Inclusion Aides

Sam Whadcock

Hello, South Melbourne Primary School Community! My name is Mr Sam and I’m one of our Inclusion Aides. As part of our Wellbeing Team, I run a recess and lunch group which helps students engage in the type of play in which they feel most comfortable. As Mr Noel says, our kids are the best in the universe and it’s a privilege to work with them.  

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’m so excited for another incredible year at SMPS!  

Daniella Hastas

Hello South Melbourne community! 

This is my third year working as an Inclusion Aide and it’s with great excitement to announce how glorious those years have been at SMPS. 

I’m a qualified Secondary Teacher majoring in Drama and Dance. I love seeing the beauty in the little things, always trying to be positive and striving to live life to the fullest. Being a travel bug is something I was fortunate enough to experience from a young age and I’ve been to over 7 countries.

I’m Italian and Greek, so it’s never a dull or quiet moment in my house. I really enjoy trying new cuisines and cooking. I’ve had the opportunity to teach in America for 6 months, where I was able to work with people all over the world and help children from various backgrounds. This was a pivotal moment in my life as I knew that I wanted to help children 1:1 and make an impact in their lives for the better. I gained so much knowledge not just on an educational level, but life experiences that I’ll take with me everywhere I go. I’m very passionate about bringing joy into a child’s life and making a difference in the world. 

Working at South Melbourne Primary School has been such a highlight in my career as I’m working alongside such supportive staff and I’m very privileged to work with such incredibly bright and beautiful students. I’m excited to see what the new year has in store, and I can’t wait to continue to grow each students learning!   

Bhavana Sharma

My name is Bhavana Sharma. I have been working as an Inclusion Aide 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! 

Taniya Senanayake

Hi everyone,  

My name is Taniya Senanayake, and I am extremely excited to be a part of the SMPS community for 2024. A little bit about me is that I was born in Melbourne however my cultural background originates from Sri Lanka. I have two very adorable Labradors, Charlie and Bella whom I adore, and I spend a lot of my time with. I also have a massive heart and passion for music – whether that is listening to a variety of genres or playing along on my guitar. 

Other major aspects of my life that I am passionate about are literature and sport. I love getting into a good classic novel and a healthy literary debate or getting out and about doing anything active such as shooting some hoops or kicking around a footy. Supporting students in education has also been an area that has interested me ever since I was in school, and I am hoping to be a teacher myself after I finish my Bachelor’s Degree in Education.  

I am really looking forward to getting to know each of you more this year and becoming part of what has already been such a welcoming and friendly community.  

See you around.

Kriti Ohri

Hello SMPS Community,

I was born and brought up in India and come from a family of teachers. My grandfather was a Principal in a school and my elder sister is an Economics lecturer.

I am presently based in Melbourne and living with my small family of 3. My Husband is a techie and works on providing system solutions to leading banks in Australia and my 7 year old notorious daughter is a student who will be in Year 3 in 2024. 

In my education I completed my Master's of Science in IT and Masters of Business Administration in HR. In Australia I completed my Certificate 4 in School-based Education Support and am pursuing Certificate 4 in Training and Assessment.

In terms of hobbies, I love listening to Indian music and I love to cycle around the town. 

SMPS has always been an aspiring institute for me. I am very happy to be a part of this institute and look ahead to learn from the vast experience of my colleagues and seniors.

I look forward to meeting you all. 

Mona Salem

Hello everyone!  

I am Miss Mona and I am so lucky that I have worked at SMPS since 2019. I have worked in the education support field for more than 14 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! 

I am Swedish Egyptian so during my childhood I used to speak two different languages. Then I was lucky to learn English at school as well. 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 in 2024 and be part of the school community 😊

Sonia Singh

Hello SMPS students and Families,

My Name is Ms.  Sonia Singh and I have been working in SMPS since March 2023 as an inclusion Aide. 

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 is having an amazing holiday and I look forward to seeing you all.

Hannah Bishop 

Dear SMPS students and families, 

Welcome back to an exciting new academic year! My name is Hannah Bishop, and I am from the mountains of upstate New York.

Growing up, I spent my summers in the beautiful Adirondacks hiking and wake boarding, my winters skiing and enjoying time with my family, and my springs playing lacrosse.

I began my SMPS journey this past October, and I am grateful to be a member of this inspiring community of students, families, and teachers.

Although I am far from home, I feel lucky to have found a home at SMPS.

I look forward to welcoming you all back soon!