Meet our School Learning Support Officer Team!

Tania Jones

Tania is a dedicated educator with over 30 years in Early Childhood Education and School Support, working at EPS for the past 8 years. Passionate about inclusive education, she is committed to supporting children with disabilities and advocating for Aboriginal Education. As a mother of two, Tania brings both personal insight and professional dedication to her work, creating nurturing and empowering learning environments where every child can thrive.

Kristen Chippendale

Kristen is a dedicated Learning Support Officer with 9 years of experience working across both mainstream and support unit classrooms. Kristen has been at EPS for the past 7 years. A busy mum of four, she brings compassion, patience, and energy to everything she does. Outside of school, Kristen stays actively involved in touch football and is passionate about supporting all students to reach their full potential.

Bronwyn Botham

Better known around the school as ‘Mrs B'. Mrs B joined the NSW DET in 2004. Since then, she has worked in schools catering to students from P-6, in Special Education Units and an Area School catering for P-12. These schools were spread across three states of Australia but has always been drawn back to Edgie. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her large family, gardening, having breakfast BBQs at Nobby’s beach or playing with her two very spoilt cats.

Kylie Bramley

Kylie is a dedicated and compassionate (SLSO) who has been making a meaningful impact to students at EPS for the past eight years. In addition to this role, Kylie has ten years of experience managing the school uniform shop, she brings both reliability and warmth to both her roles. A proud mum of two, her kindness, commitment, and genuine love for her job make her a cherished member of the school community.

Shelly Rush-Nichols

Shelly has been an SLSO at EPS for four years. A dedicated educator and proud mum of four, she brings warmth and a positive commitment to student wellbeing. Outside of school, Shelly leads an active life. She and her husband have an electrical business and a family farm. Shelly is the president of a Touch Football Association, and a volunteer Surf Lifesaver. In her downtime, she enjoys exploring Australia, spending time with her dog Roy and cheering on the Sydney Roosters.

Lisa Sheilds

Lisa has over 30 years of experience in Early Childhood and school-based Education. Lisa has worked as an SLSO at Edgeworth Public School for 9 years. A dedicated mother of three, she brings warmth, patience, and passion to everything she does. Outside the classroom, Lisa loves to travel and explore new places with her family.

Nicole Degan

Nicole is a dedicated School Support Officer with 9 years of experience working across both mainstream classrooms and support units. She brings a strong understanding of inclusive education and student needs. As a mother of two children, Nicole values family and brings empathy, patience, and real-world experience to her role.

Victoria Aoake

From my Maori background, though born and raised in Australia, I've always felt strongly connected to my culture. When I'm not working, you'll likely find me training, playing, or coaching netball. In the off-season, I switch to touch football to keep active. With three years under my belt as an SLSO, I've learned the value of building relationships and supporting students to become the best versions of themselves.

Blake Parsons

Blake has been at Edgeworth Public School since 2020 and is always ready to lend a hand. He is a big fan of sport and all things tech, which comes in handy when he's helping students or supporting Mr Morton troubleshoot tech issues around the school. Blake also enjoys producing awesome 3D prints for students and help coach our school's soccer team.

Lylah Stephenson

Lylah joined the Edgeworth Primary School team in 2024, straight after finishing high school, and has valued being a part of the EPS family ever since. She is currently in her second year of a Bachelor of Primary Education degree and has always had a strong passion for supporting students’ learning and wellbeing, a dream she has held since she was young. Working at EPS has affirmed her love for teaching and inspired her to continue pursuing her goal of becoming a classroom teacher.

Noah Doig

Hello, my name is Noah, and I am a young aboriginal Biripi man.

I am an SLSO here at Edgeworth Public School and in my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and dot painting.

Jo O'Connell

Hi, I’m Jo! I’ve proudly worked as a SLSO at Edgeworth Public School for the past 9 years. I’m passionate about supporting students with their learning and wellbeing and I feel lucky to be part of such a dedicated team. I’m also a proud parent of four grown children, all of whom have attended EPS — so I’ve been part of the school community both professionally and personally for many years.

Jennifer Mitchell

Jen is in her nineteenth year at Edgeworth Public School. She loves being in the Preschool, educating children through play. Growing up in Lake Macquarie, it is still one of her favourite places to spend quality time with her three children and family. She enjoys walking, listening to music, watching the South Sydney Rabbitohs and caravanning around this beautiful country.

Stella Nichols

Stella joined the SLSO team last year and is currently in her final year of university studies. Stella loves her role at EPS and is dedicated about supporting students on their learning journey. She values building positive relationships and contributing to a supportive learning environment. Outside of work Stella loves playing and coaching touch football and spending time with her family and friends.

Seong Gurung

I am Seong Gurung, originally from Nepal and living in Newcastle since 2020. I love painting and food. One day I hope to pet a capybara or chinchilla.

Linda Gargett

I’m a third-year Pre-Service Teacher at the University of Newcastle and currently work as an SLSO. As a mother of three, I bring empathy and compassion to my teaching, valuing the co-construction of knowledge to foster strong, creative, and resilient learners. I'm committed to professionalism, inclusivity, and creating a culturally diverse, safe, and welcoming environment where every child feels heard. Thank you for welcoming me into your school community.

Aboriginal Education Officer (AEO)

Meet EPS's New Aboriginal Education Officer