Samantha Jackson Van Hummel worked as a Care Provider for 11 years within the Bayside Family Day Care Service before accepting the post of Playgroup Coordinator in 2003. 

A graduate of Mt Carmel College, she earned a Diploma in Early Childhood and Education.

'Sam' also gained a variety of relevant child care and educational skills beginning in 1993 as a Volunteer Assistant with Bayside Community and Child Care Centre, and continuing with many years of Monthly in-Service Training as a Care Provider with Bayside Family Day Care.

She has provided quality care over 11 years for many children ranging in age, abilities, family structures and beliefs, and gender and cultural backgrounds.

In her role as Playgroup Coordinator, Sam plans and implements two Playgroup sessions per week, aimed at stimulating children's intellectual, physical, social, emotional, and language development == through play.

Sam says:

 'Our Playgroup environment is warm and friendly, child appropriate and initiated, safe and clean, and we take pride in its multicultural perspectives.  I also offer support for Carers by encouraging them to network, and by providing relevant child related books, products, and activity ideas.'

To her important role, Sam also brings a special quality == in her very own words, 'A great love for the uniqueness of all children.'