Meet our team

Rhonda Clifford

Director and ECT

Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)
Diploma of Business

A message from our Centre Director

I have been a part of Glenning Valley Child Care Centre team since 1998 when I started as an Associate Diploma room leader. It didn’t take long for me to realise that this was the place for me! I studied my Bachelor of Teaching birth to 5 years via correspondence in 2005, and quickly realised my passion was not only for play based curriculums, but also in leadership and mentoring.

I am driven to motivate my team to continue to learn and to take the time to connect with the children in our care every day through play. For the past 10 years I have also been employed by the University of Newcastle as a tertiary supervisor, going out on 2nd and 4th year placements.

I know that the first few years of a human’s life is where enormous brain development happens, and I take this role very seriously. I want the little people we teach to learn kindness, have fun and experience as much as they can each day! I am an advocate for the children I work with and believe in their right to a healthy and safe play environment.

I want every member of our Glenning Valley community to feel warmth and a sense of belonging… to feel a part of our family here at our little centre on the hill.

Mary-Louise Clifford

Nominated Supervisor and Centre Manager ECT,

Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)
Diploma of Business

A message from our Centre Manager

Mary-Louise is the centre’s nominated supervisor. She was employed before the centre opened in January 1995. She has worked with Graeme over the years to establish the centre and for it to grow and develop with the amazing team of educators.

Mary-Louise is passionate about Early Childhood and believes that the early years are so important. She shares this passion in the community with the many organisations she is involved in including as a board member of the Coastal Towns Business Chamber, The Central Coast Early Childhood Educators group and BPW Australia.

Mary-Louise completed her Bachelor of Education Early Childhood at the University of Newcastle she also holds qualifications in Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Certificate IV in Workplace Health and Safety, Certificate IV in Business and Lead Auditor Quality Management Systems Diploma.

Katrina Jaques

Educational Leader and ECT

Bachelor of Teaching/Social Science

A message from our Educational Leader

Katrina Jaques is a highly experienced educational leader at Glenning Valley Child Care Centre, bringing over 20 years of expertise in the field of early childhood education. Her dedication and passion for providing high-quality care and education to young children have made her an invaluable asset to the center. Through her extensive experience, Katrina has developed a deep understanding of the developmental needs of young children and has implemented innovative and effective teaching strategies to enhance their learning experience. Her leadership skills have also played a crucial role in guiding and mentoring the staff, creating a positive and nurturing environment for both children and educators. Katrina's commitment to early childhood education sets her apart as a visionary leader, making her an inspiration to her colleagues and a beloved figure among the children and families at the center.

Meet Our Amazing Team of Early Childhood Educators

Diploma Qualified Educators

Shannon
Kellie
Sam
Rebeka
Sharni
Becc
Danielle
Bayley

Certified Level 3 Qualified Educators

Ian
Tammie
Ceara
Ebony
Tiernay
Olivia
Rachael

Scarlette
Zoe

Working towards a Certificate III Qualification:

Ian

Centre Cook

Graeme Murphy

Owner of Glenning Valley Child Care Centre

B.A., Masters in Education
Diploma of Computing Education

A Message from our Centre Owner

In 1994, after a career in Primary Teaching, including a position as Assistant Principal at Copacabana Public School and a number of years at Central Coast Grammar School, I decided to establish our Childcare Centre at Glenning Valley. I was very fortunate to have as my first employee, the then 23-year-old Mary-Louise Clifford as Director of the Centre.

Mary-Louise, although young to be a director, brought a wealth of knowledge and an enthusiasm to develop a centre of excellence. Our current Director, Rhonda Clifford, has been with us in a variety of roles for 25 years and continues to maintain this tradition of striving to provide the best care possible for our families.

We were very conscious of the trust which parents were putting in us as we cared for their babies and toddlers each day, so we were determined to make the centre a welcoming, warm family place.

As a teacher and father of six children, who have now grown up, I am very aware of the impact of early education on both the children and their parents, as it is the first experience of the children being away from their parents and entering the wider world to interact with their peers and other adults.

We have been fortunate as we have brought in new staff that they have been able to maintain and develop this culture of family friendliness. The success of the centre can be shown in many ways, not least in the fact that many staff have now been with us for over 20 years, which is very unusual in our industry.

Also, we have been privileged to have had a number of families who themselves attended as children, now returning to place their own children in our care.

In 2006 we built Oakdowns Early Learning Centre near Hobart and a number of our staff spent time there over a number of years, with Rhonda Clifford as Director. This was a wonderful experience for our staff and enhanced their expertise in many ways. After selling the centre in 2014 my son and I were successful in tendering to Gosford Council to purchase Papalya Centre at Erina. We have since renamed that centre as Woodport Early Learning Centre. We have renovated and extended the centre to cater for 60 children and it has become very well-regarded in the district.

We have recently extended and renovated Glenning Valley Childcare Centre and we are committed to continuing to maintain and improve the care and facilities provided for our families.

Join us for a tour today!

We are excited to meet you.