SDN Owl's House Kingsford at UNSW

"I am most passionate about creating a welcoming and positive space for my community, be it with the team, children or families." 

My qualifications and experience 

I have a Bachelor of Education, Early Childhood Education from University of South Australia, as well as a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Leadership. I also obtained my First Aid in Mental Health, which I feel is such an important life skill to have! 

I have been working in the early childhood sector for 23 years, first in Singapore in several roles such as a Preschool Teacher, Enrichment Teacher, Educational Consultant and Assistant Director before coming to Sydney in 2016. Here, I worked my way up from Early Childhood Teacher to Educational Leader, then Assistant Director and finally Centre Director, before joining SDN Owl's House Kingsford at UNSW in 2024. 

What I'm most passionate about in my role 

I am most passionate about creating a welcoming and positive space for my community, be it with the team, children or families. 

What I love about working with SDN 

I love the tight-knit community of professionals in SDN. It is beautiful to see the harmony between everyone and how supportive each one in the organisation is; willing to give a hand at any time. 

A little bit more about me 

In my spare time I love to read, tend to my indoor plants collection, spend time in nature; bushwalking or going to the beach and watching horror movies! I also have a cheeky mini lop bunny named Bunji. 

My first language is English and Malay as a second language/mother tongue and I am able to speak basic Mandarin. 

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.

From 1 July 2024, our fees will be $219 per day for children under three years old and $192 per day for children three years and over.

NB: UNSW University staff fees will be $207 per day for children under three years old and $180 per day for children three years and over.

UNSW University student fees will $168 per day for children under three years old and $149 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.

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.

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

Following the establishment of the House at Pooh Corner (THPC) by the Student Guild in 1969, the UNSW Women’s Employment Strategy eventually welcomed the SDN Owl's House centre in 2013. 

While the Owl's House location began as a part of the UNSW's Strategic Intent to create an environment supporting the development and wellbeing of children, UNSW announced the termination of its management in three centres, including Owl's House, in 2020. SDN successfully obtained management of the centres in 2021 and has been facilitating these safe and innovative spaces since. 

The Owl's House centre continues to develop its services to nurture caring hearts, healthy bodies and curious minds.

Read more about SDN Owl's House here. 

At SDN we want to ensure that all families have access to high quality, inclusive education and care as we provide at SDN Owl's House. That’s why we offer the opportunity to enrol for occasional care at this centre.

Families in flexible care have the opportunity to take a full or a half-day place and must make at least one booking every 8 weeks.

Occasional care bookings are taken subject to availability on the day and you can book occasional care for either a full day or a half-day.

To find out more call us on 1300 831 445.