MEET THE TEAM
Our team are important to us, and we are committed to supporting their well-being, professional growth, and career development.
Commitment to Our Team
All our staff required for legal ratios are Qualified and Registered Teachers. Our team is a well-tuned unit who have worked together for a considerable time and knows each other well. All our team members participate in regular Professional Development to ensure we provide the highest quality education and care. All our Qualified and Registered Teachers are paid at full ECE pay parity rates, and non-registered permanent support staff are paid at least Living Wage rates. We give our students the opportunity to pick up paid reliever hours to meet their practice requirements for their courses.
The Team
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![A woman with glasses and wavy hair sitting at a desk with a laptop, plants, a mug, a plant, and a tablet in an office with white walls.]()
Mandy Suess
OWNER & DIRECTOR
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![A man with a red beard and long hair, smiling, standing on a beach at sunset.]()
BRAD RYAN
CO-OWNER
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![A woman with dark hair standing outdoors in front of trees, wearing a maroon Mickey Mouse shirt and a gold necklace.]()
Mandeep Kaushal
WHARE KAURI TEAM LEADER
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![A woman with dark hair tied back, smiling, wearing a light-colored shirt with a floral pattern, standing indoors against a light-colored wall.]()
Rimmi (Ramandeep) Kaur
WHARE KOWHAI TEAM LEADER
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![A woman in a purple saree with a floral pattern, standing inside a decorated tent with red drapes and yellow accents, smiling at the camera.]()
Reeta Sonu
PRIMARY CARE COORDINATOR
INFANT & TODDLER TEACHER
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![Close-up of a woman with red hair, wearing earrings and a gold-colored top, smiling gently indoors near a window]()
Danielle Verner
SOCIAL COMPETENCE & WELLBEING LEAD
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![A young woman taking a selfie outdoors near a body of water on a sunny day, wearing a blue shirt and sunglasses over her head, with trees and a clear blue sky in the background.]()
Dipu Bhusari
ADMINISTRATION & MARKETING
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![A smiling woman with short dark hair standing in front of a leafy green tree and black fence, wearing a colorful patchwork short-sleeve top and a gold necklace.]()
Eileen Small
PRESCHOOL TEACHER
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![Close-up photograph of a woman with dark hair, wearing hoop earrings, and a navy blue top, making a facial expression with lips pressed together and slightly raised eyebrows, against a dark background.]()
Keri Edwards
CULTURE & COMMUNITY LEAD
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![A young woman with long black hair and a black turtleneck sweater standing outdoors in front of blossoming trees with white flowers.]()
Krupa Sandhane
INFANT & TODDLER TEACHER
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![Close-up of a woman with dark hair, smiling, in a room with Hindu religious decorations and artwork in the background.]()
Sonali Panchal
INFANT & TODDLER TEACHER
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Farhana Gaznabi
HOUSEKEEPING MANAGER
Mandy and Brad
“My husband is a mechanic by trade, but over the past two decades, he has fully embraced life as a ‘kindy husband’ always building, repairing, mending, and quietly fixing whatever centres have needed over the years. He is incredibly handy and has a real heart for creating fun and safe environments for children. I have worked across many different roles in ECE, from teaching to management to consultancy, and together we bring a deep love and long history in this sector. We have two wonderful adult children and three awesomely crazy cats”. - Mandy Suess
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Our childcare relievers are fully qualified, experienced, and professional. When our hands get a little full, we work alongside Talk Recruitment to provide trusted and vetted extra support to ensure the highest standard of care is always maintained.
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Every child has an assigned key teacher that they will keep for as long as possible. All infants have a Primary Caregiver, meaning only the same person will attend to all their routines and needs, ensuring consistency, security, and strong attachment.
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While our pets are yet to settle at Villa Aroha, we look forward to welcoming chickens and guinea pigs, creating meaningful, supervised, hands-on learning experiences in the future
The Importance of Key Teachers & Primary Care for Infants
At Villa Aroha, we are deeply committed to providing primary care for all our infants and youngest toddlers. Primary care means that your baby has one special teacher, their Primary Caregiver, who attends to all their intimate care routines, such as feeding, nappy changing, settling to sleep, and comforting when needed. This is not just a preference; it is grounded in decades of research about how babies develop secure attachments and thrive emotionally. Infants are born wired to form deep, trusting bonds with a small number of consistent caregivers.
Research in attachment theory shows that when babies experience consistent, responsive, and loving care from the same person, they develop secure attachments, the foundation for emotional well-being, self-regulation, confidence, and healthy relationships throughout life. Neuroscience research further confirms that these early attachment relationships literally shape the developing brain, influencing how children manage stress, form relationships, and approach learning for years to come.
When your baby has a Primary Caregiver at Villa Aroha, they experience the same gentle hands, the same soothing voice, the same loving presence during their most vulnerable moments. This consistency helps your baby feel safe, understood, and deeply cared for. Your baby learns that the world is a trustworthy place, that their needs will be met, and that they are worthy of love and attention. This secure foundation allows your baby to explore, learn, and grow with confidence, knowing they have a haven to return to when they need comfort or reassurance. We honour the precious trust you place in us when you leave your baby in our care, and we are committed to nurturing that trust through the continuity, consistency, and deep care that primary caregiving provides.