• Certificate 3 of Children’s Services