Monday to Friday: 7:00am - 6:00pm

Meet the Starfish ELC Team

Caring, experienced early childhood educators supporting every child to learn, grow and feel a sense of belonging.

How we put a team around your child

At Starfish ELC, your child’s experience is supported by a whole team of caring professionals.

From the educators who spend each day learning and playing alongside them, to your Centre Director and the wider Starfish leadership team, everyone plays a part in creating a safe, nurturing and enriching environment.

Our teams work together to understand each child’s interests, routines, strengths and individual needs. We also work closely with families, sharing observations, celebrating milestones and creating consistency between home and the centre.

Graduation cap and certificate illustration

Qualified early childhood teachers

Every educator holds the qualification the National Quality Framework requires for their role — Certificate III, Diploma, or Early Childhood Teacher. Our funded kindergarten rooms are led by bachelor-qualified Early Childhood Teachers.

Hired for values

We recruit on values fit first, and support educators through traineeships and ongoing professional learning. Practice is reviewed continuously — programming, observation, reflection, adjustment.

Multilingual, on purpose

Many of our educators speak more than one language, and we place them deliberately. At Springvale in particular, it means a family can hand over their child's day in the language they think in.

Management

Supporting our centres, educators and families

Tonii Tran

Managing Director

Kera Degenhardt

General Manager

Meet your Centre Director

This is the relationship that matters most. Your Director runs your tour, knows your child's routine, writes the Weekly Wrap-up, and posts to your centre's private Facebook group. Ring them directly — the numbers below go to the centre, not a call queue.

Call us 1300 168 881

Portrait of Cathy, Director at Starfish ELC Blackburn South

Cathy Kimbel

Blackburn South Centre Director

I've been part of the early childhood education and care sector for more than 30 years, since graduating with an Associate Diploma of Social Science in Childcare in 1992, and have proudly served as Director of Starfish ELC Blackburn South for over 12 years. What I love most is sharing in the joy of children's learning and growth—their curiosity, wonder and wonderfully unpredictable perspectives on the world. I also cherish the relationships built with educators and families, creating a community where everyone feels connected, valued and supported. Outside of work, you'll find me baking, planning my next travel adventure, tackling a home project, gathering loved ones for good food, reading, or spending time with family, friends and my furbaby, Lexi.

Samantha Jacobs

Essendon Centre Director

I am the Centre Director at Starfish ELC Essendon. I have worked in early childhood education and care for 19 years, and I have loved every moment of my journey—from working closely alongside children of all ages, to supporting operations in the kitchen, and later evolving into a director's leadership position. Each role has taught me something new and helped shape me into the educator I am today. My favourite part of the role is that every day is different. What I love most is witnessing children begin their learning journey with us—from orientation through to their first day—and seeing the strong connections among the children, families and our team.

Debbie Scott

Nunawading Centre Director

I have worked in the early years sector for over 45 years and have seen many changes throughout my career. What I value most is the opportunity to connect with families and build lasting relationships during their child's journey with us. I love seeing families form connections with one another that extend beyond the centre, creating a sense of community, purpose and identity. These relationships foster a strong sense of belonging for children, families and educators, and a strong foundation for everyone within the centre. A fun fact: I have six wonderful grandchildren and cherish every moment with them. In my spare time, I love unwinding with jigsaw puzzles, which I find both relaxing and rewarding.

Chika Lestari

Reservoir Centre Director

I am the Centre Director at Starfish ELC Reservoir, with 14 years in the early childhood education and care sector and 9 years as part of the Starfish family. My journey began after the birth of my first daughter, which gave me a deeper appreciation for quality early education and the impact educators have on children and families. What I love most is connecting with people—welcoming a new family, supporting an educator to grow, or spending time with the children. I enjoy visiting the rooms each day and seeing their faces light up when they call out my name. I am passionate about creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment where children feel secure, families feel valued and connected, and educators feel respected and empowered.

My Luong

Springvale Centre Director

The educators in your child's room

Open your centre to see the whole team — room leaders, Early Childhood Teachers, educators, and the chef who cooks their lunch. These are the faces your child will know by the end of their first fortnight.

Yafen

Vivian

Suzi

Shirely

Shikha

Sherrly

Santina

Saba

Pixie

Parul

Olivia

Misa

Mary

Linna

Linda

Kunjan

Judy

Ellie

Devinder

Britney

SiSi

Loan

Katheryn

Kamal

Georgia

Angela

Yenda

Yanti

Veronica

Sree

Sheri

Shelly

Samira

Rachel

Rachel K

Priya

Preeti

Maddy

Lorraine

Jolo

Portrait of Jo, educator at Starfish ELC Nunawading

Jessie

Jessica

Grace

Gauri

Gabi

Emily

Danielle

Dang

Changda

Anna

Andrea

Alana

Shaa

Sarah W

Sandy

Samina

Ruby

Pooja

Monica

Portrait of Mo, educator at Starfish ELC Reservoir

Masato

Malli

Lumbini

Lora

Kiris

Kim T

Kim N

Kamal

Grace

Portrait of Eda, educator at Starfish ELC Reservoir

Eda

Delaney

Brie

Amandeep

Trang

5 years at Starfish

Nida

Nhung

Natasha

Portrait of My, educator at Starfish ELC Springvale

Portrait of MJ, educator at Starfish ELC Springvale

Michelle

Linh

Isaac

Portrait of Hue, educator at Starfish ELC Springvale

Hue

Hashika

Ezekiel

Divita

Caela

Azura

Alice

Akhil

Linna

Starfish is a Child Safe Organisation

We operate under the Victorian Child Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme. Anyone — a family member, an educator, a visitor — can raise a concern anonymously, and the reporting link sits on every page of this site rather than buried in a policy document.

Your first escalation path is always your Centre Director, then our General Manager. You do not have to go outside Starfish to be taken seriously.

Make an anonymous report

Get Started With Starfish!

Contact our team to learn more or secure your child’s place at Starfish today!

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