As of 2025, East West's 15 staff members have a combined total 207 years working at East West, or an average of 13.8 years per staff member! We have 4 staff members who have worked here for more than 25 years each.
Relationships are key - relationships between staff members, staff and children, staff and families and East West and the wider community.
Relationships are key - relationships between staff members, staff and children, staff and families and East West and the wider community.
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Ella
My work at East West and everywhere is about connection - to ourselves, each other, our histories, our futures. I bring my bare feet to the floor and my bare heart to the table, because linking theory, discourse, and practice to our selves is what sustains our thriving, diverse community Ruth (Coordinator, ECT, Educational Leader and Nominated Supervisor) An Early Childhood teacher, I've been learning from young children and their families for 30 years, 25 of them here. I'm always asking "why" and wondering if things can be done differently, better. Trusting children and being unafraid to take risks has led to some extraordinary adventures. Ayan I started here as a student in 2008, and have felt connected and part of the community and it has felt like a second home to me ever since. East West isn’t like any other ordinary child care, I feel proud to say I am apart of this community. Leonie (Coordinator, Nominated Supervisor) As a fresh faced 18 year old I started relief working at East West, then went on to complete my Diploma in Early Education. The unique, homey environment, ever evolving organic play, discoveries made, shared learning between us, children and their families are the reasons I'm still here, more than 30 years on. Helen A Certificate III graduate, I have been working as an Early Childhood professional for over 25 years. I am constantly adjusting and improving my work practices as I learn from my colleagues. One of my favourite things to do is participate in PD's - I love learning new things! Audrey (Coordinator, Nominated Supervisor) Whilst studying the Diploma of Early Childhood at Swinburne in 2006 I came here as a student and never left! Our philosophy, child-led practice, multi-aged care, understanding of the importance of play and community consciousness are why I have been here all this time. Felicity I believe that children learn best when they are valued as active members of a multi-aged, multi-skilled community. This understanding led me here as a student over 20 years ago, and here I still am, learning and growing alongside the children and my peers in a challenging, deeply thoughtful environment.. Hannah Both of my children attended East West and we have maintained strong ties with the educators and many of our fellow families over the years. It has been a joy to continue the connection by coming to work here in an administrative role. I am passionate about building and sustaining community, and there is no better place for me to do this than at East West. Niq I have worked at East West since 2005; my brother worked here before me and all his children attended East West. "There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other wings" Goethe. Yuming As a landscape designer turned educator, Yuming was astounded by children's remarkable competence and capability, reshaping her worldview. It sparked her curiosity: "How can we empower and learn from children to improve our world?" These questions persistently drive her to explore novel approaches. Yuming has recently completed her Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education. Trudy I came to East West as an ECE student with a background in fine arts. It has been a joy to experience the conflation of an art practice with a teaching practice. I feel honoured to be welcomed into the unique and forward thinking space of the East West family. Claire (Coordinator, ECT, Nominated Supervisor) With a Bachelor of Social Science & Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood, I'm here to support children's holistic development through play, wonder and relationships. Quality Early Childhood environments like East West are a protective factor for childrens wellbeing now and into the future. What an extraordinary thing to call my 'work'. Kallista I have recently completed my bachelors of early childhood education at VU, after joining East West during the pandemic. I love Eastwest. I love the educators & our community! Our pedagogy here is ever evolving, my fellow educators are dedicated to quality care & education of the children. I love how much I learn and evolve during my time at East West! Truly so grateful to work here :3 Hadeel Changing my path from agricultural research to early childhood education helped me discover my true purpose. East West was the first place that believed in me, offering both my placement and first role. I feel grateful to belong to this community and inspired every day by the children I support. Indu Ever since I started here as a student, I knew this was a special place. I have been on a learning mode ever since. The words that help guide my work here are - calm and relaxed - feelings, emotions and intuition - gratitude and respect Anna Coming from a STEM background, I joined the East West community in 2016. I love working in such a dynamic environment with a genuinely whole-child approach to Early Childhood Education. It is inspiring to be working with children, knowing that we are helping to prepare them for an impossible to imagine future Shannon (on leave) I have been part of EW since 2023. Despite hailing from the field of finance, my true passion is supporting children who face barriers to education. It was in 2022 that I decided to give up my established career in finance to pursue a degree in Early Childhood. While initially disheartened, the Course Chair of Victoria University referred me to East West. East West showed me that there is a space that keeps CHILDREN FIRST. East West practices have become second nature to my teaching principles. |
Our 4 Co-coordinators, each of whom have their own unique qualities, work together to lead a
team of committed, engaged and innovative educators.
The care and attention to children's wellbeing is first and foremost in our day to day care of our children.
In our family grouping environment the children are able to build long term, trusting relationships with both educators & children over their time here which creates a foundation of stability, trust and a platform
where our children can grow and learn with confidence.
We employ a mix of permanent and casual staff (that are with us on a permanent basis) and as such we have no need to use agency staff so our children will always know their teacher.
Our staff, both permanent & casual, have a combined total of more than 160 years dedication, commitment and care to the children of East West.
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We acknowledge the owners of the unceded land on which we live, work & play. We pay respect to their Elders past, present. and emerging. Our not-for-profit, community run childcare service is managed by a staff and parent volunteer committee and is supported by The City of Yarra. |
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