After an extraordinary 33 years of service to Carey, Wendy Seidler has advised that she will conclude her role as Director of ELC – Kew campus and bring her time at the School to a close at the end of the 2026 academic year on 11 December.
During Wendy’s time at Carey, she established both the Kew and Donvale Early Learning Centres and played a pivotal role in the beginning of countless children’s and families’ journeys at our school.
Across more than three decades, Wendy has led dedicated teams of early childhood educators while working closely with colleagues across the Kew and Donvale campuses and the broader Carey community. She is an exceptionally committed and passionate educator and a tireless advocate for young children, and her influence has extended well beyond the children in her care. Over many years, Wendy has also guided, supported and educated parents as they navigated the important early years of raising and nurturing their children.
Wendy has made a significant contribution as a member of the Junior School executive team and has helped shape the strong foundations of early learning that are such an important part of the Carey experience.
Wendy will be taking up a newly created position with the Victorian Institute of Teaching as Senior Professional Practice Officer (Early Childhood). In this role, she will help build the capability of registered early childhood teachers across Victoria to meet registration requirements and strengthen their practice against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. Through this work, she will continue to make a meaningful contribution to improving learning outcomes for young children.
While Wendy’s departure will be deeply felt across Carey, her appointment is a fitting recognition of the expertise, leadership and advocacy she has demonstrated throughout her career. It is also pleasing to know that the broader education sector will benefit from the knowledge, commitment and passion that our children, families and colleagues have valued for so many years.
On behalf of the Carey community, I extend our sincere thanks to Wendy for her remarkable contribution to the School. There will be opportunities later in the year to recognise and celebrate her outstanding service and the enduring impact she has had on generations of children, families and staff.
Please join me in congratulating Wendy on this exciting next chapter and thanking her for her exceptional contribution to Carey.
Jonathan Walter
Principal
