Our Management Team

Tina HoltomChief Executive Officer

Tina is the Chief Executive Officer at Child Australia and has worked in various senior positions within the Education and Child Development sectors for more than 20 years. Tina is a strategic leader dedicated to innovation and continuous improvement and growth.

Prior to working for Child Australia, Tina owned and operated her own Early Learning Services and consulted widely on best practice models throughout the Education and Care sector, Schools, and various agencies. Tina also worked extensively with children and their families in various therapy settings.

Her career background has also included senior business management roles, teaching, and lecturing positions. Tina has tertiary qualifications in Business Management, Education, and most recently has completed a Masters in Mental Health Science (Child Psychology). Tina is a ferocious advocate for the education and well-being of children of all ages, and strives to nurture and support the parent – child relationship.

As a mother to 2 young boys, Tina has a strong desire to help keep childhood fun, carefree and full of wonder for as long as possible.

Tina is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

For keynote and speaker presentations, Tina’s areas of expertise include:

(across all age groups 0 to 18 – early childhood, childhood & adolescence)

• Childhood Development
• Engaging Families
• Enhancing quality relationships with children and/or families
• Behaviour Guidance
• Childhood Anxiety
• Toxic Stress and Trauma
• Leadership & Management
• Professional Development

Meriel Corbett-WeirExecutive Manager, Strategic Partnerships

Meriel brings extensive skill, knowledge and experience to further Child Australia’s growth and acquisition agenda. She has performed many and varied executive leadership roles in the public, corporate and not for profit sector where she has specialised in facilitating public private partnerships, corporate governance, strategic stakeholder engagement and capacity building.

Meriel is recognised for her strong commitment to strategic community engagement and donates pro bono services to not for profit management committees and boards where she is responsible for strategic planning, corporate relations and media management and corporate governance. She is currently a member of the NT Police Commissioners roundtable and ISAC NT.

Meriel is passionate about supporting and advancing the NFP/NGO sector in the Northern Territory and mentors organisations as they are challenged with the constant pursuit to grow and flourish whilst striving for sustainable economic viability.

Her roles have consistently seen her represent the Northern Territory with an intimate understanding of the cultural process, procedures and protocols required to build effective communication channels that connect diverse and complex organisations.

Meriel is a long term resident of the NT.

Sara HinchleyGeneral Manager

Sara has worked with Child Australia since 2006 and her executive role oversees the Service Delivery and Programs activities throughout Western Australia. She has extensive experience in the Early Childhood Sector as a Qualified Educator, Director, and National Childcare Accreditation Council Validator.

Sara has international experience developing and managing play schemes and sponsored children’s services in the United Kingdom. Her professional interests lie in quality care provision and pedagogical leadership. Sara holds a Diploma in Children’s Services, Cert IV (TAA) and post graduate Qualifications in Business Leadership.

Maria MillerExecutive Manager, Corporate Services

Maria is a highly experienced finance manager with particular expertise in the not-for-profit and childcare sectors. Maria’s role at Child Australia is to provide financial expertise and guidance, and is responsible for driving and administering the finance activities enabling the organisation to fulfill its mission.

Maria is a qualified accountant and is one unit away from attaining her CPA qualification. She is a strategic thinker with a ‘big picture’ focus who can question the status quo, generate new ideas and always strives to achieve best practice.

Maria volunteers her time and expertise to school and community causes, having young children herself she is passionate to contributing towards improving outcomes for children.

Hans that was the best PD I have ever attended, well done!! My staff all left so excited... If we were to do all our training through you guys, can we request you each time? Thanks so much for coming out : )

Rachel Halligan, Manager of Saranna Early Childhood Education & Care Centre

First of all WOW! Casey presented the workshop perfect. She was real about what happens in OSHC, she was experienced, full of knowledge and super organised. She left us all so inspired that I even had educators sending me Pinterest ideas late last night. The workshop was just what we needed to remind us of how important our job is and to critically reflect on our current practises. We can’t wait for our future trainings with Child Australia.

Bianca Stante, Director of Stratton Out of School Care

Thank you Nadia, It would not be an exaggeration to say that all staff, including myself were blessed and more than happy with the feedback and the words of wisdom from you and your esteemed organisation.

Peter Deng, Director of Alpha Family Day Care Services

Having access to a professional quality consultant like Zoe is truly a god send, especially in the lead up to rating & assessment. Working in a community based service can get lonely, so having Zoe on hand has helped myself and my Educators a lot.

Jo Vlassco, Malak Family Centre

I want to say a special thank you to all the staff at the Lockridge Campus. You have all been more like family to my girls and I. Everyday at dinner we sit and we talk about how wonderful the teachers were, what they taught them and the fun activities they get up to. My girls wouldn't be this happy anywhere else.

Sudar, Mother of children attending Lockridge Campus ELC

Zoe works closely with educators and services to identify their strengths and through shared dialogue identifies areas for quality improvement. She uses her extensive experiences and knowledge to support services embrace their challenges, promotes the services autonomy through collaborative practices rather than solve problems on their behalf.

Fiona Warburton, Wulagi Preschool, N.T

Fantastic, thought provoking and engaged for the whole session. Perhaps some conversation on the older children ( a few activities were target about below 6 years which we don't cater for) but the 2nd workshop was targeted more so at our ages.

Katina Briody, Leisurelife Just 4 Kids

The services provided by Zoe are varied and site specific, tailored to their identified needs. She takes the stress and uncertainty out of the process and provides an alternate view of a service that identifies areas of strength and growth.

We moved our son to Farrar ELC in early 2017. From the onset of our first enquiry to the Centre; right through to ours Son's transistion, the Director and Staff have had an invested interest, facilitated any requests and opened the lines of communication to build a strong mutual partnership in our Childs development.

Cindy, Mother of a child attending Farrar ELC

Zoe supports educators to see the many small but vital choices made daily that improves outcomes for children. She adopts a role of active discussant, supporting educator’s critical interpretations of their practice that identifies their own narrative, and interpretive abilities in relations to their ongoing quality improvement.

I really enjoy all forms of PD... I can't thank Child Australia enough for providing such wonderful workshops to participate in so that I am always learning and scaffolding on the knowledge and understanding that I already have.

Rachael Holzberger, NT Explorers Early Education