Katherine Jane Foster
Lockridge,WA
Summary
I am guided by a strong belief in the inherent worth and potential of every individual to thrive when supported within the right environment. My approach is values-driven, grounded in empathy, respect, and a commitment to building meaningful relationships with students, families, and the wider community. I take a holistic, solutions-focused perspective, recognising the importance of understanding each person’s unique experiences, strengths, and needs to support engagement, wellbeing, and learning. I bring a strong work ethic and a practical, action-oriented mindset, prioritising meaningful, on-the-ground support over excessive paperwork, and focusing on strategies that make a real difference in everyday practice. I value clear, purposeful, and sustainable approaches that create consistency and enable both staff and students to experience success and a genuine sense of accomplishment. I have extensive experience supporting students with additional needs and apply neuro-affirming, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive practices, recognising the impact of lived experiences on behaviour and learning. Through this, I strive to create environments that promote safety, trust, inclusion, and a strong sense of belonging, where all individuals feel supported to participate, grow, and achieve positive outcomes.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Community and School Navigation Lead
Wanslea
11.2025 - Current
- Collaborated with community clinics at Moodjt Koort in Midland, fostering partnerships with major stakeholders and medical outreach professionals, including ENT specialists at Perth Children's Hospital and community paediatricians, to support referrals to NDIA supports.
- Established ongoing relationships with Lockridge Primary School to enhance staff education and understanding of developmental delay criteria when referring families to Wanslea.
- Facilitated family referrals to Wanslea, guiding them through NDIS plans and funding processes.
- Develop collaborative relationships – work closely with schools, service providers, and community organisations to coordinate support for families.
- Foster trust with families and stakeholders – build credibility and confidence in Wanslea as a supportive, reliable partner.
- Advocate for children and families – champion needs and priorities within the community and across service systems.
- Enhanced community visibility by increasing awareness of Wanslea’s programs and services through active engagement at events, hubs, and local networks.
NDIS Early Childhood Practitioner
Wanslea
06.2025 - Current
- Undertake child development assessments and preparation of reports that meet NDIA standards and policy procedures
- Develop individualised plans, in partnership with families, that accurately record the family’s priorities and needs
- Ensure assessment reports, initial plans and reviews are sensitive to the particular culture, values and beliefs of people from diverse backgrounds
- Identify and provide information and referrals to families that reflect their needs and links them into appropriate universal and specialist services to meet their child’s developmental needs
- Identified key stakeholders and built effective relationships and partnerships internally and externally, supporting families to connect with appropriate community services
- Participate in the implementation of the Practice and Quality Assurance Framework including: individual worker development plans, preparation for case reviews and delivery of the Framework and evidence-based practice
- Engaged and communicated with clients from diverse backgrounds, tailoring communication to meet specific needs of target groups
- Conducted service level monitoring and evaluation, generating reports against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
SNEA Year 1/2
Lockridge Primary School
12.2023 - 06.2025
- Supporting individual students' emotional, physical and cognitive development to participate successfully in classroom learning
- Implement the school's Student Behaviour and Engagement Policy by using common language and engaged processes that are consistent across all classrooms and learning areas
- Employed Lockridge Primary's values system in daily interactions with students by using whole school language that reflects three school values and implementing the values token system
- Collaborate with the classroom teachers to engage, motivate, mentor, and foster self-directed learning in students from Pre-school aged children to Year 6 with additional needs such as following and contributing to a child’s IEP and BMPs
- Assisting the classroom teacher to implement a quality student-centred explicit teaching and learning program to achieve success and promote life-long learning in students such as Heggerty and Spelling Mastery Programs as well as one-on-one focused learning following teacher directed learning outcomes
- Facilitated small group literacy and numeracy lessons to enhance student understanding.
- Contributing to aspects of school development through participating in whole school professional development such as reviewing submissions for Western Australian Education Awards communicating and implementing whole-school programs, cyber safety and trauma informed practices
- Collaborated with community groups to organize events that engaged students and families in learning, including assisting the school's AEIO in setting up for whole school NAIDOC celebrations
Education Leader, Training and Assessment Coordinator, Kindergarten Teacher
Early Learning Centre, Eden Hill
01.2021 - 01.2023
- Leading centre policy and procedure implementation of the National Quality Framework
- Contributed to writing and developing the centre's Quality Improvement Plan, enhancing readiness for the rating procedure.
- Liaising with education consultants to ensure the centre is compliant with the National Quality Framework
- Trained and developed staff to set goals and implement planning cycles across all areas of the centre, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
- Developing educational programs grounded in the Reggio Emilia philosophy and linked to the Early Years Learning Framework and the Western Australian Curriculum
- Assessing children’s speech, language and motor development to appropriately communicate any concerns with caregivers and other professionals, including to suitable support agencies
- Managing the kindergarten budget to ensure adequate and effective resourcing of the program
- Training students and trainees in obtaining their Diploma of Children’s services and liaising with external training and assessing schools for assessment of trainees
- Facilitated professional development sessions to enhance staff practices across the centre.
Education
Bachelor's Degree - Education
Edith Cowan University
Western Australia01-2004
Skills
- Tailored planning strategies
- NDIS policy adherence
- Stakeholder engagement
- Community initiatives
- Evaluation of programs
- Relationship management
- Solution-oriented problem solving
- Cultural sensitivity
- Advocacy techniques
- Interpersonal skills
- Assessment of child development
- Program management
References
- Josh Scardina, Wanslea, Co-Ordinator- Midland Office, 0402682770, Josh.scardinia@ndis.gov.au
- Mike Mount Bryson, Office of the Director General, Principal Advisor - Student Wellbeing and Care, 0400 902 217, mike.mountbryson@education.wa.edu.au
Professional Learning
- 01/01/26, Authentic Leadership Workshop
- 01/01/26, Building Psychological Safe Teams in Leadership
- 01/01/26, Supporting Wellbeing conversation for Leaders
- 01/01/26, Working Well- NDIA Leadership Development
- 01/01/26, Team Leader Coaching Toolkit Seminar
- 01/01/26, Mental Health First Aid
- 01/01/26, Mental Health Awareness
- 01/01/25, National Child safe Principals certified training modules
- 01/01/25, Women’s health in the workplace Workshop
- 01/01/25, NDIA Workplace Training for Partner in the Community Practitioners
- 01/01/25, First Nations Cultural Awareness
- 01/01/25, Disability Awareness- Inclusion and Diversity
- 01/01/25, Working for the NDIA
- 01/01/25, Autism Awareness Champions intensive Course Autism Australia
- 01/01/25, Educational Leader State Conference WA
- 01/01/25, Child Protection and Abuse Prevention
- 01/01/25, Trauma Informed Practice 1. Understanding Trauma
- 01/01/25, Trauma Informed Practice 2. Impacts of Trauma
- 01/01/25, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Awareness Course
- 01/01/25, Work Health and Safety for Employees
- 01/01/25, Positive Behavior Support
- 01/01/25, Zones of Regulation strategies and implementation
Registrations
- TRBWA Full Registration, 33000500
- NDIS Work Screen Certification, 01/01/25
- National Police Clearance, 01/01/25
- Working With Children Check Certification, 1124272
Timeline
Community and School Navigation Lead
Wanslea
11.2025 - Current
NDIS Early Childhood Practitioner
Wanslea
06.2025 - Current
SNEA Year 1/2
Lockridge Primary School
12.2023 - 06.2025
Education Leader, Training and Assessment Coordinator, Kindergarten Teacher
Early Learning Centre, Eden Hill
01.2021 - 01.2023
Bachelor's Degree - Education
Edith Cowan University