Sheryl graduated from The University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education. She worked as a Preschool Director and Teacher continuing to extend her professional development in the areas of Brain Development, and Literacy. She studied the Reggio Amelia philosophy, Attachment Theory and then Circle of Security and Marte Meo methods.
Whilst her teaching has always been in a mainstream setting, she has worked with many children with Autism and other disabilities providing a specialised and inclusive program.
In 2008 Sheryl’s youngest child was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This set her on a journey searching out an effective model of early intervention that complimented the knowledge she gained teaching 12 years previously. Sadly, she found very little that worked in line with the research and models she had studied and even less in the local Illawarra region.
In 2009 KU Children’s Service opened the The Ku Marcia Burgess Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre. ASELCC is an Autism specific childcare centre offering certified ESDM therapists, clinics, and is the only ESDM training site in NSW. Finally; a method that was respectful, effective, and actually made sense to Sheryl as a teacher.
Now an Early Childhood teacher of 20 years, and a trainee of the ASELCC, in 2015, Sheryl successfully became a certified ESDM Therapist. She is both excited and proud to provide clinic based ESDM therapy to the Illawarra. Her shared clinic in Balgownie provides the perfect location. She looks forward to partnering with many more families in their journey!