Stacey Whiting

My name is Stacey. I hold a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and have worked in the early education industry for over 25 years. Throughout this time, I have also gained valuable experience in disability, aged care and respite care, and I am very close to completing my Diploma in Child Protection and Community Services.

More recently, I have stepped into the role of Service Manager, a position I have proudly held for the past four months. In this role, I am committed to being a supportive, approachable and actively involved leader. I believe strong leadership is built on collaboration, respect and presence, and I strive to mentor and guide my team while remaining connected to the children, families and daily practices within the service.

I believe that children are capable and competent learners with absorbent minds, who learn through their play experiences. They are naturally curious, full of wonder, and driven to explore, discover and create. Each child is imaginative, unique and brings their own strengths to their learning journey.

As an educator, I value providing children with endless opportunities to experiment and explore through open-ended, process-oriented and developmentally appropriate experiences that reflect their interests. I am passionate about creating environments that are homely and inviting, filled with warmth, compassion and care, where children feel safe, valued and supported.

I strongly believe in being present and actively participating alongside children as they explore their environments, particularly through natural and play-based learning spaces. Through this, I aim to guide children to engage deeply, build confidence and develop lifelong skills.

Families are a vital part of my program. I value and support family input, shared ideas and knowledge, and believe that open communication allows families to share their culture, beliefs and aspirations for their child’s learning. Building trusting and nurturing relationships with each child and their family is at the heart of my practice, as it is through these connections that children learn acceptance, develop decision-making skills and experience a sense of belonging.
Being an educator is my passion. I place great importance on creating secure, trusting relationships and fostering a child-centred environment that encourages happy, confident learners. I aim to provide meaningful opportunities that allow children to embrace challenges, build self-esteem and grow through their experiences.

For me, the greatest gift is that it is the children who teach me something new each and every day.
“Education begins the moment we see children as innately wise and capable beings, only then can we play along in their world.”
— Vince Gowmon