Our People

The Director of the Centre, Paula Papanicolaou, holds the following qualifications:

  • Diploma of Teaching (Primary)
  • Bachelor of Education (Primary)
  • Diploma of Community Services (Child Care)
  • Certificate 4 in Workplace Training and Assessment
  • Paula also lectures at Holmesglen TAFE in the area of Children's Services
  • Educational Leader of the service

The Centre employs qualified and experienced staff who design and implement developmentally appropriate programs for the children in their care. Essex Heights Juniors has employed staff who have a genuine desire to work with children, enjoy their work, show love, warmth and understanding to each individual child, are actively involved in children’s play and routines and will nurture the well-being of the child physically and emotionally at all times. 

Our Staff

Paula Papanicolaou

Diploma of Teaching (Primary)

Bachelor of Education (Primary)

Advanced Diploma of Children’s Services

Diploma of Community Services ( Child Care)

Certificate IV in Assessment & Workplace Training

Sofie Diamantopoulos

Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

Certificate IV in Assessment & Workplace Training

Luke Papanicolaou

Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care 

Diploma of Sport Development 

Laura Mc Leod

Master of Teaching

Early Childhood

Perri Yip

Bachelor of Early Childhood Education 

Carmen King

Master of Teaching

Early Childhood

Jessica Vakulcyzk

Diploma of Children’s Services

Courtney Stubenrauch

Diploma in Early Childhood Education & Care

Tyler Hindson

Diploma in Early Childhood Education & Care

Nadeeka Perera

Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care 

Christine Wright

Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care 

Cheryl Barrata

Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

Xuan Yap

Bachelor of Early Childhood

and Education

Arthur Papanicolaou

Administration

Certificate 3 in Children’s Services

Woo Jung Lim

Certificate III in Commercial Cookery

Certificate III in Patisserie