SDN Woolloomooloo

"I love seeing the progress and learning from children in our care and watching them continue their journey to becoming stronger and more resilient than when they first joined us". 

My qualifications and experience 

I studied a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Education (0-8 years old) at Macquarie University, graduating in 2002. 

I worked casually in childcare while I studied at university, across private and community-based services. I gained a lot of experience in this time and felt it was a good balance whilst studying as a mature age student. I also worked as a nanny while studying. 

After leaving university, I immediately jumped into Centre Director roles. My first role was leading a centre in the Inner West from 2003-2008 before joining SDN in 2008. During my time so far at SDN, I've worked across smaller and larger centres, including SDN Mosman (2008-2011), SDN Paddington (2011-2018) and now SDN Woolloomooloo, where I've been since 2018. 

What I'm most passionate about in my role 

I am passionate about a lot of things within my role. The main ones being: 

• Making sure children and families always feel welcome and comfortable at the centre. 
• Inclusion of all children, which has become a big part of my role with families. 
• Supporting families in achieving work/family balance–it’s a hard one to achieve these days.
• Helping families to understand and experience high quality care and education. They shouldn’t settle for less.
• Going that one step further for families and children–we are all there to support each other as much as we can. 

What I love about working with SDN 

So many things! I love the variety of my role and laughing with the children and staff. 

I make sure I spend time with children and families both every day, getting to spend time with them each morning.  I feel it is important that they know me as well as they do the educators.  

I really love seeing the progress and learning for children in our care and watching them continue their journey in becoming stronger and more resilient than when they first joined us. Children never cease to amaze me – they always see things in unique ways. 

A little bit more about me 

I have two children who attended SDN, and are now in primary school and high school. During this time, I loved watching them play and learn alongside me every day – there were many shared memories discussed at our dinner table. This time gave me insight into their early years that many parents would never experience.  

In my spare time I love to bike ride, go to the gym, go walking and listen to music. I can also speak Italian, due to my Italian heritage. 

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.

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.

SDN Woolloomooloo is our second oldest children’s education and care centre, yet has one of our most modern outdoor spaces. It has a magical fairy garden and a veggie garden where the children can help grow fresh beans and tomatoes. There’s also a climbing wall with a slide and a winding waterplay feature, all laid on softfall surfaces.

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

Woolloomooloo is the home of SDN’s very first centre, opened in 1905 in a terrace house in Dowling Street to provide much-needed child care for local workers. SDN Woolloomooloo moved to its present location in 1921. The building, designed by the Government Architect, originally opened as the Welfare Centre for Mothers and Babies. The multipurpose service combined SDN’s Woolloomooloo Day Nursery, a kindergarten, a Baby Health Centre clinic, and a milk depot providing access to sterilised milk from government farms.

After a need was identified for an education program in a long day care setting for children aged over two years, SDN opened NSW’s first nursery school in 1931 and a training centre for nursery school teachers in 1932, both in the Woolloomooloo building.

Since its beginnings as an integrated ‘welfare centre’, SDN Woolloomooloo has undergone many changes, always maintaining and reflecting a strong connection with the families of this vibrant and diverse community.

Read more about SDN Woolloomooloo's history here.

From 1 July 2024, our fees will be $208 per day for children under three years old and $188 per day for children three years and over.

SDN Woolloomooloo also offers half day sessions. Half days are $125 for 0-3 years and $113 for 3-5 years, from 10am to 3pm.

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