Wellbeing/Learning Support Team

Kirsten Brown (Learning Intervention Teacher)

Hello, South Melbourne Primary School community! My name is Kirsten and I can't wait to continue working with the amazing SMPS students and staff.

I have been teaching since 2005 and I still absolutely love it. After being a classroom teacher for many years, the last 2 years I took on an intervention role and have had the best time helping students achieve their full potential. 

When I'm not teaching, you might find me studying, gardening, or catching up with friends. I also love to spend time travelling, dining out and watching movies with my husband, Tony. 

I look forward to meeting you all next year!

Hugo Dias (School Counsellor) 

Hello,

My name is Hugo and I am a counsellor and behaviour specialist at South Melbourne Primary. I moved to Melbourne from Peru in 2018 and have worked in a variety of roles so far at SMPS, from classroom support to counselling. I have over 10 years of experience in educational and mental health settings. My career has been dedicated to supporting the holistic wellbeing of children and adolescents in various settings including schools, private practice and healthcare institutions. 

I welcomed a baby girl with my partner, Tilly, in November 2024 and am enjoying being a father for the first time. I am excited to return to SMPS in the new year, to meet new faces in our wonderful community and reconnect with existing members too. 

Lydia Keiffert (Speech Pathologist)

Hello, 

My name is Lydia. I am a certified Speech-Language Pathologist and hold a Master of Science in Speech Pathology. I support students with a variety of communication needs including expressive and receptive language, social skills, and speech sounds. I have experience working in the clinic, school, community, and telehealth settings. 

I strive to make therapy suit the individual needs of each person I work with, while focusing on building trusting relationships. I believe in neurodiversity affirming and client-centered approaches to therapy. I enjoy working alongside teachers to support students across environments. I primarily work with a paediatric population and regularly engage in professional development to continue to improve my knowledge base. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, spending time at the beach, and exploring new restaurants. 

Bhavana Sharma (Learning Support Officer - LSO)

My name is Bhavana Sharma. I have been working as a Learning Support Officer at South Melbourne Primary School since March 2021 where student safety, happiness and success is our top priority. Every day I interact with children, staff and parents from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. It gives me immense pleasure not only to share my experience but also to learn from all around me.

Prior to this I have served as an education professional for 11 years as a Mathematics and Science Teacher back in India. Teaching is not only my profession, but also my passion. I love and enjoy working with children and helping them in shaping their life. Over the weekend to serve my passion, I am working at Edu Kingdom College. There, I work as a Mathematics teacher, helping students from Grade 3 to Grade 7 in their learning journey.

My hobbies include reading and writing. I have written a couple of books on children’s rhymes in my native language (Hindi) and am working on some short stories. Also, I love painting and enjoy putting my emotions and thoughts on canvas.  I love cooking and experimenting with new dishes on weekends.

I am looking forward to another great learning year where we will share our experiences and grow together.

Happy Learning!

Madison Glidden (Learning Support Officer - LSO)

Hello SMPS families and students!

My name is Madison Glidden, and I am incredibly excited to rejoin the South Melbourne Primary School community as a Learning Support Officer!

Originally from New Zealand, I lived in Melbourne from 2017 to 2020 and had the privilege of working at SMPS during 2019 and 2020. In 2020, I returned to New Zealand to see family and gain further experience as a teacher aide while continuing my studies via distance learning.

Currently, I am living in London and have been for nearly two years! I have enjoyed travelling to different countries and eating new and interesting food (like snails), but I am ready to leave the cold weather over here!

I will be back in Melbourne in March 2025 and am eager to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new members of the school community. Thank you for welcoming me back to SMPS – I am so happy to be here! 

Mia Stovell (Learning Support Officer - LSO)

Hello SMPS community! 

My name is Miss Mia, and I have the pleasure of being one of our Learning Support Officers. In 2024 I provided support in the Prep classes, as well as occasional support throughout the day to other year levels.

I started in Term 1 of 2024, and have loved every day at SMPS! As I learn more about each student every day, I am constantly finding new ways to connect with them, and it brings me so much joy. 

Outside of SMPS, I am studying a Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Psychology double degree. I am passionate about understanding the complexities of the mind and how this makes us all so unique and special.  

If I am not working or studying, you will probably find me either crocheting or reading.  

I am so excited to learn more about the children, staff, and families at SMPS, and becoming closer to such a supportive and aspiring community. 

Mona Salem (Learning Support Officer - LSO)

My name is Mona and I am so lucky that I joined SMPS since 2019. I have worked in the education support field for more than 12 years both in Melbourne and in the UK. I love to help our students and use my creativity to make learning fun, unique and interactive! In my free time, I like to hang around at Australia’s lovely beaches, play soccer, listen to music and cook different dishes. I am so excited to meet all the students this year and be part of the school community 😊

Parul Agrawal (Learning Support Officer - LSO)

Dear SMPS students and families,  

My name is Parul and I am extremely excited to be a part of the SMPS community as a Learning Support Officer.  

I began my SMPS journey in 2018 with OSHClub, being the Assistant Coordinator. Throughout the past 5 years, I have had the pleasure of running engaging activities for students and getting to know them and their wonderful families. 

I look forward to taking my experiences from Osh and applying them to this new role. I believe that trying something new and challenging yourself helps you to become a better person! 

A little bit about me...I love trying new dishes from different cuisines and travelling with my family and experiencing different cultures around the world. I especially love dancing, drama and music as growing up, I used to participate a lot in my school and represent my culture through the arts. 

I have an 8-year-old daughter whom some of you may know as she attends this school, and my husband is a techie developing codes and providing system solutions to his clients. 

I look forward to seeing you all around and getting to know you better.

Rasmita Sahu (Learning Support Officer - LSO)

Hello wonderful SMPS family!!

My name is Rasmita, and I am currently supporting Year 5 students. 2024 was quite an exciting period for me supporting Year 5 students. As a new start to my career, I got ample opportunities to learn from each one from the SMPS family. I am happy to say the students are great teachers for me and learnt a lot from them. Moreover, the warmth and support that SMPS staff and class teachers have shown to me is quite commendable.

I belong to the beautiful eastern side of India consisting of amazing seashores, delicious food and rich culture. Five years back, I migrated to Australia along with my family. After a long break in my career, I started my stint as a supporting teacher a year back and it helped me to resume my professional journey. 

2025 will be my second year in SMPS and I will be supporting Year 2 students. I am quite excited to meet the students and their families. There are so many exciting moments to come in Year 2. 

I am thrilled to have another fun filled year at SMPS family 😊!!

Sam Whadcock (Learning Support Officer - LSO)

Hello, South Melbourne Primary School Community! 

My name is Mr Sam and I’m one of our Learning Support Officers. I have the pleasure of working with the Grade 6 and Grade 3 teams for 2025. 

As Mr Noel says, our kids are the best in the universe and it’s a privilege to work with them all.  

I moved to Melbourne from England in 2021 with my wife Laura and our little dog, Luna. I feel incredibly lucky to be working at this wonderful school and we feel that Melbourne is very much our home. I love all things music, and I like to play a few instruments in my spare time. The three of us love to explore and we are continuously amazed at how beautiful Victoria is!

I began my studies in 2024 to begin my teacher journey, having been inspired by the incredible team of teachers I’ve worked alongside. My dream is to one day become a teacher at SMPS myself.  

I’m so excited for another incredible year at SMPS!

Siobhan Murphy (Learning Support Officer - LSO)

Hello SMPS Community, my name is Siobhan and I am one of the Learning Support Officers. I am very excited to be working with Prep team in 2025! I have previously worked in schools providing wellbeing support for students, however, I have always had an interest in teaching, and feel privileged to be providing support to students in their learning and seeing their growth.  

A little bit about me, I have a pet cat named Miffy (named after the character in the books from my childhood). I love spending my free time in nature, and being out in the open when weather permits. I’m part of a big Irish family, and we have made homes all over the world, which I can’t wait to explore! 

Have a great summer, I look forward to seeing you all next year! 

Sonia Singh (Learning Support Officer - LSO)

Hello SMPS students and Families,

My Name is Ms. Sonia Singh and I have been working in SMPS since March 2023 as a Learning Support Officer. 

I grew up in India and worked as a lecturer for Economics in Delhi University for 4 years before moving to Australia in 2020. I love to be around children, so I cherish every moment I spend in the school. 

I enjoy dancing, cooking, and spending time with my Family.

I hope everyone has an amazing holiday and I look forward to seeing you all in the new year.