Who we are

Mel Rogers 

Diploma of Early Childhood Education & Care        

Director

Mel has been an integral part of the Gaia’s Nest family for 17 years, starting her journey working in Baby Bears before taking on her role in the office. She is the driving force behind ensuring all our systems and teams are in-sync and connected. A passionate advocate for living a healthy life. Mel is a mother to 4 children.

Trish Foster

 Diploma of Early Childhood Education &  Care

Educational Leader

Lynne Rayner

Assistant director

Canie Bentley

Diploma of Early Childhood Education & Care       

Assistant Director

From a young age Canie was excited to work with children. After raising her own children, she made the career change to Early Childhood. She has now been at Gaia’s Nest for 8 years. Through spending time in a nature-based setting, Canie’s pedagogy grew to understand and appreciate the need for children and adults to take risk. At home, Canie enjoys sewing quilts and felted animals.

Kirsty-lee Ballie

 Diploma of Early Childhood Education &  Care

Kirsty has over 15 years of experience in the sector, spending 13 of those years at Gaia’s Nest. Over her time Kirsty has moved rooms across our age groups, giving her a wealth of experience and a depth of knowledge across all ages. She feels inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy and enjoys working in a team of like-minded colleagues.

Zoe Nichols

Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education & Care

Zoe has held her position at Gaia’s Nest since 2017. After working in Baby Bears for a number of years, Zoe took on the challenge of moving to Big Bears. Since then she has excelled in providing a stable and supportive dynamic environment for children in the 3-4 age group.

Ari Pelegrinello

Diploma Of Early Childhood Education &Care

Tahli Andrewartha

Studying Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education & Care

Chole Worbey

Studying Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education & Care

Zoe Liu

Graduate Diploma in Education (Early Childhood)

Shayle Needham

Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education & Care

Studying Diploma of Early Childhood Education & Care

Alice Ruzicka

Certificate 3 In Early Childhood Education & Care

Maycee Macpherson

Trainee

Studying Certificate 3 of Early Childhood Education & Care 

Madeleine Weeks

Diploma of Early Education and Care

Joey Williams

 Diploma of Early Childhood Education &  Care

Canie Bentley

Diploma of Early Childhood Education & Care       

Assistant Director

From a young age Canie was excited to work with children. After raising her own children, she made the career change to Early Childhood. She has now been at Gaia’s Nest for 8 years. Through spending time in a nature-based setting, Canie’s pedagogy grew to understand and appreciate the need for children and adults to take risk. At home, Canie enjoys sewing quilts and felted animals.

Trish Foster

 Diploma of Early Childhood Education &  Care

Educational Leader

Jana

Studying her Early Childhood Education & Care  

Bec Smith

Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education & Care

Bec has a Certificate 3 in Early Years Education and Care completing after being offered a job at Gaia's Nest on her first work placement in college. She has been part of the Gaia’s family for 9 years and has spent her time working between Big Bears and Baby Bears and has recently become a float across all rooms. Bec is passionate about nature and weaves her love of the arts into her practice as an educator, painting and crafting her surroundings into life.

Canie Bentley

Diploma of Early Childhood Education & Care

Assistant Director

Jana Allen

Studying her Early Childhood Education &   Care

Anna Maria Michalowski

Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education & Care

Madi Doyle

Trainee

Studying Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education & Care

Shayle Needham

Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education & Care

Studying Diploma of Early Childhood Education & Care

Elka Bezemer

Annalee Farnell

Trainee

Studying Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education & Care

Jo Quaoqing Zheng

Certificate 3 of Education & Care

Romany Wake

Studying Bachelors of Primary Education with Certificate in EC

Taegan Cheseldene - Culley

Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education & Care