| |
|
 |
Principal and Director
Kathy Walker, B.Ed, M.Ed.
Kathy Walker is a renowned Melbourne-based Educational Consultant who conducts a
range of professional development sessions throughout Australia for staff
working across all sectors of early childhood and primary education as well as a
range of government organisations and parent groups. Kathy is formerly a
university lecturer in education and author of the best selling book for
parents, What’s the Hurry as well as her latest book for teachers on the
Australian Developmental Curriculum.
Kathy Walker is a renowned Melbourne-based Educational Consultant who conducts a
range of professional development sessions throughout Australia for staff
working across all sectors of early childhood and primary education as well as a
range of government organisations and parent groups. Kathy is formerly a
university lecturer in education and author of the best selling book for
parents, What’s the Hurry as well as her latest book for teachers on the
Australian Developmental Curriculum. In 2008 Kathy was
awarded a Fellowship from the Australian Council For Educational Leaders.
Kathy is a regular contributor to the Education Age, on issues
regarding early childhood and primary education. She speaks regularly on ABC
radio on parenting and education issues. She was appointed the independent
inquirer for the Australian Education Union (AEU) sponsored National Inquiry
into Preschool Education across Australia.
Kathy specialises in a range of topics for both parents and
staff. In particular her specialisation with schools and early childhood
programs include, school readiness, school transition, children’s behaviour
resilience and self esteem and developmental curriculum. These are all in
popular demand. A major component of Kathy’s work with schools is in assisting
staff to implement developmental curriculum (play and project based curriculum).
Kathy’s commitment to parents extends to the corporate sector and
businesses that support family friendly work practices. She conducts
presentations on a range of issues for working parents.
Kathy is a highly skilled facilitator of planning days, school
council and parent information/discussion sessions.
As an excellent public speaker, Kathy inspires audiences at
special events or annual general meetings.
Kathy also works in a number of local government areas in
building networks at community level between early childhood, primary and other
community services for families and children.
|
 |
Associate
Rene Silbermann
(Community presentations)
Rene is currently the Head of Mount Scopus Memorial
College, Gandel Besen House, in Melbourne. She has worked in Early Childhood/
Primary School for the past 25 years and has a Masters Degree in Special
Education- the main focus of her studies was on Early intervention. Rene has a
Certificate diploma in Gifted Education from the University of New South Wales
and part of her studies involved Gifted Education in Early Childhood settings.
Rene specialises in providing talks on a range of topics for both
staff and parents in literacy, numeracy and a range of early childhood topics
including behaviour, self esteem and parent support. She works with Family day
care, child care and preschool staff as well as primary teachers.
She has presented papers at many conferences, including Gifted
Education, Disabilities and Literacy in the Early Years. In addition she
lectures at University of Melbourne in the Learning Difficulties course.
Rene works with Kathy Walker on many projects and provides many
presentations across Victoria.
Prior to her taking up her position as Head of Mount Scopus
Memorial College, Rene was the Head of Support Services at a Private school in
Melbourne. Here she was involved in supporting teachers in planning their
programs, ensuring that all children’s needs were catered for as well as
supporting children with learning difficulties and acting as a support for
parents.
|
 |
Associate
Lyn Benson Psychologist and Family Therapist M.A.Ps.S.
(Community presentations)
Lyn is a fully Registered Psychologist and Family Therapist in
private practice since 1996.
Lyn’s areas of special interest include : Changes in the couple relationship
following the birth of children; Parenting; Relationship counselling; Women’s
issues (in particular helping women become assertive); Family of origin issues;
Stress and work related issues; Anxiety; Depression; Problem gambling and Sexual
abuse issues.
The therapeutic approaches that Lyn uses include Family Therapy and Cognitive
Behavioural techniques. In addition, Lyn can offer clients hypnosis as a tool,
particularly in dealing with anxiety and addictive behaviours and patterns. Lyn
works with clients to challenge past unhelpful behaviours and beliefs and to
access their own competence, authenticity and strength.
Research indicates that children learn how to behave in the world from their
parents’ example. Lyn uses her Family Therapy training to help parents modify
their own behaviour to positively influence their children.
Lyn works in a respectful and non-threatening manner with clients, creating a
safe space where clients can feel heard and understood.
|
 |
Associate Helen Newton
(Australian Developmental Curriculum Mentor)
Helen is a retired Primary School Principal who has worked
extensively in all sectors of education: preschools, primary schools, special
schools, special education consultancy, secondary schools, preservice teacher
training, and universities. She has taught overseas as well as in Australia.
Helen’s formal academic studies include qualifications in early childhood
education , special education, and a Master’s Degree in educational
administration.
As principal of Roberts McCubbin Primary School, Helen worked with the school
community to create a unique multiaged learning environment for children, Under
her leadership the school achieved excellence through a broad child-centred
curriculum with a strong emphasis on the fostering of each individual child’s
creativity through the performing and visual arts. The school’s motto,
“Creativity and Endeavour” was chosen by Helen and her team to guide the
philosophy and curriculum of their school.
Helen’s areas of special interest include educational philosophy,
multi-age
education, creativity and play, preschool to school transition, understanding
the needs of young children, learning to read, reading disability, and children
with special learning needs.
As an educational writer, Helen has written many articles on early childhood
education, leadership, and the development of reading and language skills in
young children. Her recent innovative work with university students as
volunteers in assisting teenagers with reading difficulties was awarded a
literacy grant by the federal government.
Helen has worked with Kathy Walker in a number of educational settings and on
numerous projects for more than twelve years. Together they have presented
papers and seminars on multi-age education; child development, emotional
intelligence and educational leadership.
Helen also works with Kathy in assessing children’s readiness for transition
from preschool to school. Her most recent publication for parents of young
children is Holiday Magic.
|
 |
Associate
Jane Maeland BECS Grad Dip Ed (Prim)
(Australian Developmental Curriculum Mentor)
Jane has many years’ experience in a variety of Early
Childhood settings including long day care, sessional Kindergarten and
Pre-School in Canada. Since completing her Graduate Diploma in Education, she
has taught at Primary level. She is currently a Prep teacher and Prep year level
co-ordinator.
Jane has an extensive collegiate relationship with Kathy Walker. Jane runs a
developmental curriculum in her classroom and Kathy has been instrumental in its
implementation.
The developmental curriculum is Jane’s area of specialty. She strongly believes
play is the most powerful way of enhancing children’s development and learning.
Jane works with schools, conducting mentoring sessions to assist in the
implementation of developmental curriculum. She also provides parent talks on a
variety of topics.
|
 |
Associate
Lanie Tobias
(Parent support)
Lanie is a qualified social worker who has worked with women and children for a
number of years.
Lanie works in a holistic, non-judgmental way. Lanie provides a confidential and
safe space for people to discuss their issues and concerns.
Lanie has expertise in young children and working iwth parents to support a
range of strategies that will support and guide effective parenting.
Lanie's areas of special interest include; children’s behaviour, support for
women, parental and family issues, cross-cultural and working with groups.
|
 |
Associate
Sandy Breit
(Parent support)
Sandy has been working as a Counsellor at The Alfred Hospital for over 11 years.
She has also worked as a Counsellor at the Victorian Deaf Society and at
Children and Family Services at Monash University. Before changing career
directions, Sandy was a Primary Teacher & also worked as a Family Support Worker
assisting people with parenting skills and organisational skills.
Sandy has qualifications in Primary Teaching, Welfare, Family Therapy,
Bereavement Counselling and Mediation. She has worked with individuals, couples
and families and has facilitated support groups.
Sandy creates a confidential and non judgemental environment, where people are
able to feel safe to discuss and express their feelings. Sessions may involve
assisting people to identify their concerns, fears, parenting issues or things
that they may not be sure about and finding appropriate strategies or offering
reassurance.
Sandy is committed to the notion of parenting being a positive experience for
both children and parents/caregivers. She believes in creating a nurturing space
for children to grow and develop and finding ways that parenting can be a joyful
as well as a challenging experience.
|
|
Associate
Maria Kyrgias
(Mentor for Australian Developmental curriculum and School
Readiness assessments)
Maria has many years of teaching experience, including positions as
Assistant Principal in the primary sector. She has also taught in the middle
school sector and in the Education faculty of a tertiary institution.
Maria’s formal qualifications are TITC, Diploma of Education, and Bachelor of
Education.
Maria has held many positions of responsibility including, head of junior school,
junior and senior school coordination and coordination of programs for highly
able and special needs students. She has also had the responsibility of
coordinating Kindergarten to Prep transition programs as well as Year 6 to 7
transition.
As Assistant Principal of Roberts McCubbin Primary School, Maria worked with
Principal, Helen Newton and staff to create a dynamic, stimulating, inclusive
learning environment with emphasis on the individual. Maria’s special interests
include the importance of language and children’s literature in the development
of the child and the child as a unique individual.
Maria works with Kathy in assessing children’s readiness for transition from
preschool to school and on presentations to parent groups. |
|
|
