Meet the owners
At the heart of Big Bear Academy are Andrew and Maxine – a husband and wife team who pour their hearts into everything they do. They’re not just the owners – they’re a daily presence, greeting families at the door, checking in with the team, and getting to know each child by name.
What started as a dream to create a warm, loving space for children has grown into something really special. Families often say the centre feels calm and welcoming – and that’s no accident. It’s a reflection of how much Andrew and Maxine genuinely care.
When you walk through our doors, you’ll feel it too. This is more than a childcare centre - it’s a community where your child will be truly seen, supported, and encouraged to thrive.
Meet our Director of nominated Pedagogy
Miss Cassy
My name is Cassy, and my role is the Director of Pedagogy here at Big Bear. I am a mum to three young, busy children, who inspire my passion for creating meaningful and engaging learning experiences for all children.
I have worked in the early childhood sector for 19 years, and throughout this time I have developed a strong commitment to high-quality curriculum and play-based pedagogy. In my role at Big Bear, I work across all of our centres alongside Centre Directors and Educational Leaders to design curriculum opportunities that support children to learn through play, exploration, and curiosity.
I also support our educators through professional development, mentoring, and ongoing training, helping to build confidence, capability, and a shared vision for excellent practice. Within the governance structure, my role is to guide our continuous journey toward excellence and to ensure that our learning environments and programs are enriching, inclusive, and beneficial for every child in the Big Bear family.
I feel incredibly privileged to be part of this community and to contribute to the growth, joy, and learning of the children and educators I work with every day.
Meet our Director of Compliance
Miss Claudia
Hello, my name is Claudia. I have worked in the early childhood education and care sector for more than 23 years, and I have had the privilege of being part of the Big Bear Academy management team for the past two years. I began my journey with Big Bear Academy as the Centre Director at our St Andrews location, where my commitment to high quality practice and regulatory compliance became a central focus of my leadership.
One of the aspects I value most about Big Bear Academy is the culture of recognition and support where the skills, knowledge, and contributions of every team member are genuinely acknowledged.
In January 2026, I will be stepping into a new role as a Director of Compliance for all Big Bear Academy Centre’s. In this position, I will work closely with our leaders and educators to ensure we continue to deliver the highest standard of education and care, fully aligned with the National Regulations and the Early Years Learning Framework. My goal is to support our teams in maintaining safe, nurturing, and compliant environments where every child can thrive.
