Mel Comerford
Director & Founder
Mel is an experienced early childhood professional with more than 25 years working in the early years sector and is passionate about and dedicated
About Astute.
Why choose Astute?
Astute Early Years Specialists are the leaders in Childcare Management and consultancy services. If you’re an approved provider, service owner, centre manager, team member or teacher then you are going to love us and our team of epic (fearless, talented and legendary) specialists.
Why? Because we get it: all of it. Big services, small kindergartens, great (read exceeding) and working towards great – when it comes to early years, we have experienced it!
That’s why we provide advice and support to ensure compliance, improve your rating and streamline operations, all the while the showing the leadership qualities of a superhero.
Meet our team below and see how we can help transform your childcare centre.
Our Values
Respect
We respect our people, our network and the work that we do each day. We understand the value each individual person brings to the world and build relationships that are mutually respectful. Astute embraces & respects individual ideas and ways of thinking.
Excellence
We strive for excellence in every way and in everything we do. When we set to do something, we do it to the highest quality & standard attainable. Our performance & deliverables are second to none. We guide Centre Owners, Approved Providers, Managers and Team members to deliver excellence across all facets of their business.
Relationships
Our people are our family. At Astute relationships are nurtured, valued and integral to our work. We foster strong connections with our clients, centres, team members & stakeholders that become long-term relationships.
Children are important
The wellbeing of children is central to everything we do. At Astute, our purpose is to support Centre Owners, Approved Providers, Managers & Teams to deliver the highest quality education and care programs to children. Children are our future and they deserve to be nurtured, supported and provided with loving environments & community for their early learning journey.
Meet our expert team
Kylie Dawson
Strategy, Planning & Innovation Manager
Kylie is an experienced early childhood professional who is extremely passionate about supporting centre communities to work together to provide their children with high
Natalie McDonald
Corporate Services Manager
Natalie is an experienced marketing, communication, and project management professional, with over 13 years’ experience within the early childhood sector. She joins Astute Early
Ashleigh Marshall-Payne
Accounts Manager
Ashleigh is a qualified Bookkeeper and Trust Accountant who has worked in the Accounting & Bookkeeping Industry for over 6 years. She has completed
Rebecca Donaldson
Children's Services Manager
Bec a passionate Early Years Specialist with a wide range of experience stemming from over 14 years working in the early years sector. In
Jackie Alesi
Executive Assistant
Jackie is an experienced executive assistant with over 10 years experience in administration, customer service and executive support. Jackie is results driven and thrives
Priscilla Mulcahy
Strategy, Planning & Innovation Coordinator
Priscilla is an experienced early childhood professional with a passion for making a difference. Over the course of 20 years working in the sector,
Big Win at the Queensland Mining Awards!
We are beyond excited to announce that the Childcare Leadership Alliance won the Community, Staff Engagement, or Equal Opportunity Award at the 2024 Queensland Mining
SEO Strategy for a Childcare Centre Website
In today’s digital age, having a robust online presence is essential for any childcare centre looking to attract and engage with prospective parents.
BMA and Astute Early Years Specialists Nominated for Prestigious Queensland Mining Award
We at Astute Early Years Specialists are thrilled to announce that our collaborative initiative with BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) has been nominated for the Community, Staff Engagement, or Equal Opportunity Award at the esteemed Queensland Mining Awards. This nomination is a significant acknowledgment of our innovative efforts in regional childcare through the Childcare Leadership Alliance (CLA) project.
Contact us today and let our team of early years specialists work their magic.