Our Team

Hi, my name is Caitlin Phillips and I am the Operations Manager where I provide support and guidance to all of the centres. I have experienced almost every role whilst working at Child’s Play, undergoing upskilling of my qualifications as well as working in different roles in my 7 years with the organisation. One of my most recent roles was being the Centre Manager for the Tarneit West Centre and I particularly enjoyed working with the children in a variety of age groups, as both an assistant educator and room leader.

What is something you love?

I love playing sport! I am pretty active and generally play sport about 5 times every week.

How would you describe Child’s Play ELC?

Child’s Play ELC embodies family. We are a family for our children, we are a family for our community and a family for our staff. It is all about that loving atmosphere for everyone involved.

Watching the children’s personalities develop is so exciting from babies to kindergarten, they develop so much and their cheekiness and enjoyment shine throughout.

Lucy Holmes embarked on her journey in early childhood education in 2006 possessing the NNEB (UK), and Diploma of children services (Australia). With a rich background in leadership roles, including Director, Operations, and Compliance, Lucy has consistently worked within the Victoria and Tasmanian early childhood sector, and along the way completed a Training and Assessment Certificate (TAE4).  

Her extensive experience spans operations management for multi-site centres within the corporate sector of early childhood, establishing shared visions for the health and safety of children and community, along with creating strong relationships with the Department of Education and Training. 

Child’s Play has embraced paperless solutions across all areas within the business. This comprehensive approach brings numerous benefits, including increased efficiency, reduced environmental impact and improved compliance reporting formations. This successful process has been embraced by the regulatory authorities, as evidence in efficiency, transparency and sustainability is evident.  It’s a positive development for all stakeholders involved within the education sector.  Compliance can be effectively managed remotely and securely, regardless of location.  On-site solutions also provide a comprehensive approach to ensuring adherence to regulations and standards are collaboratively discussed with relevant team members.

Being able to support and inspire staff members across all levels, in relation to compliance and conformity, allows Lucy to maintain a culture of growth, learning, and consistency, ensuring that every team member feels valued and empowered to make a difference, whilst adhering to regulatory requirements which are compliance driven.

What is something I love?

Absolutely love watching Basketball along with supporting our local teams.

How would you describe Child’s Play ELC?

Collaboration within all the centres is embedded and evident, there is a family feeling, along with a sense of belonging and support from all who work at Child’s Play.  The team spirit is so apparent, with a “can do” attitude throughout the whole company.

Hi, my name is Tracey Ames and I have a 14-year-old son Joshua. I am English and having just arrived in Australia a month before COVID graced us with her presence, I still feel very much like the new girl as I haven’t really had the opportunity to explore my new surroundings!

I have lived in many places, starting my journey in London at the ripe old age of 17, where I worked for the Metropolitan Police in what can only be described as a ‘National Security’ role!  I then moved back to the NorthEast of England and began to work in the Department for Work and Pensions and then on to Saudi Arabia where I worked for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, then back to the NorthEast and last port of call Australia… With the passport now full, hopefully we are here for the long haul! 😊

What is something you love?

I have to say I am a bit of a theatre and musicals fan and love to sing, dance and generally when given the opportunity will be on the stage doing whatever is required. I love my son to the moon and stars and back again!

How would you describe Child’s Play ELC?

Child’s Play is vibrant, warming, caring and ‘Every Child really does Matter’. Educators are always striving for the best.  Ensuring training is up to date and personal development is of the utmost importance to Child’s Play.

I love making a difference, helping children to enjoy learning, have the confidence to live the life they want to live and have fun whilst doing so. Seeing the faces of amazement when they learn something new, feel something different or simply share their experiences is heartwarming.  I love my job!

Meet our Centre Director Tarneit! 

Hi my name is Priyanka

Tell us a bit about yourself and your experience.

Teaching is my passion. I have been working with children since high school. My passion in teaching has helped me upskill my qualifications to stay updated to the ever-progressing education system around the world. I hold a Master’s in Teaching, Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Arts. All through my teaching practice, I have enjoyed being a high school teacher overseas and a primary school teacher in Australia. During my practice in early childhood services, I have enjoyed being a Kindergarten teacher and a mentor to the new staff. 

I enjoy meeting new people and learning about their backgrounds, and I can almost always find common ground with strangers. I highly believe in inclusivity and enjoy nurturing different personalities each child brings with them. I am inquisitive and curiosity fuels my quest for knowledge. 

How would other people describe you? 

Passionate, Empathetic, Inquisitive, Creative, Responsible.

What hobbies do you have? 

Exploring music and Art. Nature walks. 

What are you most excited about working at Child’s Play Tarneit West? 

I am excited about introducing child’s play to the local community and bringing high standards of professional learning and care for the children. I look forward to meeting the new families and learning about their culture, beliefs and values. I am waiting to introduce our families to our enthusiastic and passionate team to welcome and support all children to become compassionate and resilient members of society.

– Meet our Centre Manager

Hi, my name is Zahra!

– Tell us a bit about yourself and your experience

– Meet our Educational leader at Tarneit West! 

Hi! My name is Amreen Bagha.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your experience.

I was born and raised in Kenya. I came to Australia in 2007. I have always had a passion for working with children. I was an Educator back home. I have been working in this sector in Australia since 2017.

How long have you worked at Child’s Play? 

I have just completed two years at Child’s Play.

How would other people describe you?

Soft spoken and friendly.

What hobbies do you have?

Crafting and sewing.

Why do you work in early childhood education?

I have a passion for working with children and learning all about their development. The thought process that they go through when they are doing something.

How would you describe Child’s Play ELC?

A place where every child matters. It has a community feel.

What are you most excited about working at Child’s Play Tarneit West?

I am looking forward to witness the growth and development of young minds. I am also looking forward to learning new skills and form positive connections with everyone around.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your experience.
I’ve been working with children for six years now, both in early learning centres and in home-based care. My passion for this work actually started when I was a child myself – I used to go to the park and ‘adopt’ a younger child for the day, making sure they were safe and having fun. Even while studying in high school, it was clear that working with children was something I was drawn to.

What hobbies do you have?
I love playing netball with my friends – it’s a great way to stay active and have fun. I also enjoy relaxing at home, watching movies on the couch with my cats.

Why do you work in early childhood education?
I work in early childhood education because I truly want to make a difference in children’s lives. I believe every child deserves a safe and supportive person to rely on, someone who will advocate for them, stand up for them, and nurture their individual growth.

How would you describe Child’s Play ELC?
To me, Child’s Play feels like a family. There’s a strong sense of love, respect, and support across the entire company, starting with our senior management and reaching all the way to every educator and family. I felt so welcomed when I first joined, and that warmth has never faded.

What are you most excited about working at Child’s Play Wyndham Vale?
I’m really excited about the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally in this role. I feel privileged to be part of the journey of so many young children. They are our future, and being able to nurture, support, and teach them during these crucial early years is something I value deeply.

Meet Stacey, our Educational Leader!

• Tell us a bit about yourself and your experience.

I am a proud mum of three children, James and Jake who are 18, and Hayley who is 17 and my beautiful stepdaughter Violet who is 24. I have 11 years’ experience in the education and care industry, recently completing my Bachelor of Education, Early Childhood teaching degree.

• What hobbies do you have?

My hobbies include food, nutrition and cooking, playing netball at our local Eagle stadium and camping with the friends I call family. I enjoy being out in nature, bushwalking and seeing native animals.

• Why do you work in early childhood education?

I chose to pursue a career in Early Childhood Education when my twin boys began kindergarten, and I witnessed first-hand how play-based learning with passionate educators provides children with the best start to their schooling life. During my time in family daycare, I learnt that my passion is for teaching children so that they grow up to feel valued and understood in a safe and supported environment.

• How would you describe Child’s Play ELC?

I describe Child’s Play as a welcoming home away from home. A space for children to grow, learn, and develop, whilst being supported by caring and knowledgeable educators. I have felt welcome and valued since beginning my role here as the educational leader and I look forward to building strong relationships with all the staff.

• What are you most excited about working at Child’s Play Wyndham Vale?

I am excited by this role and the opportunities it provides. I value collaboration with the teachers and educators in creating play-based learning experiences for children. I aim to support the educators as they continue to develop new skills and confidence in their educational programs.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your experience.

• What hobbies do you have?

• Why do you work in early childhood education?

• How would you describe Child’s Play ELC?

• What are you most excited about working at Child’s Play Dandenong South?

Hi! My name is Neelufah Khan.

Originally from the beautiful islands of Fiji, I made the move to Australia in 2014 after getting married. Since then, my family and I have made Australia our home, and we’ve been blessed with two lovely children.

Professionally, I’ve had the joy of working in childcare for the past 7 years. This journey has not only allowed me to grow as an individual but also given me the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of young children and their families. I’m passionate about providing high-quality care and education, and I’m committed to ongoing learning and development in my field.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your experience.
My name is Teena Beri. I live with my husband, 9-year-old daughter and a dog. I began my journey in early childhood education in 2007 as an assistant educator. Over the past 17 years, I’ve worked in various roles and age groups. I have been working with Child’s Play since 2014 and in the past 11 years I have worked in various role within the same company i.e., from educational leader in 2018 to Centre Manager in 2021.

What hobbies do you have?
I love spending time with my family and friends. Listening to music, shopping and cooking are some of my favourite hobbies.

Why do you work in early childhood education?
My passion for children encouraged me to be a part of early childhood education to make a significant & positive impact on children’s lives by laying the foundation for lifelong learning, fostering personal growth in children and experiencing the joy of witnessing young minds develop. This career path offers personal fulfilment, continuous learning opportunities, collaborative teamwork, and a chance to be creative in a stimulating environment.

How would you describe Child’s Play ELC?
My favourite thing about working at Child’s Play is that my philosophy is aligned with Child’s Play philosophy. I love preparing children for a better future by promoting a safe, secure, happy and friendly environment that is rooted in play-based learning. Also, the support from senior management is fantastic. Child’s Play is one of the best companies I have ever worked. Sam and Ian are the best bosses one could dream of. They are not only passionate but also go above & beyond for their employees. They are not running a business, they are building a community where everyone feels safe, happy and supportive.

What are you most excited about working at Child’s Play Mambourin?
I am passionate about building strong relationships with both staff and parents. I strive to create an environment that is rich in learning and filled with engaging play spaces that are purposeful, meaningful, and inviting. I deeply care and am passionate about my work. I am very excited to meet the Mambourin community and get to know them better. I want to create a trustful and respectful relationship with the Mambourin community and want to work in collaboration with them to provide a quality care as well as an environment where not only children, but parents and educators feel belong and respected. I believe that a strong team is our greatest asset. The health and safety of our children, staff and parents is my priority. I am committed to supporting my team in creating a safe environment, giving parents confidence as they leave their loved ones in our care.