family comes first
Our Industry Partner Centres
Meet some of our team
Michael French
Managing Director
Michael has thirty years’ experience in managing operations and teams with fourteen years’ experience as the Managing Director of his family owned Jawbem Group supporting education and care of the youngest in our community. After working as a Commissioned Officer of The Australian Regular Army, Michael worked with Spotless Services and Westpac Group before taking on the challenge of his own business. Michael has a passion for the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education and care, and with his wife Jo, have had the fortune to undertake several study tours to Reggio Emilia and have the benefits of those tours influence thinking back home in Adelaide. He holds an MBA and in his spare time Michael enjoys cycling, playing golf and spending time with his family.
Amelia French
Executive Director, Trainer & Assessor
Amelia has worked in Early Childhood and Education for a number of years, beginning as an educator in an ELC before stepping up to support the training and development of new staff in both ELC and In-Home Care settings. After spending five years as an Educator, Amelia moved into the administration/management space working as Business Services Co-Ordinator for The Ranges ELC and Adelaide Family In-Home Care and then as Operations Manager for ELC Training. Adding to her professional skills, Amelia recently became a Trainer & Assessor. Additionally, Amelia has spent the past five years as a private primary, secondary and tertiary music teacher. Amelia has completed her Cert III and Diploma in Early Childhood Education, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Certificate in digital Marketing, Certificate in Implementing digital Marketing Strategies, Cert IV in Training and Assessment and is a member of The Australian Institute of Company Directors. Amelia also works as a professional musician and enjoys attending dance classes and playing with her cat.
Demelza sayers
Compliance manager
Demelza has worked in Early Childhood for her entire professional career. You name it in the industry and I’m sure she has done it. Demelza began her career as a student at The Ranges ELC in 2003 almost 18 years ago when her passion for educating children first began. Demelza spent the next few years working in conjunction with studying her Diploma and became an Educational Leader in a nursery setting, igniting her passion for infants and their voice to be heard. Not only did she care for these children, but was very passionate about education starting from birth. This lead her to continue studying her Batchelor of Early Childhood Education and becoming one of the first Registered Teachers to work with an infant age group within the industry. Demelza moved into an Assistant Director space along with a managerial space spending 3 years as Director of Quality and Compliance and a further three years as a compliance manager. Demelza is very passionate about early childhood and networking within the industry to produce future leaders that are passionate about educating our youngest citizens.
Christine Bennett
Trainer & Assessor
Christine’s interest in Early Childhood Education began when she was studying a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Sub major in Counselling and Interpersonal skills), as she found Developmental Psychology fascinating. From there, Christine completed a Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) and completed her placements and worked in Reggio Emilia inspired Early Learning Centres and Schools. Her studies and ongoing professional development, has led Christine through multiple leadership positions at The Ranges Infant Toddler Centre for nearly 10 years as being a Teacher for varying age groups and as an Educational Leader. Christine has a strong understanding of the importance of children’s developmental stages and interlinking it into children’s joy of learning through play.
Christine has now turned her attention to being a Trainer and Assessor in order to help students through the completion of their studies with ELC Training.
Christine also has an interest in Agriculture and livestock which comes from her childhood of growing up and working on the family farm on the Yorke Peninsula. Christine enjoys going over there with her husband and two young daughters, as well as spending time catching up with friends.
Stephanie watson
Trainer & Assessor
Stephanie started her journey as a university student studying her Bachelor of Early Childhood. Upon completing her first year, she confirmed that this was the pathway and sector that she was truly passionate about but wanted to spend more time with the children. As a result, Stephanie deferred university and started to pursue a Certificate III and Diploma in Childrens Services.
Stephanie worked at our Partner Site Gawler Riverside ELC for 7 years, notably as the Educational Leader in the Nursery. She believes in a holistic approach to teaching and creating equal opportunities for children to explore and engage with their world through play. Stephanie has a love for learning and values growth, development, and success for children and educators. This is where Stephanie found a passion for coaching and mentoring colleagues and students on their practical placement at the service and went on to complete her studies in training and assessment and pursue full time employment as a Trainer/Assessor.
Stephanie has worked as a Trainer/Assessor for the past four years, acquiring experience in training both external and face to face classroom delivery. She has recently worked as a VETIS Coordinator; developing and implementing programs for school-based students to study Certificate III in Early Childhood as part of SACE completion.
Stephanie is a dedicated soccer and gymnastics mum to her two beautiful children and also playing soccer herself. In her spare time her family heads down to the Murray River to relax at their family shack.
Zaina Ferreira
Administration & Enrolments Officer
Zaina plays a key role in supporting students and ensuring a smooth and efficient enrolment process. Originally from Brazil, she has over eight years of experience in adult education and has always been passionate about helping students transform their lives through access to quality education and guidance. Her passion for education began long before her professional career when she was an international student herself, studying English in Vancouver, Canada. That experience gave her firsthand insight into the challenges and opportunities that students face, and she realised how even a small piece of advice could completely change the trajectory of a student’s future.
Over the years, she has honed her skills in admissions, student support, and marketing, always focusing on creating meaningful connections and delivering solutions tailored to each student’s needs. Dedicated to helping students achieve their goals, she is committed to creating a welcoming and well-structured environment for those pursuing skills to develop their careers. Her attention to detail and proactive approach ensure that each step of the enrolment process is handled efficiently and with care.
She is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on Digital and Project Management. Passionate about continuous learning, she is always looking for new ways to enhance her skills, stay updated with industry trends, and apply innovative strategies to improve processes and student experiences. Outside of work, Zaina loves discovering new cafés, trying out new recipes at home, and unwinding with a good TV series and movies. She also enjoys exploring Adelaide and its surroundings with her husband, always looking for new places and experiences to enjoy together.
With a strong commitment to education, student success, and continuous learning, Zaina is proud to be part of ELC Training and contribute to shaping the next generation.
