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Meet the Team
At Cameron Park Early Learning Centre, we know that the true heart of any exceptional early childhood environment is its people.
Team overview
The same familiar faces, year after year
We take immense pride in our remarkably low staff turnover, which stands as a testament to our warm, supportive workplace culture and deeply passionate educators. In a sector often marked by rapid change, our centre offers a rare sanctuary of long-standing team consistency. When children arrive each morning, they are greeted by the same familiar, smiling faces day after day, year after year.
We don’t employ casual staff, all of our employees are permanent staff. Leave is covered by permanent float staff who work across the service covering all rooms, getting to know all of our children and families, ensuring your children are comfortable with the educator who fills in when one of their core teachers is on leave.
Our Founders and Owner
Les and Lesley Marks
As the founders and owners of Cameron Park Early Learning Centre, Les and Lesley Marks established this service with a strong commitment to the local community. Celebrating over 20 years of nurturing local families, their enduring purpose has been to provide a state-of-the-art facility that sets the benchmark for high-quality, long-day childcare.
For Les and Lesley, the centre is more than a business; it is a collaborative community where children are given the space to dream up possibilities, build confidence, and thrive in our environments.
Management
Our Leadership Team
At the core of our centre is a leadership team deeply invested in your child’s well-being and development. Together, they work alongside our dedicated educators to ensure that the foundational years of your child’s life are filled with joy, connection, and meaningful learning.
Catherine Marks
Chief Executive Officer
Leading our operational and educational vision is our CEO, Catherine Marks. Catherine is dedicated to bringing our philosophy to life across every classroom and playground. With a passionate commitment to early education excellence, she ensures the centre maintains its core values. Catherine works closely with families and educators to foster a modern, child-focused environment where childhood is celebrated, and collaborative wisdom guides our daily practice.
Shari Fordham
Nominated Supervisor
Shari Fordham serves as one of our Nominated Supervisors, managing the daily operations and regulatory standards of the centre.
Shari recently celebrated her 6th year of service with our centre.
Samantha Beattie
Nominated Supervisor & Educational Leader
Sam also acts the role of Educational Leader. In this role, she focuses on guiding the curriculum implementation, team leadership and inspiring learning.
Sam extends over 12 years of service with CPELC.
Sharon Bretherton
Administration Manager
Sharon Bretherton is our Administration Manager and the organised heart of our front office. Sharon manages the complex world of Child Care Subsidy (CCS) fees, daily scheduling, and family enrolment accounts with incredible care and precision. Understanding that navigating childcare admin can sometimes feel overwhelming for parents, Sharon is dedicated to making the process smooth, clear, and completely stress-free. Whether you have a question about your statement, need help updating your days, or simply want a warm chat at drop-off, Sharon is always there to guide you.
Sharon has been with CPELC for almost 15 years. Both of her now teenage boys started their journey at CPELC as babies before Sharon joined the team soon after.
Emma Odgers
Administration Assistant
Emma Odgers steps into the vital role of Administration Assistant, working alongside Sharon to keep our centre running like clockwork. Emma looks after all things compliance across children and staff records, assists with daily family communication, attendance records, enrolments and welcomes visitors to our secure facility. With her bright smile and gentle approach, Emma plays a key role in ensuring that every family feels immediately seen, heard, and valued from the moment they walk through our front doors. She keeps our community connected, updated, and organised every single day.
Emma commenced with CPELC 12 years ago as a trainee educator and transitioned into an administrative role approximately 3 years ago.
Nominated Supervisors: Shari Fordham and Samantha Beattie
Shari Fordham and Sam Beattie serve as our Nominated Supervisors, managing the daily operations and regulatory standards with a comprehensive understanding of National Quality Standards and early childhood regulations. Shari and Sam ensure that our environment remains safe, compliant, and welcoming for every family. They are passionate about creating a transparent, supportive space where parents feel secure leaving their children and educators feel empowered and encouraged in their roles.
Sam also acts the role of Educational Leader. In this role, she focuses on guiding the curriculum implementation, team leadership and inspiring learning.
Low staff turnover
A team that stays
6 to 15 years
Outside of the family members employed within the service, our management team have been with us between 6 and 15 years.
Approx. 5 years average
Our recent extension saw a staff growth of 30%, however prior to that, the shortest length of service with CPELC had been two years, with an average of approx. 5 years service.
Grown from within
Many of our long standing educators began their traineeships with us and stayed on as qualified educators.
Permanent staff only
We don’t employ casual staff, all of our employees are permanent staff. Leave is covered by permanent float staff who work across the service.
Our Educational Team
Continuity of care, and a commitment to learning
Why our longevity matters for your child
Low staff turnover: An experienced, long-standing team provides continuity of care and consistent attachments that help children feel safe and secure.
Our commitment to team retention forms the strong foundation for continuity of care. We understand that secure attachments are vital for optimal brain development, emotional regulation, and holistic learning. Because our educators stay with us long-term, they develop close, meaningful relationships with families that often stretch across multiple siblings. This consistency allows us to build a true village of support around your child, ensuring they feel seen, heard, safe, understood, and empowered to explore their world.
Professional experience and continuous learning
Extensive qualifications: highly trained professionals committed to lifelong learning and exemplary education.
Our team is composed of passionate career educators with extensive professional experience. To ensure our curriculum remains at the forefront of contemporary education and care, our educators engage in ongoing, advanced professional training. This includes deep immersions into the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), Wellbeing and Inquiry-based learning models.
Join our Team
Shaping Early Years, Together
Finding a workplace is easy, but finding a professional home is rare. At our centre, we don’t just offer roles; we offer the chance to join a stable, close-knit family of long-standing educators who are genuinely driven by the magic of early childhood.
Ready to make a difference with a team that feels like home? Explore our current opportunities below.
Enrolment Enquiry
Join the waitlist or book a tour — we would love to show you around.