Our People
Our staff will always have time to talk with you about your child’s day and will work with parents to tailor care and programs for each child.
Educators
Gordana
Gordana is currently an educator in Wimble’s middle multi-aging room. She started at Wimble Street in 2013 on a casual basis and we have been lucky she has stayed with us. Gordana has a Certificate 3 and a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care. One of Gordana’s favourite activities with the children is reading to them and having conversations.
Gordana says, ‘I love the fact that Wimble genuinely cares about the children and families who use our services and staff are true to their values. Also, there is always something to laugh about every day with our kids.’
Our parents say, ‘Gordana is a much-loved educator at Wimble. It is often her kind words and loving care that soothes a difficult drop-off.’
Stephanie
Stephanie is currently an educator in Wimble’s front, multi-aging room. She started at Wimble Street as a casual in late 2012 and we made her permanent shortly after that. Stef holds a Diploma in Early Childhood Learning. Stephanie is always a warm and welcoming presence at Wimble. Her care and passion to engage each child is very clear.
Stef says, ‘The thing I value most about working at Wimble is the opportunity to form secure bonds with each child so they feel safe and supported. It is a pleasure to set up inviting experiences for each child based on their interests and to observe and document conversations between the children and educators.’
Our parents say, ‘Stef is a wonderful educator. She is often the one who will call to let you know that your child has settled down and is now playing happily. Stef is a natural with children.’
Lisa
Lisa is currently our Wimble Street Coordinator. In addition to her management role she also often relieves other staff in an educator role with the children. Lisa started work at Wimble Street in 1993 and was made permanent in 1995. In her extended tenure at Wimble Street she has worked across all the rooms. Lisa holds a Diploma in Children’s Services and is an expert on Wimble Street!
Lisa says, ‘The best thing about Wimble is the opportunity to see children come to the Centre and over time grow into confident people. Everyone contributes to the great atmosphere at Wimble Street – the educators, families and, of course, the children.’
Our parents say, ‘Lisa is a caring educator who holds Wimble together. She is the person who cares for everyone at Wimble, including our educators.’
Shivanthi
Shivanthi is currently one of our casual educators, supporting across all rooms. She started at Wimble Street in December 2012. Wimble was thrilled to retain Shivanthi as she developed her teaching expertise. Shivanthi holds a Bachelor degree in Science and a Masters of Teaching – Early Childhood and Primary. Her favourite activities with the children are messy, sensory play – the messier the better! She loves reading silly, funny nonsense books with the children. ‘The Book with no Pictures’ is a current favourite of the kinder group.
Shivanthi says, ‘The thing I enjoy most about working at Wimble is the small teaching groups and the community. It’s nice to get to know families and children this way as there is more one on one. It also helps in planning and implementing learning that is richer, thoughtful and more meaningful to the children.’
The parents say, ‘Shivanthi is a teacher with great heart. She is so bonded with the children, some of whom she has cared for since they began at Wimble and who she is now lovingly and carefully preparing for the big transition to school.’
Rebecca
Rebecca is currently an educator in Wimble front multi-aging room. She started at Wimble in 2013 as a casual. Bec holds a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care and a Certificate 3 in commercial cooking. Bec is a calm presence at Wimble and gently guides children in safe, thoughtful and creative play.
Bec says, ‘The best thing about working at Wimble Street is our great kids and the sense of community that comes with being a small centre.’
The parents say, ‘Bec was an absolute star in Wimble’s time of crisis in 2018. When an old exhaust fan fault caused a fire in the ceiling cavity, Bec calmly shepherded the children from the Centre. Everyone was removed safely and efficiently, just like they had practised during drills and the children will only remember it as the exciting time when fire fighters came to Wimble Street!’
Sandra
Sandra is currently an educator in Wimble’s middle room. She began at Wimble in 2011 but has worked with children since 1983, in long day care, sessional kinder, after-school care, as a nanny and providing support for children with additional needs. Sanda has a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Sandra says, ‘My favourite aspect of working at Wimble is the community connection with our families and children. I especially love working with the children in literacy-based experiences.’
Our parents say, ‘Sandra is a gentle and thoughtful educator who really takes the time to listen to children and engage with their interests. Sandra always has something positive to say and makes sure parents know what the children have been doing at Wimble.’
Shishana
Shishana (you might hear the children call her ‘Shana’) currently works in all the Wimble rooms on a casual basis. She started at Wimble on her student placement in January 2017 and we have been lucky to retain her as a qualified educator. Shishana has a diploma of children’s services and a degree in management.
Shishana says, ‘Wimble staff are helpful and supportive and it is a homely environment – I have a sense of belonging when I come to work. I love group time with the children – reading books and singing.’
Our parents say, ‘Shishana has been a great addition to our Wimble team. She quickly got to know all the children and moves around the rooms creating order and fun activities.’
Michelle
Michelle is currently an educator in Wimble’s middle room and assisting the bush kinder program. She first worked at Wimble in 2011 and holds a Certificate 3 in early childhood.
Michelle says, ‘the best part of working at Wimble is the children. We build great works of art out of recycled materials. I also appreciate that the Centre is not run for profit and is in a beautiful part of Melbourne.’
Our parents say, ‘Michelle is loved by Wimble kids. She is great fun. She loves to kick the footy with the children, makes up songs and is great at joining in make-believe games.’
Board of Directors
Wimble Street is managed by parents who volunteer and are elected by our Co-Op members into Director roles. Directors generally meet on a monthly basis. All parents can attend committee meetings and it is expected that parents will attend the Annual General Meeting and the one additional General Meeting each year.
Directors each convene a sub-committee where it is hoped that parents can contribute according to their unique skill sets. Most Directors serve for a two year term and we encourage parents to share roles to lighten the load. Where Co-Directors commence in alternate years this can also help to maintain organisational momentum and memory.
Chair
Craig McLean
After living in Amsterdam for ten years, Craig returned to Australia with his partner and now leads the urban design team at the City of Port Phillip.
Craig has an adventurous daughter who speaks Dutch at home, and who loves attending Wimble St and playing with the educators and her friends.
The Chair’s role is to run the meetings, contribute to developing strategic directions and policy and is a signatory to banking and official documents. The chair is also the Approved Provider who has primary legal responsibility to ensure good governance and management of the service.
Finance Co-Director
Rowan Brown
Rowan is also a partner at Lai Cheong Brown and has worked on major architectural and heritage projects around Australia and Europe. He became Finance Co-Director in 2018 and led the Centre’s reconstruction from fire in April that year. Rowan grew up in Parkville and is also an alumni of the institution, attending between 1981 and 1985.
Finance Co-Director
Christina Lai Cheong Brown
Hailing for Port Louis in Mauritius, Christina is a partner at Lai Cheong Brown, a small heritage focused architectural practice in inner Melbourne. She has worked on major projects across Australia and in the UK but prefers the smaller scale, engaging detailing and craft of her current practice. She became Finance Co-Director in 2018 and was heavily involved with the Centre’s reconstruction from fire in April that year.
Fundraising Director
Phoebe Venables
Phoebe is a veterinarian currently working locally in North Melbourne having bounced around a couple of clinics in Melbourne over the past decade.
She and her partner Ewan have one child in kindergarten having started in the multi-age room at the start of 2021, and one eagerly waiting in the wings. Her favourite thing about Wimble Street is how it feels like a big, oversized cubby house with the children really able to make it feel like their own (under the gentle, experienced supervision of the many long-term Wimble educators, of course!)
Secretary
Vanessa Kowalski
Vanessa is Paintings Conservator at Grimwade Conservation Services, the University of Melbourne. Vanessa has worked across Australia, the US and South-East Asia, specialising in the preservation of modern and contemporary art. Vanessa has one son that attends Wimble, and took on the role of Secretary in 2021.
Communications
Director
Sunny Birch
Sunny is the Global Buyer for Cotton On Foundation. Her background is in graphic design, specialising within the fashion industry throughout her career.
She and her husband Ryan have two children currently attending Wimble Street, and have been coming to the centre since 2021. They love the community feel and warmth of Wimble.
As Communications Director, Sunny is responsible for keeping parents informed, engaged, and connected with the center's activities and initiatives through email communication, calendar management, website and social media management. → Email
In addition to the Director roles, the Wimble Committee is also composed of Catherine Charles who provides accounting and financial advice and IT support by Stuart Lethbridge.