Kids on Mullum Child Care Centre - Team

Educators

Here at Kids on Mullum Child Care Centre, we pride ourselves on providing dedicated, highly-qualified and experienced educators and teachers. They are warm, affectionate and compassionate and are always available for children and families needs.

Whether you have queries or concerns about your child’s experience in care, their development, or things happening at home, our educators are more than willing to share their time, knowledge and support.   

All of our educators work collaboratively to improve practice and relationships through regular team meetings and professional development training. They are willing, open and excited for change and are proactive in providing children with new and engaging play spaces.

The relationships we foster with our families and the local community is of the highest priority. Family participation is always welcomed and encouraged across all aspects of our program. Our educators value contributions from families, and part of our aim is to make your family feel that this is a home away from home.

The centre has delegated some important responsibilities to groups of staff at the centre. These "centre teams" regularly meet to review procedures, refresh the knowledge of the team and make plans for change. Educators can join these teams at any time and provide feedback and input. We currently have a Wellbeing Team and a Sustainability Team.

Management

Our management team is comprised of Tracey Hayes, our centre director, and Laura Helleren, our centre's 2IC and Educational Leader.

  • Tracey Hayes Centre Director

    Tracey has been working at Kids on Mullum Child Care Centre since October 2017, when the centre first opened. Tracey has over 20 years experience working in the early childhood industry. She began working as a Diploma Qualified room leader for 10 years, before moving into the Educational Leader role when that became a new role in the industry. Tracey developed experiences as an Assistant Director while also completing her Advanced Diploma in Children's Services before taking on the Director role at Kids on Mullum. As Centre Director, Tracey oversees an average of 30 hard-working educators and 140 families each week.

  • Romayne Larkins Assistant Director

    Romayne has been a Qualified Early Childhood Educator at KOM since January 2018, before becoming a part of the management team from 2021. Romayne then stepped in as our Assistant Director in 2024. Romayne has been in the industry for over 25 years and after all these years, still has a strong passion for caring for and educating our younger generation. Romayne has her Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care and has lead rooms for a number of years working closely with assistant educators. Romayne also mentors new Qualified Educators at KOM, as they step into room leader positions for the first time. Romayne has an in-depth knowledge of the centre and our philosophy and values, and has stepped in on a number of occasions, to manage and support the service in Tracey’s absence.

  • Lin Wang Educational Leader

    Lin has joined Kids on Mullum childcare since August 2023. She graduated from Deakin University with a bachelor degree of Early Childhood Education and has taken teaching positions in Montessori-based kinder, long day care centre and primary school settings. After being the room leader in 3Yro and 4Yro kinder groups for five years, Lin started a new chapter of her career as an educational leader in 2025. With great passion for embedding child-centred, play-based and strength-focused learning programs into daily practices, Lin highly values the significance of continuous links between the learning environment and children’s holistic growth across diverse learning areas. As a qualified ECT, Lin covers shifts and maintains the delivery of kinder programs during the kinder teacher’s absence. Lin is also responsible for monthly educational program checks around all rooms, supporting educators in Quality Area One- Educational Program and Practice facilitating the KOM Quality Improvement Plan and contributing towards the centre policies.