education, expanded.
education ex + ducere = “to lead out”
instruction in + struare = “to pile in”
cultivation from colere = to dwell in, cherish
I'm Tia, an educator, guide, and mentor. I support children and young people in their learning and life journeys and I bring both professional knowledge and personal wisdom to my work.
My approach is research-informed, developmentally aligned, and based on my understanding that people learn best when they feel seen and understood.
Traditional education can dull curiosity, prioritise extrinsic over intrinsic motivation, and rush children through learning without providing time for deep focus. Too often, it’s teacher-centred — which leaves little room for developing social and emotional skills, collaboration, and real-world problem solving. Children don’t have the space to cultivate an inner ethical compass or to make their own discoveries. True curiosity is dead for most children by high school.
I bring a unique combination of formal training and real-world experience, having taught across mainstream, Montessori, and home-based education settings. I hold a postgraduate teaching degree and the internationally recognised AMI Montessori Diploma (ages 6–12), earned through a full-time, year-long intensive in Bergamo, Italy — the birthplace of Montessori teacher training. Additionally, degrees in psychology & art history, Waldorf, and training in developing transferrable ‘soft’ skills in children.
Sometimes people think that ‘alternative education’ and academic success are exclusive. In most cases this is a myth. Academics are very important but children need to be more active in the process, and robust alternative philosophies solve this problem in very intelligent ways. Teaching does not imply learning. Learning is complex, multi-sensory process and academic success depends more on developmental stage, relationship with teachers, and a child’s sense of comfort/safety than many people think.
My educational approach is shaped by:
Deep passion for learning, which makes me curious, engaged and right there in the process. All my favourite teachers loved the world and that inspired me.
Montessori philosophy, a system now widely validated by research for its long-term academic and social benefits.
Attachment-based developmental theory, through training with the Neufeld Institute, which explores how secure relationships support learning and emotional regulation.
Nature-based mentoring, where self-awareness, resilience, and independence are cultivated through connection to the natural world.
Collaborative communication, including nonviolent communication, democratic decision making, and restorative practices.
My work integrates these frameworks into practical, individualised support that respects each learner’s pace, strengths, and challenges.
$70/h individual, $40/h small group (3 max)
K- Y8 (all subjects), Y9-12 (english, writing)
I work with all abilities. I am talented in finding a child’s edge and extending them beyond their comfort zone, helping them discover new confidence and skill. I work in a range of ways, using both concrete materials and abstract methods, explicit teaching and self-directed.
Explicit methods are crucial, especially for children who need clarity and simplicity, or have specific challenges.
In other moments, self-directed learning may look like giving 2 children a challenging problem to solve, and guiding them gently at each roadblock they encounter. It may involve them deriving formulas alone using visual materials, such as the formula for the area of a rectangle, or Pythagoras’ theorem. This is much more memorable and exciting than memorising a formula.
I tailor my approach to personality and ability. Classes are 1 hour and scheduled in the afternoon.
I generally work with very small groups. This provides individual attention while catering for children’s need to work alongide others.
Sessions provide attentive and targeted support as well as connection, consolidation and conversation.
academic assistance and tutoring
mentoring: purpose & calling for adolescents
$90 in person or online
When I finished high school I felt pressured to pursue Law because of my ATAR. A few years later I left to pursue psychology & art history degrees, and later postgrad studies in education, which was my passion all along. I spent a few years in different countries, found buddhism and other passions, read a lot of books, did a lot of soul searching, and nurtured my creativity in different ways.
I have come to learn from experience and from hearing the stories of countless adolescents and adults that schools so often make young people feel that they aren’t fully seen. Traditional career advice doesn’t give them a chance to get to know who they are and what they truly want to do.
We should always work hard and be persistent and disciplined in life. We should know our strengths and our weaknesses. But following a passion, interest or aptitude is a courageous path and one which yields immense rewards along the way. I believe this message is a very important one for young people.
I am passionate about helping young people think about who they are, their purpose and calling, and how they might want to contribute to our world. I wish I had this when I was younger.
alternative homeschool support
$80/h, recommended in a block of a few sessions
Effective & sustainable homeschooling requires a strong vision and careful planning. Work with me to create and execute a vision for a homeschooling approach which avoids the limitations of mainstream schooling, and builds resilience, creativity, curiosity and independence.
We will explore and integrate different frameworks to tailor an educational approach which corresponds to your educational philosophy and your child’s uniqueness. Curriculum support is also available.