About us
Our Story
BOOSH began in 1996, when a group of Beecroft Public School parents set out to solve a simple problem: local families needed somewhere warm, safe and reliable for their children before and after the school bell. Thirty years on, that parent-run idea has grown into one of Beecroft's most trusted out of school hours services, caring for around 450 children from almost 350 families every week. We are still proudly not-for-profit, run by the Beecroft Public School P&C and a team of dedicated educators. Everything we do goes back into the children, the programs and the community we serve. Rated as Meeting the National Quality Standard, we have spent three decades building something that feels less like a centre and more like a home away from home.
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The Management Team
Meet the passionate individuals behind BOOSH.
Centre Director
Melissa Fyfe
Mel started at BOOSH as an Educator in 2013 and took on the Director role in 2015. With a genuine passion for mentoring children and educators, Mel inspires a love for learning while fostering a strong foundation for both personal and academic growth. Mel focuses on the quality and dedication of her team and supports them to provide a fun, safe, happy, and stimulating environment where each child’s individual learning and care needs are met.
Assistant Director
Andrew Mackertich
Andrew, known as "Mac", embarked on his carrer as an Educator in 2018 and has been the Assistant Director at BOOSH since 2024. He is eager to connect with children, families, and educators, bringing valuable business and OSHC expertise. Mac focuses on engaging children in hands-on activities and team games as well as inspiring our team of Educators with his passion and enthusiasm.
Educational Leader
Lauren Parry
Lauren has worked in OSHC since 2020 joing BOOSH as the Educatoinal leader in 2025. She enjoys planning entertaining and educational experiences that give children the opportunity to express themselves and try new things. With a moto of “team work makes the dream work” Lauren focuses on supporting our educators so they feel excited to host games and activities and provide learning and play experiences inspired by the children's interests and identities.
We're Always Looking for Awesome Educators
We're not actively hiring right now, but send us your resume and we'll get in touch when a position opens up.
Meet Our Convenor
BOOSH Convenor
Danielle Moncrieff
Danielle is our BOOSH Convenor and a Beecroft Public School parent, so she knows firsthand how much busy families rely on BOOSH. Having seen her own children flourish in our care, she wanted to give something back, and she now volunteers her time to support our educators and Director and to help BOOSH keep going strong. She loves being part of the BOOSH community, so please feel free to reach out and say hello.
Our Philosophy
At The BOOSH Centre we provide a safe, nurturing and stimulating "home away from home" environment for primary school aged children. We ensure that the children attending are safe, happy and encouraged to participate in all aspects of the educational program. We believe that every child deserves a nurturing and inclusive space where they can develop and thrive. We encourage children and families to be involved in the Centre ensuring we create an environment where all children feel happy and are excited about learning. Our commitment is grounded in the following core values.
Safe and Nurturing Environment that Supports Local Families and the Community
We prioritise the safety and well-being of each child, ensuring they feel secure and cared for while at BOOSH. Our educators ensure that every child feels welcomed and valued. We actively teach and guide children in understanding and promoting equity and diversity. We provide reliable and quality care for children at our centre that offers families a balance between work and home life.
Celebrating Cultures and Perspectives
We celebrate diversity by embracing the wide variety of cultures of the children and families attending the Centre as well as incorporating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into our programs. We actively plan events, celebrations and activities at the Centre that foster a sense of belonging and create opportunities for children to engage in fun and meaningful activities.
Experienced Educators and Long-lasting Relationships
We prioritise building long-lasting relationships between educators, children and families. Our educators are supported through both in-house and external training, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to provide quality care and learning experiences. This training includes supervision techniques, child development principles, and the implementation of play-based experiences. This helps us create a consistent and supportive environment for children and families.
Intentional Learning and Child-Led Experiences
We provide an education program that provides positive interactions and experiences to help children develop essential social and communication skills. Our play-based learning program is designed on the voices of the children and creates an environment where children are happy, stimulated and encouraged to become lifelong learners. Intentional teaching builds on the interests and needs of the children at the Centre and allows for children to have autonomy over their learning while fostering creativity and independence. This program is continuously reviewed, evaluated and redesigned based on observations of, and feedback from, children as well as families.
This philosophy and values statement has been created using feedback from children, families and educators. Updated and reviewed February 2024.