ECTA Committees & life members

Kim began her teacher training at Brisbane Kindergarten Teachers’ College in 1979 and joined ECTA to attend the ECTA Conference. Kim’s first teaching position was at the Blackwater Kindergarten between 1982 and 1986. After the birth of her first child she moved to Gympie and recommenced teaching in 1993 at Gympie Community Kindergarten (now known as Alma Street Pre-Prep). In 2006 she began teaching at Gympie South State School in the Prep Class. Kim retired from teaching in 2015.

In 2002 Kim joined the State Management Committee, volunteering to take on the vacated role of State Regional Groups Coordinator and in 2005 became Vice-President followed by President in 2007. As President, Kim strives to support regional and remote members. She continues to be an office bearer for the ECTA Cooloola Regional Group. Kim strongly believes that children need to be co-constructors of their own educational programs. Contributing and being respected leads to high engagement and maximum learning. Kim also is the secretary of the Journal Committee and Coordinators the Conference and website.

Beginning her teaching in regional Queensland the ECTA annual conference was the highlight of her year as she had extremely limited opportunities to connect with other Early Childhood Professionals. The Emerald Kindergarten (45 minutes away) had the closest Early Childhood Teacher and consultants visited once a year. Kim is passionate about using modern technologies to connect with colleagues across the state, country and world.

After having begun her career teaching Prep, Melanie has been the Teacher/Director of a stand-alone kindergarten in Mackay for the last ten years.

Melanie was inspired to join ECTA after hearing her mother (also a teacher) talk about the positive effect networking at ECTA meetings had on her teaching practice back when the Bruce Highway was “just a goat track” and she was teaching in a small country town.

Melanie is always keen to participate in conversations that advocate on behalf of teachers and educators and their role in educating young children. She joined the ECTA State Management Committee as a member in 2022 and became Vice-President in 2025.

​

Lisa Cooper first joined ECTA as a member in 1992. She helped to form the Hervey Bay ECTA Regional Group in 1995. Lisa continues to be an active member of the Hervey Bay group, and has held the role of Treasurer since 1998. Lisa took her involvement with ECTA to a higher level when she joined the State ECTA Management Committee in 2009.

Since 2010 Lisa has been in the role of Treasurer, and is the Conference Committee Secretary. Lisa represents ECTA on the Qld College of Teachers Professional Standards Committee and is an accredited AITSL panellist for teacher education course approvals and endorsements. Lisa’s professional journey with education has spanned across several years and various roles, including (school-based roles) Preschool Teacher, Preschool Teacher-in-Charge, Prep Teacher and Acting Deputy Principal; (regional based roles) Early Years Advisory Visiting Teacher, Age Appropriate Pedagogy Coach and Early Years Coach.

After completing her Master’s in Education (Guidance and Counselling), Lisa moved her professional career into the area of wellbeing, working as a Guidance Officer and currently holds the role of a Senior Guidance Officer in the North Coast Region. Lisa is passionate about early childhood being an important time in life; where children learn every day by doing.

As an early year’s educator Lisa strived to ‘activate a child’s own natural desire to learn’. Montessori As an inclusive educator, Lisa gave credence to – ‘If a child cannot learn in the way we teach, we must teach in a way the child can learn.’ Unknown A prominent poster in Lisa’s classroom read – ‘Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood’. F Rogers

We must always remember, ‘Children learn as they play. Most importantly, through play children learn how to learn’. F Donaldson

Jasmine started her early childhood career in 1999 working for a small country childcare centre in NSW. Jasmine has worked in a range of early childhood contexts whilst studying alongside. Staring out with Tafe level qualifications in Early Childhood Education and Care, continuing to study Early Childhood at QUT and completing a Master of Education through research through USQ in 2017.

Jasmine is a registered early childhood teacher and currently works as a senior teacher for Tafe QLD, inspiring educators of all ages to create engaging early childhood environments and advocate for young children’s rights. Jasmine is delighted to join as new member of the committee 2025.

Kim began her teacher training at Brisbane Kindergarten Teachers’ College in 1979 and joined ECTA to attend the ECTA Conference. Kim’s first teaching position was at the Blackwater Kindergarten between 1982 and 1986. After the birth of her first child she moved to Gympie and recommenced teaching in 1993 at Gympie Community Kindergarten (now known as Alma Street Pre-Prep). In 2006 she began teaching at Gympie South State School in the Prep Class. Kim retired from teaching in 2015.

In 2002 Kim joined the State Management Committee, volunteering to take on the vacated role of State Regional Groups Coordinator and in 2005 became Vice-President followed by President in 2007. As President, Kim strives to support regional and remote members. She continues to be an office bearer for the ECTA Cooloola Regional Group. Kim strongly believes that children need to be co-constructors of their own educational programs. Contributing and being respected leads to high engagement and maximum learning. Kim also is the secretary of the Journal Committee and Coordinators the Conference and website.

Beginning her teaching in regional Queensland the ECTA annual conference was the highlight of her year as she had extremely limited opportunities to connect with other Early Childhood Professionals. The Emerald Kindergarten (45 minutes away) had the closest Early Childhood Teacher and consultants visited once a year. Kim is passionate about using modern technologies to connect with colleagues across the state, country and world.

Liz is an early childhood teacher who, has worked in Teacher and Educational Leader roles for over a decade. She most recently taught in a small community in Central Queensland. Liz’s passions are in power of interactions and the role of language in early learning. A researcher at heart, she joined ECTA as part of her ongoing commitment to professional learning and values the opportunity to connect with and learn from like-minded professionals who share a passion for contemporary practice in the early years.

I began my teaching career in 1993 as a primary school teacher in the Bundaberg region before transitioning into preschool education. My journey led me to the Cairns Catholic Diocese, where I accepted a role as a preschool teacher and dedicated nearly ten years to this position. During this period, I completed a Master of Education Studies degree, enhancing my skills and knowledge in the field.

After the birth of my sons, I returned to work as a casual GymbaROO Instructor and later spent two years as a lecturer and tutor at James Cook University. Following the completion of my university contract, I embraced the role of Kindergarten Teacher and Co-Director at C&K Edmonton Community Kindergarten, where I have now taught for sixteen years. I truly value the opportunity to focus on each child as a unique learner—learning with them, from them and creating an environment where every child can thrive.

In 2025, I expanded my professional journey by joining the ECTA Journal Committee. This new role provided an opportunity to further challenge myself, deepen my understanding of current educational research, and enhance my confidence in implementing effective strategies to support children’s learning and development.

Kim began her teacher training at Brisbane Kindergarten Teachers’ College in 1979 and joined ECTA to attend the ECTA Conference. Kim’s first teaching position was at the Blackwater Kindergarten between 1982 and 1986. After the birth of her first child she moved to Gympie and recommenced teaching in 1993 at Gympie Community Kindergarten (now known as Alma Street Pre-Prep). In 2006 she began teaching at Gympie South State School in the Prep Class. Kim retired from teaching in 2015.

In 2002 Kim joined the State Management Committee, volunteering to take on the vacated role of State Regional Groups Coordinator and in 2005 became Vice-President followed by President in 2007. As President, Kim strives to support regional and remote members. She continues to be an office bearer for the ECTA Cooloola Regional Group. Kim strongly believes that children need to be co-constructors of their own educational programs. Contributing and being respected leads to high engagement and maximum learning. Kim also is the secretary of the Journal Committee and Coordinators the Conference and website.

Beginning her teaching in regional Queensland the ECTA annual conference was the highlight of her year as she had extremely limited opportunities to connect with other Early Childhood Professionals. The Emerald Kindergarten (45 minutes away) had the closest Early Childhood Teacher and consultants visited once a year. Kim is passionate about using modern technologies to connect with colleagues across the state, country and world.

Lisa Cooper first joined ECTA as a member in 1992. She helped to form the Hervey Bay ECTA Regional Group in 1995. Lisa continues to be an active member of the Hervey Bay group, and has held the role of Treasurer since 1998. Lisa took her involvement with ECTA to a higher level when she joined the State ECTA Management Committee in 2009.

Since 2010 Lisa has been in the role of Treasurer, and is the Conference Committee Secretary. Lisa represents ECTA on the Qld College of Teachers Professional Standards Committee and is an accredited AITSL panellist for teacher education course approvals and endorsements. Lisa’s professional journey with education has spanned across several years and various roles, including (school-based roles) Preschool Teacher, Preschool Teacher-in-Charge, Prep Teacher and Acting Deputy Principal; (regional based roles) Early Years Advisory Visiting Teacher, Age Appropriate Pedagogy Coach and Early Years Coach.

After completing her Master’s in Education (Guidance and Counselling), Lisa moved her professional career into the area of wellbeing, working as a Guidance Officer and currently holds the role of a Senior Guidance Officer in the North Coast Region. Lisa is passionate about early childhood being an important time in life; where children learn every day by doing.

As an early year’s educator Lisa strived to ‘activate a child’s own natural desire to learn’. Montessori As an inclusive educator, Lisa gave credence to – ‘If a child cannot learn in the way we teach, we must teach in a way the child can learn.’ Unknown A prominent poster in Lisa’s classroom read – ‘Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood’. F Rogers

We must always remember, ‘Children learn as they play. Most importantly, through play children learn how to learn’. F Donaldson

Joanne is a qualified early years teacher, who completed her teaching training at Central Queensland University, and has worked in the Central Queensland region throughout her working career.

Joanne has worked as relief teacher, classroom teacher, kindergarten teacher and has worked across settings including schools, early learning services and school-age care services. Joanne is also a qualified trainer and has delivered the early childhood education and care package. Joanne is currently working as the coordinator of a family day care scheme.

Joanne has always been committed to quality education and care as she believes that early childhood education provides the foundations for our children and our society. Joanne believes that by empowering educators we can provide supportive environments for our children to enhance their learning and enable them to be successful learners throughout life.

In her spare time, Joanne enjoys scrapbooking and working in her local community to support educators and organisations to come together to support families and young children.

Joanne joined ECTA many years ago to not only engage in quality professional development but to network and collaborate with other educators. Jaanne joined the State Management Committee in 2015 and restablished the Rockhampton Regional Group during that year. Joanne’s roles with ECTA include State Management Committee Secretary and Webinar Organiser.

​

After having begun her career teaching Prep, Melanie has been the Teacher/Director of a stand-alone kindergarten in Mackay for the last ten years.

Melanie was inspired to join ECTA after hearing her mother (also a teacher) talk about the positive effect networking at ECTA meetings had on her teaching practice back when the Bruce Highway was “just a goat track” and she was teaching in a small country town.

Melanie is always keen to participate in conversations that advocate on behalf of teachers and educators and their role in educating young children. She joined the ECTA State Management Committee as a member in 2022 and became Vice-President in 2025.

​

Kate Beutel began her teaching career over 20 years ago in primary education. After having her own children, she discovered her passion for the early years and transitioned into kindergarten teaching. Since then, Kate has held roles as Director/Nominated Supervisor, Educational Leader, and Classroom Teacher. She has also completed a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and is deeply committed to supporting teachers and educators by equipping them with practical strategies to use in their classrooms.

Kate has attended ECTA conferences over many years, both with her teaching teams and individually, and has always valued the opportunity to network, share ideas, and access high-quality professional development. In 2025, she joined the ECTA Conferences Committee to give back to the profession, contribute to the planning of meaningful professional learning experiences, and help ensure that educators continue to feel inspired, supported, and empowered in their practice.

Liz is an early childhood teacher who, has worked in Teacher and Educational Leader roles for over a decade. She most recently taught in a small community in Central Queensland. Liz’s passions are in power of interactions and the role of language in early learning. A researcher at heart, she joined ECTA as part of her ongoing commitment to professional learning and values the opportunity to connect with and learn from like-minded professionals who share a passion for contemporary practice in the early years.

Mary Thomasson is an experienced Early Childhood Teacher with 18 years in the profession. Prior to completing her Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) in 2023, she held various roles in Early Education, including Nominated Supervisor, before discovering her true passion for Kindergarten teaching—a role she has enjoyed for the past three years after previously receiving permission to teach.

Mary currently teaches at a long day care Kindergarten in Rockhampton, where she is dedicated to fostering children’s development, curiosity, and love of learning. She values embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and celebrating diversity in all its forms, empowering children to develop confidence, agency, and respect for others.

Having joined ECTA in 2025, Mary looks forward to contributing to and supporting the association in her role. She is passionate about advocating for the early childhood profession and supporting colleagues to grow, reflect, and develop in their practice. Mary believes collaboration and shared learning strengthen the profession and lead to better outcomes for children.

Building strong, respectful connections with families and colleagues is central to Mary’s practice, ensuring every child feels safe, valued, and supported to thrive.