3 YEAR OLD EDUCATORS
3 Year Old Educators. In Order: Karen, Kylie, Fiona, Reba and Lyn (Shalini, not pictured)
Karen Stafferi (3-Year-Old Koalas Group Educator)
I have the pleasure of educating the children in the 3 year-old Koala group and I am so pleased to be part of such a friendly, supportive and dynamic team of educators and kinder community. With over 28 years of teaching experience to reflect on, I am of the belief that all children are unique individuals with the capacity to learn and will do so when immersed in a safe, secure and nurturing environment with dedicated and committed early childhood professionals.
Our program places emphasis on providing an environment that promotes children’s learning through valuable and meaningful experiences and interactions which stimulate and facilitate high level thinking skills. We encourage the children to be active participants and decision makers where they can explore, create, construct and solve problems with experiences and activities that allow the children to experience success.
We aim to foster positive attitudes towards learning and encourage all the imagination, creativity and wonder a child possesses to take flight.
Kylie McCormick (3-Year-Old Koalas Group Co-Educator)
During the years that my three children attended Robert Cochrane Kindergarten, I gained a deep appreciation of the caring and nurturing approach that is embedded in every aspect of the kindergarten. The dedicated staff and wonderful families help to create a strong sense of community that makes Robert Cochrane a truly special place! I was delighted to join the staff as Co-Educator in 2009. Watching the three year-old children develop and grow is thoroughly enjoyable and very rewarding work.
Shalini Perera (3-Year-Old Koalas Group Co-Educator)
I’m a Certificate III Early Childhood Education and Care qualified Educator and have been in the childcare industry since 2021. Previously to joining RCK, I worked as an OSHC educator with Camp Australia. This is my first time working in a kindergarten setting and I’m glad to have chosen RCK to build my knowledge and experience in this environment. I’m very excited to go forward with this new chapter in my life and to be able to watch and support the children grow and develop into more confident and independent individuals. I’m a mum of two children and was born in Sri Lanka. I moved to Australia in 2018 with my family. I enjoy spending my free time with my family, watching movies and going for walks and my favourite sport is netball. I’m so excited to be part of the RCK family and look forward to building stronger bonds with the children and families.
Fiona Darrigan (3-Year-Old Possums Group Educator)
My love of teaching Early Childhood came from my mother who was an Early Childhood teacher herself for over 40 years. As a role model she instilled in my sister and I the importance of education for young children through play based learning, nature play and laughter.
I have been fortunate to have lived overseas for over 16 years varying between Asia and Europe where I taught in the American and British International schools. Within Australia, I have lived and taught in Perth, Sale and Melbourne. This life experience of moving and teaching in different parts of the world has given me a greater understanding of culture and inclusion. Through learning in depth about other cultures, languages and philosophies towards Early Childhood teaching it always comes back to the child having a sense of Identity and Belonging.
At Robert Cochrane Kindergarten the educators recognise that families and their children are the core basis for the positive, respectful and responsive relationships that are formed when they attend the centre.
I feel proud to be working with such a dedicated staff.
Reba Winstanley (3-Year-Old Possums Group Co-Educator)
My initial study and work after school was in the science field, which I enjoyed for many years. After my experience with my eldest daughter in the ELC and lower primary I felt the pull to understanding more and changing my career direction; training in early childhood and completing the course two weeks before the arrival of my youngest daughter.
I have been working as an additional aid over the past few years and it's such a pleasure to be part of the RCK community. I have a passion for early and formative years and hold a high importance through play based learning. I have a warm, calm and thoughtful manner which all children, staff and parents respond to.
Lyn Hudson (3-Year-Old Possums Group Co-Educator)
After working with preschool children for 12 years within the Boroondara community, I am delighted to again be a part of Robert Cochrane Kindergarten. Working with Robert Cochrane since 2022 has given me an insight into why Robert Cochrane is held in such high regard. The aim of its dedicated staff is to provide the children in its education and care with the most constructive, most creative and fullfilling experience possible. My interests include gardening and craft with the children. I look forward to being a part of Robert Cochrane for many years to come.