Our Curriculum Leaders play an important role in shaping the learning experience for our children and helping to build the knowledge, skills and professionalism of our team of Educators. By having dedicated Curriculum Leaders at our Centres – and an Educational Leader who works with them – we are able to implement evidence-backed play-based learning that prepares children for school.
We sat down with Woodvale’s new Curriculum Leader to find out more about her and why she chose to work at Meerilinga.
Q. What is your current position and role here at Meerilinga?
A. Curriculum Leader at Woodvale.
Q. What are you most passionate about?
A. I am passionate about children’s learning programs because I enjoy helping children learn, grow, and build confidence. I love creating fun and positive activities that encourage children to explore new ideas and develop important skills. Seeing children happy, engaged, and improving inspires me to support their learning journey and help them reach their full potential.
Q. What do you do to relax outside of work?
A. I enjoy maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle by exercising consistently each week. I also love spending quality time with my small family , my husband, our teenage daughter, and our two beautiful dogs, who bring so much joy to our lives. Travelling is another passion of mine, as I enjoy experiencing different cultures, meeting new people, and exploring the beauty of the world. These experiences help me relax, stay inspired, and create meaningful memories with my family.
Q. What has been your biggest achievement to date?
A. My biggest achievements is building a meaningful career in Early Childhood Education while balancing family, study, leadership, and life in a different country.
I moved from Brazil to Australia, learned to work across cultures and languages, raised a beautiful family, and continued growing professionally. I started my journey, gained a position in childcare, then stepped into an educator leader role while supporting children’s and educators learning and development every day. That takes passion, resilience, and dedication.
Q. What is the funniest moment that you’ve had at Meerilinga?
A. Learning new songs for transition times! As it has been something new for me, it brought lots of giggles and fun for both children and educators.
Q. Which one of our 5 points of difference do you most resonate with and why?
A. In the Kindy environment at Meerilinga, I often support children through hands-on experiences, sensory play, group learning, outdoor exploration, dramatic play, and conversations. These experiences help children become capable learners while respecting their individual pace and development.
Play-based learning is also important to me because it reflects values of diversity and inclusion. Every child can participate in play in their own way, regardless of their background, language, confidence level, or developmental stage. I want children to feel successful, valued, and connected before they transition to school.
I also recognise that children learn more deeply when they are interested and actively involved. When children play, they are building early literacy, numeracy, fine motor, cognitive, and social skills in ways that feel natural and joyful.
Q. In one sentence, what advice would you give to parents considering an Early Learning Program or Child Care?
A. An Early Learning Program is dedicated to supporting each child to reach their full potential. We focus on nurturing confidence, kindness, and respect through meaningful learning experiences that build the skills, independence, and positive attitudes children need to thrive.
Q. Is there anything else you would like to add?
A. I bring 16 years of experience in early learning, and my time at Meerilinga has reinforced that there is always more to learn. The centre’s strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and its daily program demonstrates a clear focus on children’s safety, learning, and development. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue growing each day, while also contributing and sharing my knowledge within such a supportive and professional community.
Meet your local Curriculum Leaders and Educators by booking a tour at a Meerilinga Centre!
