Nillumbik Family & Children's Services » About » Who we are

Who we are

Deb de Rossi
Coordinator Family & Children's Services
Email Deb or phone 9433 3190 or 0438 009 623 Monday to Friday

Deb has a Diploma in Social Science (Child Care) and is currently completing a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology and Organisational Management). Deb has worked in the early childhood field for over 20 years in Australia, United Kingdom and Europe. Deb coordinates the Family & Children's Services Unit and actively engages with Council's partners to improve the health and wellbeing of young children and their families in Nillumbik. Deb also implements strategies to build upon the strengths of existing services and works in collaboration with service providers to improve them. Some of Deb's other key areas of responsibility include:

Manage the maternal and child health contract.
Monitor the implementation of the Municipal Early Years Plan.
Facilitate and support regular meetings of the Nillumbik Alliance for Children and Families.
Monitor the budget requirements for Family & Children's Services to ensure services are delivered within target.
Monitor staff performance and reviews across Family & Children's Services.
Develop and monitor an annual Family & Children's Services business plan that addresses strategic direction.

Anne Brooks
Resource Officer Inclusion Support and Child Care Services, Service Integration and Coordination
Email Anne or phone 9433 3145 or 0438 010 527 Monday to Friday

Anne has a Diploma of Community Services (Children's Services), a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment and more than 22 years experience working within the early childhood field. Some of Anne's key areas of responsibility include:

Support and provide information to child care services to meet the needs of all children and ensure access and equity for all abilities.
Resource child care services to ensure they have access to appropriate and adequate resources for inclusive, play-based programming that meets individual children's needs.
Liaise with child care staff and committees of management to provide support and training.
Respond to requests from case workers from early intervention services or parents looking for care options, support or information on inclusion.
Participate in the regional Inclusion support Facilitators networks.

Belinda Denison
Program Development Officer Family Day Care
Email Belinda or phone 9433 3133 or 0418 781 146 Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays

Belinda has a Diploma of Children's Services and Certificate in Advanced Facilitation. Belinda has over 14 years experience in out of hours school care, long day care, family day care and playgroup facilitation. Some of Belinda's key areas of responsibility include:

Ensure the provision of Nillumbik Family Day Care meets all relevant standards of quality in accordance with National Standards, the Quality Assurance System and Nillumbik Shire Council Policies and Procedures.
Identify marketing opportunities and implement strategies to promote Family Day Care within the local community, including the recruitment of new educators.
Ensure that Family Day Care is responsive to the changing needs of the community and reflects current research and philosophies within the early years sector.
Conduct annual surveys of educators and families participating in the scheme to provide opportunities for feedback and continuous improvement.
Plan and facilitate bi-monthly educator meetings and in-service training.
Conduct annual Licence Agreement renewals for all educators registered with the Nillumbik Family Day Care scheme.
Participate in the regional Family Day Care Coordinator networks.

Fiona Doyle
Support Officer Administration
Email Fiona or phone 9433 3362 Monday to Friday

Fiona has a strong background in customer service and experience in administration roles, including previous contract work in local government. Fiona has an interest in community development, and has partially completed her Bachelor of Arts majoring in Sociology. Some of Fiona's key areas of responsibility include:

Process birth notifications and maintain Council's birth register.
Respond to telephone and email requests from families and early years service providers.
Provide general administration and program support to the Family & Children's Services Unit.
Organise meetings and associated documentation for the Nillumbik Alliance for Children and Families, Best Start Partnership and other key network meetings for Family & Children's Services.

Janine Treisman
Support Officer Administration, Family Day Care
Email Janine or phone 9433 3146 Mondays and Tuesdays

Janine has a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Psychology and Law and has many years experience in an administrative role with a strong focus on customer service. Janine has been on preschool committees and been involved in literacy and numeracy programs in the primary school environment. She has a keen interest in early childhood development and is looking forward to attaining her Certificate III in Children's Services. Some of Janine's responsibilities include:

Provide administration support to the Nillumbik Family Day Care scheme.
Respond to telephone and email requests from parents.
Coordinate the placement of children into care with a suitable educator.
Process payments for educators licensed with Nillumbik Family Day Care to ensure fortnightly Child Care Benefit payments are made.
Submit relevant reports to government departments to comply with funding requirements.
Participate in the regional Family Day Care Administrators networks.

Jennifer Shannon
Children's Activity Resource Officer
Email Jennifer or phone 0438 380 297 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings.

Jen has a Diploma in Education (primary) and an Advanced Certificate in Developmental Disabilities. Jen has worked in the early childhood field for over 20 years and run her own Mini Maestros business for the past ten years. Some of Jen's key areas of responsibility include:

Create a sustainable outreach program within Nillumbik's rural communities of Panton Hill, St Andrews, North Warrandyte and Arthurs Creek with a key focus on literacy and numeracy based activities.
Develop a resource kit of key information regarding literacy and numeracy to disseminate to families with children.
Actively engage with families and children and provide information about current programs and services available within the Shire.
Identify needs of families and make referrals when appropriate.

Jo Rudge
Resource Officer Family Day Care
Email Jo or phone 9433 3158 or 0438 010 540 Tuesday to Thursday

Jo has a Diploma of Children's Services, a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment and has over 22 years experience at Living & Learning Nillumbik, coordination of playhouses, children's services resource and development and family day care. Some of Jo's key areas of responsibility include:

Support and resource educators in the Nillumbik Family Day Care scheme to ensure they are equipped with appropriate and adequate resources for inclusive, play-based programming that meets individual children's needs.
Conduct monthly home visits to educators licensed with Nillumbik Family Day Care to monitor the progress and development of children in care.
Monitor educator compliance of Children's Services Regulations 2009, National Standards, the Quality Assurance System and Nillumbik Shire Council Policies and Procedures.
Conduct annual performance reviews and home safety checks for all educators licensed with Nillumbik Family Day Care to assess performance and safety.
Conduct orientation for new educators to ensure appropriate induction into the Nillumbik Family Day Care scheme.
Participate in the regional Family Day Care Field Officer networks.

Kate Beckford
Resource Officer Family Friendly Places and Spaces
Email Kate or phone 9433 3117 Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays

Kate has a Bachelor of Science degree in Combined Studies (Politics and Social Studies of Technology) and also has a diverse range of work experiences from the United Kingdom and Australia. Some of these come from telecommunications, legal aid services, and marketing/ promotions industries. Kate has also been involved in many volunteer committee groups including multiple birth groups and local preschools. Some of Kate's key areas of responsibility include:

Implementing Phase Three of the Family Friendly Places and Spaces project and expanding the project to include the Shire's essential services and play spaces.
Consulting with key stakeholders including families, service providers and businesses through surveys, forums and interviews.
Assisting with the marketing and promotion of the project across the community.
Helping with the organisation of family events such as festivals and Children's Week.

Kate Hansen
Family Support Resource Officer Best Start Outreach Program (Nillumbik Learning Tree)
Email Kate or phone 9433 3326 or 0417 056 604 Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Kate has a degree in Psychology and background in the performing arts, with a particular focus on childhood education and development. Kate has over 10 years experience working with children and families across a broad range of education and community settings as a program coordinator, facilitator, businesswoman, family support worker and copywriter. Some of Kate's responsibilities include:

Develop a strategy and action plan to create a sustainable outreach program within Nillumbik's rural communities.
Develop a resource kit of key information regarding literacy and numeracy to disseminate to families with children and early childhood service providers.
Coordinate early literacy activities across Maternal and Child Health Services, libraries, childcare, playgroup, preschools, neighbourhood houses and primary school settings.
Support a process of transition for children and parents between early childhood programs and the initial years of primary school.
Provide information to families, caregivers and grandparents with children about current programs and services available within the Shire.
Develop and implement a marketing and promotional strategy for Best Start Outreach Program.

Kerrie Bernhard
Program Development Officer Contracts and Communications
Email Kerrie or phone 9433 3149 Monday to Friday

Kerrie has a Diploma of Community Welfare Work and 15 years experience working within the Community Services areas of Council. Some of Kerrie's key areas of responsibility include:

Provide support, monitor payments and manage statistics for the maternal and child health contract.
Initiate, coordinate and assist the Family & Children's Services Unit to plan and promote information to the community and service providers.
Manage and resource the Family & Children's Services website, including the email distribution group and website statistics.
Assist with the organisation of key activities and events across Family & Children's Services.

Narelle Hart
Program Development Officer Family Support and Participation
Email Narelle or phone 9433 3135 or 0419 002 987 Monday to Thursday.

Narelle has a Diploma of Social Sciences (Children's Services) and over 16 years experience in working with children and families. Some of Narelle's key areas of responsibility include:

Develop, coordinate and monitor supported playgroups for fathers, families affected by bushfire and mums experiencing post natal depression.
Develop, coordinate and monitor a range of family support services for families experiencing short-term crisis.
Develop, coordinate and monitor programs and groups that encourage mums and dads to network.
Facilitate the Nillumbik Best Start Partnership; a group of professionals representing a range of early years services who develop programs and conduct research to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for children.
Submit reports to government agencies to comply with funding requirements.

Pia Cerveri
Resource Officer Family Support and Participation
Email Pia or phone 9433 3136 Mondays and Wednesdays.

Pia has Degrees in both Psychology and Social Work, a Graduate Certificate in Narrative Therapy and a Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment. She has worked in the community and government sectors for over 15 years, in both Australia and the United Kingdom, and has worked primarily with children, young people and their families.

Some of Pia's key responsibilities include:

Coordinate the Nillumbik In-Home Family Mentoring program.
Resource and support the family support and participation programs
Coordinate Council's range of family support services available to families experiencing short-term crisis.

Sherryn Prinzi

Program Development Officer Service Integration and Coordination
Email Sherryn or phone 9433 3118 or 0407 419 680 Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays

Sherryn has a Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood) and a Bachelor of Education and has 18 years of teaching experience. She currently works as a three year old teacher at a local preschool and has also spent some years working on committees of management at her children's preschool. Some of Sherryn's key areas of responsibility include:

Work with current co-located services to facilitate cooperative working relationships that provide delivery of integrated services that respond to the needs of families accessing services.
Develop, maintain and monitor leases and licenses for all Family & Children's Services facilities.
Coordinate an annual audit of all children services facilities within the Shire to ensure compliance with the Children's Services Regulations 2009.
Submit relevant reports to government departments to comply with funding requirements.
Participate in relevant early years regional networks, including Early Childhood Coordinators and Out of School Hours networks.