Lea is a passionate advocate for children and literacy, bringing warmth, wisdom and a wealth of experience to her role as Senior Tutor at MultiLit. With a background in social work and a personal journey navigating the education system as a parent, she is driven by a heartfelt mission: to ensure every child can thrive as a confident reader. Her dedication continues to inspire students, families and colleagues alike.
Meet Lea
Working with kids has always been my calling – they’re just the best!
Graduating with a Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) from Sydney University, I worked with vulnerable children at a community service in Western Sydney for a number of years.
Parenting three children of my own, I found myself becoming uncomfortably well acquainted with the heartbreak of seeing your bright, confident little person struggle in the mainstream school system. After my eldest was diagnosed with ADHD and ASD, years of self-education and advocacy followed, to ensure he received the appropriate supports he needed to flourish at school. Along the way, I provided volunteer support in classrooms and became increasingly concerned about the number of children I could see struggling with literacy, despite the best efforts of their teachers. It seemed like a small snapshot of a national crisis that needed urgent attention!
This is the path that eventually led me to becoming a Senior Tutor at MultiLit.
Why do you enjoy being a Senior Tutor at the MultiLit Literacy Centres?
I have loved my almost seven years of walking beside children as we equip them with the skills they need to become increasingly proficient readers. Over the years, I have sought additional training and have received Certificates of Mastery in Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling, enjoyed Lyn Stone’s ‘Language Arts’ course and participated in the pilot of The Academy for the Science of Instruction’s own ‘Effective Instruction in Reading and Spelling’ course.
Working as a Senior Tutor is rewarding on so many levels. I love working with our Bella Vista team to supervise, upskill and encourage our wonderful tutors in their important work, and to ensure that we provide a warm and welcoming environment to our learners. Helping the children to experience the joy of success when reading is an absolute privilege, and nothing makes me happier than being able to share that journey with their families.
What do you wish more people understood about learning to read, literacy or education?
I wish more families who are deep in the trenches of reading and other literacy related struggles knew that effective support from practitioners who are passionate about promoting literacy gains in children, is available. I am thankful for the work MultiLit is doing across multiple domains to improve literacy across Australia.