Our people
Our People
Be the best you can possibly be. Achieve exceeding and go home happy.
Matthew Stapleton
Director
With a background in education, design and psychology, Matthew has a passion for challenging the way people think about and approach educating young people. Matthew has been a Head Teacher with TAFE NSW, a teacher with the Department of Education NSW and has worked in education and early childhood services for the past 21 years. He’s also held an adjunct research position with Charles Sturt University’s ‘RIPPLE’Â Institute working with professors and associate professors on early childhood projects.
In 2008 he identified a need in the Early Childhood Education and Care Sector for simple but comprehensive tools to help staff and managers comply with all requirements and implement the best possible practices.
Twelve years on he has a number of thriving businesses and a market share of 80% of Australian Long Day Care centres as customers. Since 2013, these businesses include a 103 place childcare centre in regional NSW. He understands the issues staff and managers face every single day, and uses this knowledge to guide and support customers to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Matthew has visited and worked directly with over 800 centres across Australia, and trained more than 50, 000 educators through seminars, training sessions and conferences. He is also a published author and illustrator of children’s books about creativity called Wonder Wits that have sold over 200,000 copies worldwide.
Matthew Stapleton, aged 4 years, Forbes Preschool, NSW,
Thomas Hill
Chief Operating Officer
Thomas has a strong background in business management, business development, project delivery and governance in both the private and public sectors. Over the past 15 years he’s worked in a variety of senior industry and government roles across various sectors including Conferencing and Live Events at Tourism Australia.
His role with the Centre Support group is to manage, direct and coordinate all administrative and financial functions of the business. Together with the Director, Thomas develops and implements the strategic direction of our group which includes Children’s Services, a Nationally Recognised Training Organisation and a Professional Development and Management Services business. Collectively we count 80% of Australian Long Day Care Services as customers and employ around 70 people nationally.
Thomas is committed to delivering outstanding results for our customers and thereby achieving success for our people, our business, and our many stakeholders.
Robyn Parnell
Communication and Product Development Manager
Robyn develops policies, procedures and resources for Long Day Care services, Preschools, Kindergartens and Before and After School Care which comply with the National Law and Regs, NQS, and all relevant State/Territory laws. They are also based on best practice so services can be sure they have everything covered in the best possible way! Apart from NQF based resources, Robyn also develops products which support services to effectively manage their business requirements and HR needs.
Robyn worked in the Finance industry for over ten years. After completing a Business Degree (Distinction) she spent more than 15 years as a policy writer and adviser in the NSW Government Department of Premier and Cabinet. She also contributed to the drafting of new laws and regulations.
Robyn has worked with Centre Support for over seven years and enjoys developing resources that are easy to read and simple to follow while covering all areas of compliance and best practice. She also enjoys offering suggestions or helping customers find solutions to their problems or questions.
Betty Antoniou
Administration & Customer Support Manager
Betty drives the strong focus we have on delivering for our customers. She answers client enquiries via phone or email, organises coaching and in-service bookings and training materials, and processes customer orders for our products and services. Betty holds a Cert III in Business Administration, which supports her knowledge in the role.
She has many years experience in customer service and business administration, including 15 years within the NSW Department of Community Services where she worked with families to provide support, advice and to facilitate fair outcomes involving disputes. Her knowledge of the regulatory environment is a great benefit when assisting and supporting our customers.
Janet Cordova
Administration & Customer Support
Janet comes from a strong customer experience background and takes pride in supporting our customers. She answers client enquiries via phone or email, and processes customer orders for our products and services.
She has a wealth of experience working at one of Australia’s leading airlines for over 20 years, which has given her an insight into the importance of teamwork, time management and the ability to problem solve. Janet has strong communication and interpersonal skills, and values a proactive approach to customer service.
Renee Allatta
Administration & Customer Support
Renee has a wealth of experience in working in customer service environments, and is a bright and proactive individual with a passion for helping others. She answers client enquiries via phone or email, and processes customer orders for our products and services.
Renee is currently studying a Bachelor of Business majoring in Human Resource Management, which has helped shape her professional industry knowledge and personality. Renee has strong attention to detail, and takes pride in supporting customers with a friendly and proactive approach.
Alesha Bawden
Head Trainer and Auditor
Alesha is a well-respected Early Childhood Educator with 15 years experience in the early learning field. She possesses a broad range of leadership, mentoring, critical reflection, organisational, problem solving and time management skills as well as supports the delivery of quality early childhood education.
She is highly motivated and is known for her reliability, efficiency, versatility, approachability and level of professionalism.
Tara Odgers
Trainer and Auditor
Tara is our head trainer, supporting and mentoring other trainers. She has been in the early childhood industry since 2005 in a diverse range of roles in Long Day Care, Preschools, OSHC, and as a therapist in specialised autism specific service. In 2008 Tara started ‘Everyone Can Dance, a charity which supports over 100 children and adults with ASD and other disabilities.
Tara is passionate about ensuring that educators feel confident in their abilities and have the tools to provide a high standard of care for children as well as creating enriching environments. She strongly believes that our business name, Centre Support, describes perfectly the service that she intends to deliver with each visit. Tara will support and empower educators to be the very best they can be.
Julianne Sharan Trainer and Auditor
Julianne started her career as a Primary trained teacher but quickly realised her passion was for Early Childhood. In the 20 plus years since she has gained experience across all early childhood sectors including Family Day Care, Long Day Care and Before & After School Care. In 2005, after graduating for the second time with a Bachelor in Early Childhood, Julianne purchased her first business– a 39 place long day care service and later operated two OSHC services. For the last 14 years Julianne has been the Nominated Supervisor and Educational Leader at her service, while also working as a Trainer/Presenter by Centre Support.
Julianne has watched our industry evolve, including the introduction of the Early Years Learning Framework and My Time Our Place, which she embraced and passionately implements. Since the introduction of the National Quality Standards she has explored, dissected and embraced every element and expanded her leadership skills to mentor and guide her team on how to be an Exceeding centre every day. She lives and breathes the hurdles and obstacles centres face and digests, understands and implement everything the Standards and Framework are asking, while managing teams with different experiences and qualifications.
Julianne’s passion is to share her knowledge and experience with other centres to create child orientated curriculums and wonderful learning environments for children, so she enjoys helping services in the areas of Documentation, Reflective Practice, Learning Environments, Behaviour Guidance, and Leadership including the Educational Leader’s role, and providing recommendations on how to achieve Exceeding.
Hilary Webb Trainer and Auditor
Hilary is a qualified and registered Early Childhood Teacher. She also holds a Diploma of Management. As a child, Hilary travelled extensively, spending her early years in East Africa among wildlife and cultures that most people only dream about. These experiences have helped inspire Hilary’s passion for outdoor learning environments and the huge benefits these bring to children’s learning and development.
Hilary has over 20 years’ experience in management roles in Early Childhood Education. She has also taught children across all age groups in both Australia and the United Kingdom. As Nominated Supervisor of her current Centre she’s led her team to an Exceeding rating across all 7 Quality areas in her last two A &Rs. In 2016 the Centre was awarded and recognised as an Excellent Centre. Hilary and her team have just submitted an application to renew the Excellent rating.
Hilary is passionate about ensuring that children are provided with the best possible care and education. She feels that quality early education is vital to provide children with the best possible start to their learning journey. She fosters a partnership between home and school and values the building of positive relationships with all those involved with educating and caring for young children.
Kay Ralph Trainer and Auditor
Kay has extensive experience in our industry and training as a primary school teacher. Kay entered early childhood in 1985 as the owner of a sessional kindergarten which later expanded into a long day care service in 1987. She was the owner and qualified educator at North Beach Playschool from 1987 to 1994 and has been the Director of a community based service in WA for 17 years. Additionally, Kay is also involved in the Little Scientists workshops as a Network Trainer.
Denise Nash Trainer and Auditor
Denise has experience working in a wide variety of early years education and care roles including as room leader in preschool and long day care, as a child development officer for Family Day Care, as a workplace trainer and assessor, offering support to Certificate 111 and Diploma students, and as mentor for students completing a degree in early years education.
Denise is a dedicated advocate for the early years profession and believes in lifelong learning. She is driven to support early years educators to thrive and develop in environments that provide high quality care and positive outcomes for children and families.
Lizzie McAlpin Trainer and Auditor
Lizzie has always known she wanted to work in the early childhood sector and her passion has only continued to grow after working in the industry for more than 14 years.
After gaining a Certificate IV in musical theatre and performing full time for a year after leaving school, Lizzie started working at Farran Street Quality Childcare in Lane Cove NSW in 2005. While at Farran Street Lizzie completed her Diploma in Children’s Services receiving the award with distinction and being recognised by TAFE as the highest achiever. She worked her way up and was soon running Farran Street. In 2013 as the Nominated Supervisor she led her team to an Exceeding rating for every element, a feat no other centre in the area achieved.
After 13 years at the same centre, Lizzie moved to Lake Macquarie with her young family. She now works casually in various roles at centres throughout the Hunter region. She has an enormous passion for community and family involvement and loves sharing her knowledge and understanding of Quality Area 6.
Kirsty MacGregor Trainer and Auditor
Kirsty has a Bachelor of Early Childhood and has completed her teaching and assessment Certificate IV. She has over 18 years experience in a variety of Early Childhood settings in New South Wales and is currently the Nominated Supervisor for an Early Education and Care Service which was rated Exceeding in July 2019. She is also part of the management team for two other services which have also been rated as Exceeding.
Kirsty is passionate about providing high quality education and care for children, their families and the community. She enjoys networking with other Services and sharing her own experiences, knowledge and ideas with fellow passionate educators. Kirsty sees her strengths in the areas of developing and maintaining a quality improvement plan (QIP), Critical Reflection, Behaviour Guidance and Children’s Documentation.
Mandy Vandertouw Trainer and Auditor
Mandy has worked in ECEC for 18 years as an Educator, Educational Leader and Director. She led a Long Day Care team to an exceeding rating while implementing Centre Support material and guidance, so knows first hand how successful our products and service can be.
She is currently a Child Development Officer within an exceeding rated council family day care scheme. Her pedagogical passions include sustainable practices, Indigenous culture, nature and risky play.
Narelle Montgomery
Events Co-ordinator
Narelle co-ordinates the booking and organising of all our Seminars, Audits and Assessment and Rating Preparation visits. She has over 20 years experience in administration and office support, including a role providing administrative support within a children’s service.
Heidi Anders
Accounts Manager
Heidi has worked with Centre Support from close to our first day. She is our accounts co-ordinator and does an amazing job managing our invoices and payments. She can assist services with any financial enquiries related to our products and services.
Heidi has previously owned and operated her own business, and volunteers as Treasurer for local sporting groups.