Director / Nominated Supervisor (Grow ELC Girraween)
Bachelor of Teaching
Diploma in Social Science
Certificate of Teaching Languages in the Community

Lina has dedicated over 25 years working in the teaching industry, with extensive experience in Early Childhood Education, working with communities and supporting those with additional needs.

Lina has a longstanding history working with Grow ELC, beginning in early 2013. After starting her journey with Grow ELC as an Early Childhood Teacher in the 3-5’s room, she then became the Centre Director in 2017.

Lina’s honest and respectful commitment to Early Childhood Education is reflected in her authentic relationships with children and their families. She models these skills with her team of educators, and this embodies the team’s culture and how each member works in partnership with families and their children.

One of Lina’s strengths include developing environments that are rich in emergent literacy and art to create opportunities for growth for each child, where social and emotional small group collaboration is meaningful and relevant to their interests and development.

Lina’s mission is to provide meaningful early learning experiences for children to deepen their desire to learn about the world and develop a strong self-image as competent and capable human beings. Her belief in nurturing, healthy, safe and inclusive environments help children engage and expand their growing autonomy.

Founder & Managing Director of Grow ELC
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)
Master of Educational Leadership
Certificate in Growth Coaching

Sussana is the founder and Managing Director of Grow Early Learning Centre. She is a qualified Early Childhood Teacher with a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Education and a Masters in Educational Leadership. Sussana has been a director and teacher in a range of centres since 1997, and also has experience teaching Certificate III in Children’s Services with a Registered Training Organisation.

With this range of experience as well as her knowledge in leadership, teaching and mentoring, Sussana – with the support of her qualified, experienced and passionate Directors / Nominated Supervisors – guides, trains and leads a dedicated team of educators to provide the best education and care in best learning and care environment for all children enrolled at Grow Early Learning Centre.

Sussana’s inspiration to create and develop her own Early Childhood Education and Care organisation is her belief and passion that children from a very young age deserve not only quality care, but education and opportunities for social and emotional growth, both at home and in an Early Childhood Education setting.

Sussana is passionate and driven to embed the skills within her staff to uphold her values and beliefs in providing the highest quality education and care at all her centres. She works enthusiastically within the communities of each of her centres and sees the families as being at the centre of any success. Her strong sense of commitment to her beliefs ensures that she is able to stay connected to the needs of each of her services and their communities in a way that enhances what they are able to provide, and the way they are able to meet the needs of each child and their family.

Director / Nominated Supervisor (Grow ELC Blacktown)
Diploma in Children Services

Mel has achieved 26 amazing years of her Early Childhood career and has been sharing her expertise, knowledge and substantial experience with her team at Grow Early Learning Centre – Blacktown.

Her endless passion for young people and taking part in their tremendous developments and growth drives her to provide the highest quality of service. She models respect, fairness, patience and care for the children, staff, parents and community members she interacts with.

Mel holds a deep belief, that as an Early Childhood Professional, she plays a crucial role in children’s lives by being responsible for providing them with positive learning experiences which allow them opportunities to discover, explore, create, learn and GROW.

Mel believes her role as an Early Childhood Professional is to ensure children’s rights are met; particularly, ensuring each child’s right to have their needs met, voices heard and receive the best possible care and education.

Mel believes that the most important aspect of being a Director in an Early Childhood Education service is to build a team of educators who are enthusiastic, passionate and professional. She guides the educators in her team to be knowledgeable in supporting each young child’s development in order to lay the foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing.

Director / Nominated Supervisor & Educational Leader (Grow ELC Killarney Vale)
Diploma in Children’s Services
Working towards – Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)

During her 17 years of working in Early Childhood Education and Care, Kat has gained extensive experience and knowledge in the field, working across a variety of settings including Long Day Care, Before & After School Care and Preschool.

Kat has worked in a number of roles in early childhood settings, beginning by studying her traineeship in Children’s Services to become a Certificate III assistant, then working her way up to become a Room Leader, Educational Leader, 2IC, and now, a Centre Director at Grow ELC.

Kat absolutely loves working with children and is grateful for the mentors she’s had, who have helped her become the passionate and confident educator she is today. Today, as a Nominated Supervisor and leader, Kat enjoys and is motivated by the opportunity to mentor her team of educators.

Kat believes that each child is infinitely capable and wonderfully unique. Her aim as an early childhood educator is to empower each child to become independent and motivated learners through taking a heart-centred approach and providing an educational curriculum which is holistic in nature.

As a Centre Director at Grow ELC, Kat aims to ensure that we have a connected micro-community that actively nurtures our partnerships with families. She believes that children’s learning environments should be an extension of the children’s homes and interests.

Kat continuously works closely with Sussana, the owner and Managing Director, to guide her team and help them on their journeys towards providing the highest quality care and education to young children by being the best educators they can be.

Kat’s early childhood philosophy agrees with the quote, “It takes a village to raise a child”. This is shown in the practices Kat and her team display at Grow ELC – Killarney Vale, where they believe in helping our families to do just that, by loving and educating each child as if they were our own.