The Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) is a not-for-profit, member-funded organisation advocating for the future of Australia's children.
We work on behalf of long day care owners and operators to ensure families and their children have an opportunity to access affordable, high quality early learning services throughout Australia.
The Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA)'s Executive Committee provides a collective voice for our members, making decisions on behalf of all five ACA State Bodies and engaging with key political and sector stakeholders at the national level.
Our Executive Committee ("the Board") is made up of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and two Ordinary Members.
The work of the Board is supported by a Working Group, which includes the six Board Members, along with other participants from the five ACA State Bodies.
Every one of our Board Members is an early learning service owner/operator, working for ACA's Executive Committee on a voluntary basis in their own personal time.
We are extremely grateful to our Board Members for dedicating their time and efforts to the regular Board discussions and work projects, and for bringing a wealth of operational knowledge and experience to ACA's important role of advocating for the sector, with a view to ensuring a future where every child in Australia has the best start in life.
Paul brings over 15 years of experience as an early learning service provider to the role of President. Formerly the Secretary of ACA's Executive Committee and former President of the ACA Victorian Committee, Paul has played a key role in advocating for the interests of members at the Federal and State Government levels. He is dedicated to ensuring that all children have access to high quality, affordable early learning services in Australia.
Paul has a long established history in early learning and child care which started through his work in the family business from the age of 13. Since then Paul has built and managed his own services and currently has one service in Victoria. Throughout his time in the sector Paul has spent time filling most roles within the daily operations of the service and continues to work day to day in these services with children, families and educators. As a result Paul has developed a strong understanding of the challenges facing families in accessing affordable early learning services which has resulted in the desire to take a leadership role in the advocacy space.
Nesha has over 40 years of experience in the early learning sector. Formerly the Treasurer of the ACA National Executive Committee, Nesha is also former President of the ACA NSW Executive Committee.
Nesha currently owns two early learning services in Sydney. She is passionate about working collaboratively across the sector to bring about positive outcomes for children, families and operators in the areas of funding, planning, inclusive support and policy.
Nesha takes a hands-on approach to centre operation, and is acutely aware of the issues facing operators, families and our children. She has won a host of awards for her business management from the Australian Family Awards, Child Care Week Awards, National Work Life Balance Awards, Small Business Awards and Telstra Business Women's Awards.
Nesha holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and English, a Masters in Psychology, a Post Graduate Certificate in Counselling, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Special Education - Inclusive Support and a Diploma in Children's Services. Nesha is a registered senior supervising psychologist, a long standing Member of the Australian Psychological Society, and a Justice of the Peace. She also has a Cert IV in Training and Assessment.
Ann Marie Chemello brings over 30 years of experience in the early learning sector to her role as Secretary, and is currently operating several early learning and Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) services. Anne Marie is also President of the ACA WA Executive Committee.
Ann Marie firmly believes that the first five years of a child’s life are fundamental to all areas of their development. Her passion is in training educators to deliver a caring and nurturing environment that involve opportunities to enrich the child’s development.
Ann Marie holds a Diploma in Teaching, Diploma in Social Science and a Cert IV in Training and Assessment.
Kerry has been deeply involved in the early learning sector for over 25 years and currently operates two long day care centres in Adelaide. He is closely involved and hands on in the operation of these two centres. He has been President of the ACA SA Committee for the past five years and during that time has also served on the ACA National Executive Committee. In this role Kerry has been dedicated to advocating the needs of early learning service operators and families while working with the industry on issues that affect viability and the quality of care we provide.
Kerry has been actively involved with the Suzuki method for teaching music to children since 1979 and his four children have all learned to play instruments using this method. Kerry served on the Suzuki SA Council for many of these years and was involved in the organisation of two International Suzuki conferences and other Suzuki events.
Previously Kerry operated a management and leadership training business, owned and operated a manufacturing consultancy business specialising in lean manufacturing and served many years as a senior executive with General Motors and News Corporation.
Kerry has degrees in Economics and Accounting and is a CPA with the Australian Society of Accountants.
Jae Fraser, a University Qualified Early Childhood Educator with over 20 years of hands-on experience in Early Childhood Education. Jae's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Education, Advanced Diploma of Early Childhood Education and several business management qualifications spanning across the many spectrums of the child care and education industry. To compliment these achievements, Jae has worked in all sectors of the Early Learning Education and Care profession, from Teacher at the hands-on level through to centre management and operations senior management positions throughout Australia and Singapore.
Jae is Vice President of ACA Queensland and is an active advocate for children and education.
Having founded the Little Scholars School of Early Learning, which includes 13 premier early education and care campuses across Sth East QLD, Jae has also been the pioneer of The Scholars Group, a consulting & management company that projects visionary leadership by delivering a tailored approach to the management of early learning services. The Scholars Group supports early learning centres across the country with a range of do-it-yourself resources, professional advice, support and full management services.
Nicole brings over 25 years of experience in the sector to her role, having set up her first early learning service - Nicky's Kids Town - with her husband in 1993.
Nicole and her husband have successfully established eight childcare services and currently operate three services.
As the Vice President of ACA NSW, Nicole Upfold plays a key role in irepresenting our New South Wales members and their state-specific needs.
She holds a Diploma in Teaching and a Diploma in Applied Science (Nursing).
