Staff News
We are pleased to share all the exciting staff news and announcements for this Summer edition of the Gowrie Gazette. In this section you will find staff welcome and farewell lists, anniversaries, graduations, births, engagements, weddings and other news.
Thank you to everyone for sharing your special news and announcements with us so we can celebrate with you! If you would like to share any special news or announcements in our upcoming Gowrie Gazette please email communciations@gowrie-tas.com.au or share with your Manager.
Welcome to New Staff
We extend a warm welcome to the following new permanent and contract staff who have commenced working for Lady Gowrie Tasmania this year:
Education & Care
Dhiraj Ghimire (ECT – Alanvale), Cara Dadis (ECP – Battery Point), Sinthia Pervez (ECP – Battery Point), Joeanne Jackson (ECP – St Therese), Maria La Pietra (ECP – St Therese), Bina Makaju (ECT – Uni North), Xuan (Zoe) Zhao (ECP – Alanvale), Nasrin Aktar (ECP – Alanvale), Sujan Kandel (ECP – Norwood), Bandana Shrestha (ECT – Battery Point), Anoopjeet Kaur (ECP – Bowen Road LDC), Shital Bhandari (ECT – George Town), Joanne Brittain (ECP – Battery Point), Runnata Sharma (ECT – Oatlands), Sandesh Thapa (ECT – Oatlands), Ellie Piuselli (ECP – Oatlands), Roxanne Zhou (ECP – Uni South), Shreyasi Shukla (ECT – Midway Point), Ashleigh Briggs (Campbell Street – Assistant Manager), Yihan Mao (ECP – Uni South), Aruna Limbu (ECT – Pedder), Emma Kirkhope (Cook – Norwood), Kiranmai Sappa (ECP – Pedder), Mingma Sherpa (ECT – Midway Point), Dinidu Arunod (Cook – Pedder), Katharine Hancock (ECP – Richmond), Puja Das (ECP – Integrated Centre), Nicole Hill (ECT – Acton), Ishara K C Adhikari (ECT – Acton), Rachana Khadka (ECT – South Hobart), Anika Lockhart (Alanvale – Manager) and Tamika Temple (SSO – Battery Point).
Corportate
Brenna Viney (Finance Manager) and Lan Nguyen (Finance Officer).
We also extend a very warm welcome to all new casual staff who have commenced this year.
Celebrating Anniversaries
To the people who have reached significant anniversaries at Lady Gowrie Tasmania (LGT) since the last Gowrie Gazette was published, thank you for your passion and dedication to the children, families, clients and learners in our services and programs. We truly value you and your commitment to our organisation.
5 Years
Antesh Antesh (ECP – Bowen Road LDC), Emma Jackson (ECP – Campbell St), Hailee Harris (ECP – Alanvale), Hanna Duggan (Inclusion Professional), Helen Neocleous (ECP – George Town), Hiba Ali (ECP – Uni North), Jingmin (Nancy) Li (ECP – Uni South), Kathleen Castle (ECP – Swansea), Kylie Bailey (ECP – Uni North), Laura Donnellan (ECP – Uni North), Li (Lily) Fang (ECP – Uni South), Moya Dias (ECP – Richmond), Ratti Sagar (Finance Officer), Rebecca Weicks (Glenora – Educational Leader), Sally Blythe (ECP – Swansea), Surakchhya Dhakal (ECP – Uni North) and Tara Hall (Norwood – ECP – Norwood).
10 Years
Ashleigh Harris (ECP – Midway Point), Christina Giameos (ECP – Battery Point), Gemma Leighton (ECP – Acton), Helen Attree (ECP – Acton), Jodi Splann (ECP – Bowen Road LDC), Jodie Penwright (Uni South – SSO), Kate Chequer (ECP – Norwood), Kellie Guard (Glenora – Regional Manager OSHC), Sebastian Riedl (ECP – Alanvale), Shannon Gall (Glenora – Manager Pedagogy and Practice) and Taylee Polley (ECP – Kingston).
15 Years
Kate Chequer (ECP – Norwood).
20 Years
Ashleigh Harris (ECP – Midway Point), Christina Giameos (ECP – Battery Point), Jodi Splann (ECP – Bowen Road LDC), Sebastian Riedl (ECP – Alanvale), Shannon Gall (Glenora – Manager Pedagogy and Practice) and Wendy Hargreaves (ECP – Norwood).
*NB – Anniversaries are calculated on employment commencement dates and do not reflect long service leave entitlements. Anniversary letters and vouchers are distributed at the end of each quarter i.e. end of March, June, September and December.
Staff Farewells
Education & Care
Chelsea Driessen (ECP – Lansdowne Cres ASC), Chorladda Noogaew (ECP – Midway Point), Eka Kissy (ECP – Pedder), Gabriel Tams (Alanvale – Manager), Hui (Carina) Zhao (ECP – Bowen Road LDC), Jessica Oates (CP – Uni South), Kylie Hall ( ECP – Rosetta OSHC), Lauren Bassett (Cook – Norwood), Li Wang (ECP – Kingston), Nan Lin (ECP – Bowen Road LDC), Ping Xue (ECP – Uni North), Sarah Tinning (ECP – Acton), Tamara Whyte (ECP – Youngtown ASC), Tsz Ki (Mav) Leung (ECP – Midway Point), Weili (Melody) Jiang (CP – Alanvale), Xuan Hoa (Scarlett) Nguyen (ECP – Battery Point), Yi (Anna) Xu (ECP – Alanvale), Yingyi (Winnie) Liang (ECP – Uni South) and Zheyi (Ken) Jiang (ECP – Battery Point).
Corporate Services
Catherine Hughes (Inclusion Professional), Joanna Canavan (RTO Manager) and Katie Brighella (Finance Manager).
Graduations
Congratulations to the following employees who have completed their qualifications in Early Childhood Education and Care through Lady Gowrie Tasmania’s RTO (45602).
We value and appreciate your dedication and commitment to supporting children, families and your professional development.
CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
Olivia McKay (Acton), Bella Upston (Midway Point), Zoe Vander Does (Richmond), Annabelle Knott (Weld Street), Jessica Stacey (Battery Point), Nikita Denman (North OSHC), Kate Johnston (Campbell Street), Mia Long (Richmond), Amelia Duffy (Norwood), Katee Smith (Integrated).
CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
Kumjoo Kim (Kingston), Hiba Ali (Uni North), Tammy Scanlon (Oatlands), Janelle Browning (Campbell Street), Skylah King (Gordon Square), Brianna Jeanneret (Campbell Street).
Congratulations also to Ranjana Shrestha (University North) who completed a Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education and attended her graduation ceremony at Victoria University in Melbourne recently.
2025 Tasmanian Youth Volunteer of the Year Award
Congratulations to Kira Robertson (Educator from Midway Point LDC) on winning the 2025 Tasmanian Youth Volunteer of the Year Award! We share Volunteering Tasmania’s announcement below:
“Shakira (Kira) Robertson is the co-founder of the Butterflies and Boots Gala Ball, a volunteer-led initiative supporting women and children impacted by domestic and family abuse in Tasmania. Drawing on her own lived experience, having lost her mother to a tragic act of domestic violence, Kira’s volunteering is compassionate and innovative.
The inaugural ball held in May this year welcomed over sixty Tasmanian women with lived experience of domestic abuse. A day of pampering and empowerment, culminated in a joyful evening of celebration. Several attendees described the night as ‘life changing’ and momentum is building to make the event an annual fixture.
Kira is a powerful role model, showing how lived experience can become lived leadership. Through her volunteering, Kira fosters broader awareness and sparks vital conversations. She is working to establish a support network for survivors and advocates for legislative reform. Her commitment goes beyond organising events, as she works towards systemic change and reshaping narratives.”
Kira, this is an incredible achievement and your passion and commitment to helping others is truly commendable. Congratulations from everyone at Lady Gowrie Tasmania – we are so proud of you!
Other News
Kate’s European Adventures
Recently, during my long service leave, my best friend and I spent six weeks exploring Europe, visiting ten different countries. It was incredible to experience such contrasts—from 40-degree heat to -1 degrees and snow—all within the same continent. My favourite destinations were the United Kingdom and Greece; both were vastly different but equally stunning, with breathtaking views and iconic landmarks. Visiting Mauthausen and learning about World War II was particularly fascinating, offering a deeper understanding of the history of Germany, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands, and already wanting to go back and explore the world more.
KATE BECKETT
Education and Care Manager – Norwood
Meet Our Staff
Kym Young – Service Support Officer at Norwood
I have worked at Lady Gowrie for nearly 2 years and feel fortunate to be able to work here. I like the variety and flexibility of my role.
The children and parents put a smile on my face, and I love greeting them as they walk in every day. I feel very supported and work with great people who enjoy what they are doing.
In the past, I have mainly worked in accounts payable/receivable, payroll and some HR/recruitment, mostly with in-house training in the transport and building industry.
Weekends are spent with family, friends, and my dog. I enjoy watching movies but also getting outdoors as much as I can.
My favourite exercise is walking, yoga and gardening. I am interested in cooking and learning new recipes because I love yummy food and eating at restaurants!
Brooke Cooper – Education And Care Practitioner at Norwood
I began working at Sushi to Go from the age of 14 to 17 before becoming a mum to my first son, Cove, at 18. A year later, I started in OSHC at Norwood, where I spent most of my time before moving into a Team Leader role at West OSHC. Eventually, I made the shift to Norwood LDC full time, and during this time I welcomed my second son, Coltn.
As a family, we love being outdoors, going on day trips, and exploring new places. This has influenced my children’s strong interests in their natural and outdoor environment, something I really value in early childhood education too.
Over the past three years, I’ve been privileged to work closely with families, caring for many children from the baby room through to now in the 2–3 year old room. Watching them grow and being part of their learning journey has been such a rewarding experience.
One of the things I appreciate most about working at Gowrie is the supportive and respectful culture created by our managers. Their leadership is reflected in the positive relationships we share as a team, and I feel lucky to work alongside such dedicated and passionate colleagues.
Jacqui Willis – Quality & Safeguarding Lead
I started out in the world of art, completing a Bachelor of Art History and Curating at Monash University. After graduating, I moved back to Tasmania and took on a role at MONA. It was a great experience, until COVID-19 forced the museum to temporarily close, like so many other places at the time.
That pause led me somewhere I didn’t expect: the not-for-profit sector, working in Quality & Safeguarding. What began as something of a sidestep turned out to be a longer-term pivot. Since then, I’ve worked across various areas of quality management, including compliance, investigations, and continuous improvement. I recently stepped into the role of Quality Lead with LGT, where I’m continuing to build on that work in a new context.
Outside of work, most of my time is spent with my husband and our dog, Cheddar-Bob. I’m also currently studying Strategic Management through UNSW, which keeps things interesting (and busy).
It hasn’t been a straight line, but the common thread through all of it has been an interest in how things work, how people navigate them, and how they can be made better.
Staff Q&A
Shannon Gall – Pedagogy and Practice Manager
What do you love most about your job?
Championing quality practice and pedagogy to support educators to reflect upon practice and support the very best outcomes for children.
What would your perfect weekend look like?
Camping with family and friends at the beach, sitting around a campfire star gazing!
What is the best thing that has happened to you this year?
Getting to go to ECA conference in Perth, exciting to bring back new learnings and see Perth as I have never been before.
Do you have any pets and what are their names?
I have the most beloved rescue staffy, Thor, who is found on my lap most nights or hasling anyone for pats. I also have 6 fish tanks and breed tropical fish as an excuse to explore another way to own plants!
Skylah King – Education & Care Practitioner – Gordon Square
What do you love most about your job?
I love creating fun and engaging environments and experiences for children to enjoy and explore. I love being a safe space for all children.
What would your perfect weekend look like?
Spending time with family and friends, going to the beach in the warmer weather, or relaxing at home watching Netflix.
What is the best trip you’ve ever been on and why?
I participated in a cultural exchange program with Thailand, where my exchange partner stayed with me for two weeks, and then I spent two weeks living with them in Thailand.
What is one thing you can’t live without and why?
Caffeine!!!!!!!!!!
Helen Mounster – Inclusion Professional
What is your role at LGT?
Inclusion professional
What do you love most about your job?
I love visiting services and building genuine relationships with educators and children. It’s incredibly rewarding to coach educators toward their goals and then see them confidently put new strategies into practice. Watching children respond, learn, and grow as a result of those changes is what makes my work so meaningful.
What is the best thing that has happened to you this year?
My dear friend and her family have migrated to Australia and will be living in the same suburb as me. My daughter loves her daughter and many play time ahead…
If you could pick any superpower, what would it be and why?
I would pick the power of healing, healing from inside out, healing from young to old, as this broken world needs healing and restoration.
What is one thing you can’t live without and why?
I can’t live without love — without it, I’d be nothing more than an empty sounding board.