Let me guess…

You’re trying to find the right person to help you understand children and the complex little beings they are.

You're done with the digital rabbit hole that tosses you from one extreme to the other. We’re talking advice that swings from fully ignoring behaviour to responding to a child's every demand.

You’ve likely tried both. Neither has worked.

It’s just left you unsure how to support the little people in your life anymore.

But don’t worry we can figure that out together and I have 20+ years experience in the Early Childhood Sector to help us along the way.

But first, let me introduce myself…

I’m Elise, an early childhood-obsessed mama of two who is here to change the way big people interact with little people. 

In the rush for children to do better, be better, and win the race, we’re missing what they truly need: connection, relationships, and to be children. (And by that, I mean a whole lot of play)

I wasn’t always teaching grown-ups to understand little ones, I was once just a naive 19-year-old thrust into an Early Learning Centre after applying for a role on a whim.

I was offered the job after a quick trial involving me nervously reading The Hungry Caterpillar, hands shaking, to some steely-eyed toddlers. 

I quickly went from Assistant to Room Lead to Director. The day I realised this was my life’s work was the day I burst into tears (happy ones!) after opening an email that said I’d just led my team of legends to exceed the National Quality Standard Assessments in all seven areas. 

I added more qualifications to my name and became an Early Learning Consultant mentoring ECE leadership teams across Australia and immersing myself in every PD opportunity available. My happy tears continued as centre after centre nailed their assessments and ratings with my support.

And then came my journey to mum

Scroll on my friend

Elise is wearing a black suit, smiling and walking down an urban street with graffiti art in the background
Elise M.Ed

I swaggered into motherhood thinking I’d nail it.

 I mean I had a Master's in Early Childhood Education and little people were my jam.

I was humbled, and quickly!

This time it was me falling down the rabbit hole. Straight into the perfect parenting paradigm. Desperately doing all the things the experts told me I was *supposed* to.

But my children still acted like, well, children.

They didn’t want to eat their veggies. They’d happily hit the floor and let everyone around them know how they felt. And, they didn’t sleep through the night.

If I hadn’t already understood the ideas of attachment, The Circle, and developmentally normal behaviour I’m not sure where motherhood would have taken me.

Becoming a mum supercharged my drive to make real change in the way we speak to, care for, and relate to children. So I expanded the work that I had already been doing in the early childhood education and care space to also supporting families.

My Qualifications

  • Master of Education (Early Years) Queensland University of Technology 

  • Bachelor of Teaching (birth to 5) Charles Sturt University

  • Diploma of Children's services - National Institute of Early Childhood Education 

  • Leading People in Early Childhood Settings - Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership 

  • Sleep and Wellbeing Certification - Baby-led Sleep approach, Isla Grace

  • Circle of Security Facilitator - Circle of Security International  

  • Marte Meo Practitioner - Marte Meo International 

  • Interrater reliability for ECERS - SSTEW Scales - Assessed alongside Iram Siraj

Companies I’ve worked with

  • goodstart early learning
  • guardian childcare and education
  • buckets early learning centre
  • richmond community learning centre
  • dame nellie melba kindergarten
  • carrum-downs-elc
  • each-child
  • early-years-phoenix-park
  • little charlie's elc
  • miy
  • olive phillips kindergarten
  • sunnyside kindergarten
  • swinburne childrens centre
  • the elwood nest
  • aspire-early-education-kindergarten

If walls could talk (and see, and hear)

You’d find me…

  • Watching Vanderpump Rules (what do you mean you have no idea, go change that immediately!)

  • Sipping on a red wine or spicy margs depending on the occasion.

  • Turning up to my book club having never read the book (every time!)

  • Embracing spontaneity (as much as possible with two children!)

  • Consuming what our fav restaurant refers to as “pockets of joy” or dumplings to the common man.

Here’s What They’re Saying

  • “You’ve helped me gain a true understanding of how secure attachments can transform my relationship with children and the impact on all their experiences. I have seen a shift to children who now feel safe, seen, heard, accepted, and comfortable. You’ve truly helped change their experience, and mine.”

    - Sarah

  • “Thank you for the chance to be a different parent. I know in years to come this will remain the best thing that ever happened in my parenting journey.”

    - Emily

  • “From you, I’ve gained a true understanding of how secure attachments can transform my relationship with children and the impact on their experience at kinder. I have witnessed in my own classroom the shift for children who now feel safe, seen, heard, accepted, and comfortable. It has truly changed their experience, and mine.”

    - Eimear

  • “You’ve reshaped not only how I view relationships with children, but also myself and adults in my life.”

    - Emma

My Core Values

Click to discover more about the values I’ll take to the hill and die by.

  • I prioritise authentic relationships and work to build trust among children, parents, and educators.

  • Caring for young children is hard, so I put empathy first in all I do.

  • I provide science-backed, developmentally appropriate knowledge and frameworks, like Circle of Security, to foster growth and change.

  • My goal is to equip parents and professionals with the confidence and skills needed to navigate the complexities of childhood development.

  • I tailor my support to meet individual needs, offering solutions that adapt to families and educational settings.

  • Everything happens in relationships - including the support I offer.

  • I offer clear and accessible guidance that doesn’t overwhelm, making the journey manageable for everyone.

Elise embracing two toddlers in bush setting

You’ve got this, and I’ve got your back.

Whether you’re a parent or educator, together we’ll figure out the world of little people and make your life with them way less chaotic.

Ready to get started? Choose your journey.