Council Members
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President Judy Dunn |
Qualifications Judy is currently employed as a casual teacher by the Early Childhood Department, Chisholm Institute, Frankston. |
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Past President
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Janet McLean is an early childhood teacher and children’s author. She has taught in a number of different early childhood settings, including kindergartens, long-day care, occasional care. She has worked in inner urban, outer suburban and rural areas. She also worked as a preschool advisor with the FKA. Janet was Director of Yarralea Children's Centre, Alphington, Victoria from1984 to 1989, and then from 1993 to 2001. During this time she initiated the development of an early education philosophy and program; Story - A Springboard for Learning, Literacy and Life. This philosophy and program is now fully incorporated into the educational charter governing Yarralea and Janet's involvement continues through a mentoring role. In the 2004 National Awards for Quality Schooling, Janet was Highly Commended in the category Excellence by a Teacher, 'for... success in improving social competencies, literacy and lateral thinking through story telling and story writing'. As a children's author Janet has collaborated with illustrator Andrew McLean to create award-winning picture books that reflect the everyday lives, feelings and imaginings of young children, including Hector and Maggie, Dog Tales, the Josh series, and Make It I'm the Mother. |
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Treasurer Pat Jewell AGECS Director |
Qualifications Master of Education, Bachelor of Education, Grad Dip Special Ed and Women’s Studies, Grad Cert in Educational Studies Experience Pat has worked in the early childhood field since the early 80’s in a variety of settings including the Royal Children’s Hospital, Early Intervention, Long Day Care and Sessional kindergartens. Then moved onto working more with families particularly those who were struggling to care for their children. Pat now teaches at Swinburne University in the Child and Family Studies. Pat teaches in both undergraduate and post graduate courses. Pat is the author of 3 publications: “Getting Good Speech Going” a speech kit for those working with young children and their speech. “Out of the Mainstream” A parenting program for parents with an Intellectual Disability and their children. “From Strength to Strength” A manual for professionals working with parents in a group situation (text for Parent Education Leadership Training (PELT) course – Swinburne University) As well as treasurer with AGECS, Pat is also on Executive of ECA (Vic) branch and is Victorian Director with OMEP. Pat is also on NAPCAN Vic council. |
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Vice President Kevin Fell AGECS Director |
Qualifications Master of Education, Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Arts (Monash University) Trained Primary Teachers' Certificate (Toorak Teachers' College) Experience Principal of Primary school (2 years); Senior Lecturer in Colleges of Advanced Education for 16 years (Melbourne State College, The Institute of Early Childhood Development and Melbourne College of Advanced Education.). Coordinator of post graduate courses related to Special Education. UNICEF consultant to The Child Development Centre of China (5years) and consultant to the Community Literacy Project for C.T.E.C (Community, Training and Education Centres Inc.) Burnie, Tasmania (3 years). Senior Lecturer University of Melbourne (17 years). Chaired the Curriculum Working Party of The Victorian Children’s Services Forum and the Australian Education Union. Coordinated the University’s Pathways Program (8 years). Member of the Council of The Association of Graduates in Early Childhood Studies (12 Years). President of AGECS (6 years). Currently Director of AGECS (9 years). Trustee of the Forest Hill Early Childhood Foundation. Member of the Human Research Ethics Committee of The Mercy Hospital Health and Aged Care Network. Creswick Foundation Fellow and Queensland University of Technology Visiting Fellow. |
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General Member Dr Alan Angwin |
Qualifications Alan retired from this position after a further eight years and now assists with Preschool Field Officers Association in a voluntary capacity and is pleased to be on the AGECS council. |
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General Member |
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General Member Carolyn Lunt |
Qualifications Diploma of Teaching Kindergarten Teachers College (Melb.), Grad Diploma Special Ed (EC) I.E.C.D, Bachelor Ed (EC) IECD, Ad. Cert (Horticulture (Melb. Ini) Experience Carolyn is an award winning teacher, lecturer and consultant in the early childhood field. She has taught in both community and private sectors, lectured in TAFE and universities and was the co-author of The Children’s Experiences Folio. For the last 22 years Carolyn has also run a successful business in early childhood consultancy conducting seminars and workshops for the field as well as providing expertise in children’s play space design. She also provides a gardener-in-residence service to early childhood centres providing garden expertise specialising in indigenous plants. In early childhood practice Carolyn has taught in sessional and extended kindergartens, in long day care centres, play groups and Out of School Hours programs. She has taught English to children of newly arrived parents through the Adult Migrant Education Program (AMEP), been a language assessment consultant to FKA Children’s Services and a Children’s Services Resource and Development Officer investigating the language needs of children in the City of Fitzroy. Carolyn is passionate about the importance of play, the natural environment and sustainability. Since 1983 she has run a volunteer program revegetating the Merri Creek to create habitats for our native birds and animals. Recently she has become a wildlife rescuer with Wildlife Victoria. |
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General Member Kay Margetts |
Qualifications: PhD; MEd(research); PostGrad Dip EC Studies; Dip Teach (MKTC) Experience: Kay is Associate Professor in Early Childhood Education in the Melbourne Graduate School of Education. She teaches in early childhood and primary teacher education programs and coordinates postgraduate International Baccalaureate programs. Prior to this she was lecturer in Child Development and Special Needs at Monash University; Project Officer - Inservice and Professional Development Programs at the Lady Gowrie Child Centre; write and producer of childrens television programs; and has worked closely with primary schools. Her research interests include childrens' transition and adjustment to school, child development and teaching practice. Kay has published widely, with her most recent publications being The Early Years Learning Framework in Practice and Educational Psychology. She regularly provides professional development to early childhood services and primary schools around transition, the new early childhood frameworks and development and pedagogy. |
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General Member Sophia Patitsas |
Qualifications Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood), Graduate Diploma Special Education, currently Masters studies at Melbourne University. Experience Sophie has been working in the E.C. field for over 20 years. Her first teaching position was at Dobson Kindergarten in Maidstone. She also taught at Sunshine Kindergarten and worked as an After School Care coordinator at Albert Park Primary School. After completing a Grad Dip in Special Education, she moved into the field of early intervention and worked at Uncle Bob’s Child Development Centre for approximately 6 years before leaving and becoming a consultant at Play works. She has worked for Moreland City Council (12 years), as a Family Day Care Field Officer (2 years) and currently she works as a Preschool Field Officer. Sophie has a passion for supporting and building communities. She has worked on a project with Communities for Children in Broadmeadows. |
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General Member Avril McHugh |
Qualifications Diploma of Teaching (Melbourne Kindergarten Teachers College) Experience After graduation Avril’s first kindergarten was at Lalor in the Shire of Whittlesea. It was a new kindergarten in a new housing development. She taught there for five years before moving to Bendigo where she taught at the Maldon Preschool. After a break to have children, Avril did some emergency relief teaching in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. With her family she then moved to North –West Tasmania, where she worked for the Tasmania Education Department. Initially she worked as a kindergarten teacher at Moriarty Primary School and then in a literacy recovery program at the Ulverstone Primary School. Upon returning to Melbourne Avril taught a three year old Group at Vista Valley Pre-school, Bulleen. In 1997 she accepted a position at Yarralea Children’s Centre teaching the three year old group and today she is still happily working there. During her time at Yarralea she has taught with some wonderful directors. At Yarralea, Avril works under the Educational Charter: Story- Spring board for Learning, Literacy and Life. Under this governance, she has greatly expanded her knowledge and teaching experience. |
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General Member |
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General Member |
Qualifications: BEd (Hons) Early Childhood Studies; Master of Education (Melb Uni), Grad. Dip. Employee and Workplace. Experience: Prior to her role as an elected officer of the Australian Education Union, Martel was an early childhood teacher working across a number of community-based settings. Following her work in local kindergartens she too work experience in Singapore where she taught for 12 months. Upon her return Martel took up casual teaching work and in October 2007 was elected as Deputy Vice President (Early Childhood) of the AEU. This position involves negotiating industrial agreements for kindergarten teachers and assistants, providing individual member support, speaking to groups of undergraduate teachers, and presenting professional development. Martel states, "My most recent (and proudest) achievement was becoming mum to baby Claudia, born in July 2010. |
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General Member Sarah Rakich |
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