Mitchell Early Learning Centre (MELC) has provided an ongoing not for profit community service of quality early childhood education and care for children 6 weeks to 5 years in the Bathurst area since 1983. We are licensed to care for up to 70 children per day, however, we cap our daily number of children to 65. We employ more educators than required by law to best support developmentally appropriate education and care at a standard that sets a benchmark for best practice in our region. MELC is a community-based service which is overseen by a Board of volunteers. The MELC Board is made up of volunteer family and community representatives who are elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Association which is held each year. 

The Board meet on the last Tuesday of every second month, and warmly welcome participation from MELC families. For further information you can contact the Board by emailing boardmelc@gmail.com Our Director, who is the Nominated Supervisor, is responsible for the day to day operation of the service. Our Centre Support Officer supports the Director in the day to day operation of the service. Our Educational Leader provides guidance and support to all our teachers to ensure programs and practice are of the highest quality and in line with the objectives of the Early Years Learning Framework (the national curriculum for early childhood education). Classroom Leaders are responsible for planning and implementing individual programs for the children in their care. This is done in collaboration with other team members within each classroom

Meet our Leadership team

Julia Alexander

Julia Alexander

Centre Director

Bachelor of Education

Mel Plummer

Mel Plummer

Centre Support Officer

Bachelor of Education

Maddi Pople

Maddi Pople

Educational Leader

Bachelor of Education

Mel Gumpert

Mel Gumpert

Educational Leader

Bachelor of Education

Mel Gumpert

Mel Gumpert

Preschool Teacher & Classroom Leader

Bachelor of Education

Jess Rogers

Jess Rogers

Preschool Teacher & Classroom Leader

Bachelor of Education

Cindy Fitzpatrick

Cindy Fitzpatrick

Preschool Teacher & Classroom Leader

Bachelor of Education

Maddi Pople

Maddi Pople

Classroom Leader

Diploma of Early Childhood Education

Micaela Gillespie

Micaela Gillespie

Classroom Leader & Diploma of Early

Childhood Education

Corinne Dunham

Corinne Dunham

Classroom Leader & Diploma of Early

Childhood Education

Laura Quinton

Laura Quinton

Administration & Finance Officer

Cert IV Accounting & Bookeeping

Scott Heness

Scott Heness

Chef

Cert III Hospitality

Calculate Your Savings with Our Childcare Subsidy Calculator

Understanding childcare costs should be straightforward. Use our simple subsidy calculator to find out how much you could save on childcare fees at Mitchell Early Learning Centre. It’s quick, easy, and can help you plan better for your child’s early education.