Meet Candis | Centre Director Childcare Yamba

Candis is a mum to three energetic boys (Knox, Nash, and Wilba) and has dedicated more than 15 years to early childhood education. Her experience spans everything from hands-on teaching to leadership and centre management, giving her a deep understanding of both children’s needs and what makes a centre thrive.

She is also currently studying her Diploma of Positive Psychology with an elective in leadership and education. If you ask her why she decided to study amidst business and mum life, she answered with "because consistent growing allows me the chance to give more.

Her passion is rooted in personal experience. When her eldest son faced serious health challenges as a toddler, Candis saw firsthand the difference that nurturing care, strong educators, and early intervention can make. That journey gave her a powerful insight into children’s development and the importance of creating environments where every child feels safe, supported, and able to flourish.

In 2021, she and her husband Kurt purchased their first centre in Kingscliff. Their goal was simple: to restore heart and passion to a place where educators felt like family and children were given every opportunity to thrive. The success of that centre inspired them to take on Seaside Explorers this year, bringing fresh energy and a family-first philosophy to Yamba.

For Candis, this isn’t just a profession, it’s a calling. She is driven by a belief that early childhood education should be joyful, inclusive, and empowering for both children and families. At Seaside Explorers, her vision is to create more than a centre: a true home away from home.