Fay Baudains

NATURE CONNECTION MENTOR AND EDUCATION CONSULTANT
Nature Playworker - Incursions & Roving Programs, KIN Family Programs

Fay is a Nature Connection Consultant at Educated by Nature, mentoring educators to follow children’s passion for play and the outdoors.

Her training as a primary school teacher and her extensive experience teaching music, creating curriculum and designing programs provides a solid foundation for consultancy with schools and early childhood centres. 

Fay has been part of the Educated by Nature team since 2017, working across all programs and areas of the organisation throughout these years. 

Fay’s passions lie in working alongside children and adults to teach ways of identifying and connecting with the natural world. Studying permaculture has deepened her understanding of the interconnection of all natural systems and further revealed the human impacts upon those connections. 

Most recently Fay has been exploring local bush spaces with classes of students as part of Educated by Nature’s Nature Connection program. This program sees her working over an extended period of time with educators to create and embed nature connection and nature leaning pedagogy into the curriculum in a place-based context. 

Fay has had the privilege of participating in and presenting at conferences focused on nature-based education. She was invited to be a Creative Practitioner with FORM: building a state of creativity.

Qualifications and Training

• Diploma of Children’s Services, South Metropolitan TAFE

• Bachelor of Education (Primary), Murdoch University

• Certificate Geoscience Field Practices, Central Institute of Technology

• Permaculture Design Certificate

• Empowered Storytelling, Jon Young

• Working with Children Check

• Provide First Aid

Find out more about Fay's professional experience and connect with her on LinkedIn.

Isaac Wetherley

OPERATIONS MANAGER
Nature Playworker - Incursions & Roving Programs, KIN Family Programs

Isaac is the Operations Manager at Educated by Nature, where he has been inspiring children, teenagers, and adults to connect with the natural world for the past eight years. Beginning his journey as a junior playworker, Isaac has developed a deep passion for outdoor education and fostering meaningful nature experiences.

Isaac holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Western Australia, with a double major in Human Geography and Planning, and Geographical Sciences. His academic background complements his practical experience, providing a unique perspective on environmental education and sustainability.

In addition to his professional role, Isaac is an active volunteer with Scouts WA, serving as the Deputy Chief Commissioner Youth Support. His leadership in this capacity underscores his dedication to empowering young people through skills, adventure, and connection to the environment.

Isaac thrives in the outdoors, whether it’s hiking the Bibbulmun Track, abseiling Bluff Knoll, or simply enjoying a weekend of camping under the stars. 

Qualifications and Training

• Bachelor of Science (Human Geography and Planning and Geographical sciences), UWA

• Program Design and Facilitation Skills training, Good Bloke co

• Bronze Medallion, Royal Lifesaving WA

• Provide First Aid

• Working with Children Check

Stephanie Rayner

INCURSIONS OFFICER
Nature Playworker - Incursions & Roving Programs, KIN Family Programs

Stephanie has worked in a variety of roles over the past 15 years as a primary school teacher, both in the classroom as well as music teaching. She is a mother of four boys and is very passionate about nature based education and providing children with opportunities to connect and interact with nature. 

Stephanie has three chickens and a backyard full of fruit trees and veggie gardens which is where she loves to spend most of her free time. She also enjoys photography, going camping with her family, hiking in the hills and sitting around a fire carving spoons.

Fe Waters

INCURSIONS OFFICER
Nature Playworker - Incursions & Roving Programs, KIN Family Programs

Fe has been an educator of one kind or another, for more than 30 years. During her time in school classrooms, she taught in every learning area (except LOTE), and every year level from pre-primary to year 12, although she mostly taught woodwork—and drama!  Having spent most of her life in Guiding or Scouting, she has a long history of spending time with children in the outdoors. Most weekends she can be found in and on the river, or singing around a fire. 

When not outside, she can be found spending time with her family, reading, crafting, or trying out something new!

Tamara Johnston

Nature Playworker - Incursions & Roving Programs, KIN Family Programs

Tamara Johnston is a primary school teacher from Canada. In Toronto, she was one of the founding teachers of Equinox Holistic Alternative School. Equinox is known for developing Canada's first Full Day Outdoor Kindergarten classroom and Tamara was one of the first teachers of that program. While Tamara was at Equinox she began her training in The Art of Mentoring and it profoundly changed the way she approaches education and building community. Tamara is excited to learn along side her daughter about all of the amazing trees, plants, terrain, animals, beings and stories that make up our beautiful land in Western Australia. Tamara loves to sing, dance, tell stories, travel, spend time by the ocean and play in the mud.

Nadia Robinson

Nature Playworker - Incursions & Roving Programs, KIN Family Programs

Nadia often jokes that she is the least 'nature-y' of the team. Despite her hesitancy (especially around our feathered friends) she believes that nature provides rich opportunities for connection and learning, 'meeting us where we need to be met'.

Nadia is the proud mum of 3 boys and is passionate about supporting caregivers to connect with their 'little people' and emphasises that this is unique for everyone. She uses stories, humour and a lot of research to support individuals as they connect to self, others and the community.

Nadia has completed a Bachelor of Psychology and Family and Children Work, a Master of Teaching and is a Circle of Security and Rites of Passage facilitator.

Sarah Weaving

Nature Playworker - Incursions & Roving Programs, KIN Family Programs

Sarah originally studied zoology (botany) in Wales and later primary education. This was nourished by a lifelong love of natural history and ecology that has infused her teaching ever since. Sarah was a teacher at Bold Park Community School where her four children also attended and now works at Kerry Street Community School. She has a passion for stories and children’s literature and loves to find new stories to share. She believes in the power of relationship and connection to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children to access resilience, creativity, and empowerment to explore their world. She understands that children are capable and that supporting children to connect with their natural world through play and imagination is an effective way to find calm and restoration. Listening, observing and coregulating with children in an authentic relationship of positive regard is a wonderful recipe for nurturing growth, wellbeing and wonder. Sarah is a life-long learner!

Sarah has a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Zoology, PGCE Education (Junior) and Graduate Certificate in Counselling as well as having completed the Mehrit Centre Self Reg TM: Foundations; Facilitator and Reframed Training and Interplay Training. 

Elissa Strumpher

Nature Playworker - INCURSIONS & ROVING PROGRAMS, KIN Family Programs

After moving to Australia at age 13, and feeling disconnected from the unknown birds and plants of a new country, Elissa understands the value of knowledge of and connection to the natural world. She believes that the outdoors provides a uniquely valuable environment for experiencing and learning new things, and for children to develop their physical, emotional and interpersonal skills.

She has recently completed a masters in Public Health, and - much longer ago - an undergraduate degree in Anthropology. She is also interested in textile arts of all kinds, and is passionate about the value of handwork and craft skills.

Elissa has two young boys who enjoy digging holes, playing at the river, and traipsing sand all through the house.

Joel Gouges

Nature Playworker - KIN Family Programs

Joel loves nature, fun and music and can frequently be found barefoot in the outdoors! He is interested in holistic health and mindfulness, bringing these interests into his work with children. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and biking, spending time at the beach and playing guitar. Joel is also a rock climbing and abseil instructor.

Abby Strang

Nature Playworker - INCURSIONS & ROVING PROGRAMS, KIN Family Programs

Abby has grown up camping, hiking, swimming and canoeing and she loves the outdoors more than ever. She has a degree in Psychological and Behavioural Sciences from UWA as of 2023. She loves the opportunity Educated by Nature gives her to be in nature and mentor others while exploring and connecting with the environment. 

Ayden Stenton

Nature Playworker - INCURSIONS & ROVING PROGRAMS, KIN Family Programs

Ayden is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Engineering after completing high school in 2021. He loves the outdoors and has spent 10 years as a Scout, gaining knowledge and skills which have changed the course of his life for the better. He also loves being a Volunteer Bush Firefighter where he can protect and educate his community. Ayden believes that Educated by Nature has provided him with a fantastic opportunity to mentor others in exploring and connecting with the natural environment.

Brent Rush

Nature Playworker - INCURSIONS & ROVING PROGRAMS, KIN Family Programs

Brent is an outdoors advocate and is always keen on an adventure or new experience. He believes that being outside and connected with nature is fuel for the soul and mind. Brent is a keen traveller and has spent extended time travelling and hiking through the Indonesia islands, the European Alps and Appalachian Mountains in the USA. Currently, Brent is studying Behavioural Science & Psychology, as well as International Relations at the University of Western Australia. 

He has a passion for youth advocacy and wellbeing, having worked to develop youth focused mental health first training and resources for youth organisations. He was recognised for these efforts in 2019, being nominated as a Young Changemaker at the WA Youth Awards. Outside of work, Brent is an active leader with Scouts WA and a volunteer youth sport coach. He loves working with Educated by Nature, as it allows him to put his passions into practice.up camping, hiking, swimming and canoeing and she loves the outdoors more than ever. She has a degree in Psychological and Behavioural Sciences from UWA as of 2023. She loves the opportunity Educated by Nature gives her to be in nature and mentor others while exploring and connecting with the environment.