Our Staff

We have Caring Educators with Decades of Experience in Child Care

Happy House is very proud of our long term, caring Educators, who take pride in their relationships with the centre, our families and children.


HAPPY HOUSE 2023! Come in and meet our wonderful TEAM! :)

Joanna Ruddock

Centre Director / Nominated Supervisor

I am so pleased to be a part of the Happy House team!

I have had a long career (30 plus years) in early childhood holding all positions within the centre, including 19 years as Centre Director/Nominated Supervisor. This has given me invaluable experience that I am excited to share with our team of awesome educators through mentoring and hands on learning.

I believe each child has unique gifts and our job as educators is to nurture each child to help them reach their full potential in the early years to give them the skills for lifelong learning and success by providing high quality education and care.

I value the relationships we as educators build with the families and children in our care as I feel this is one of the best ways to support children’s learning and development.

I look forward to meeting you soon!

Desiree Salazar

External Educational Lead

  • Has worked in Early Childhood Education since 2010

    I am incredibly excited to be a part of such a warm and enthusiastic team here at Happy House! A little bit about me, I am an Early Childhood and Primary Teacher who has worked as an ECT with all ages from birth to five. I have also worked as centre manager, operations team member and educational leader (internal and external). I have had the privilege to contribute to the early childhood sector for over 12 years now and am very passionate about early childhood education and care.

As your new external educational leader, I look forward to inspiring a team of fellow children’s advocates on the path to success.  I fondly await both the challenges and rewarding moments to come, for they help shape us into better people and look forward to building positive relationships with all educators, children and families along the way. I am a big believer in the phrase "it takes a village to raise a child" and know that if we work in unity, always in the interest of the child, we can help pave a brighter day for today's community of learners are tomorrow's future.  

Annette Davison

Miss Annette, Centre Director

Pre Kindy Room Lead

  • Has worked in the Early Childhood Education sector since 1992

  • Celebrated 25 YEARS with Happy House in April 2019!

I have worked here at Happy House since 1994 and throughout the years have been both assistant and later room leader in every room in our service. I have worked hard to support children on their learning journey and have seen many grow and leave us as they have started their school and adult life. It has also been a huge point of pride to have 20+ years after starting my time here have children, return with their own children, remembering me and being pleased that I will be a part of their own child’s Early Childhood adventure.

I am passionate about children feeling confident and accepted. That they are surrounded by people who are there to encourage them to feel strong and capable. Don’t we all want to feel this way?

At Happy House, we embrace the knowledge that play is the natural state for children in the early years to learn and need us to create a warm and loving space where they are supported and encouraged to reach their potential.