the new point of difference

find out why

Founded by Jae Fraser, early childhood teacher and approved service provider,

THE SCHOLARS GROUP IS A BOUTIQUE COMPANY SPECIALISING IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE Early LEarning Sector FROM CONSULTING TO MANAGEMENT TO NEW service STARTUPS.

Supporting Early Learning Services Across Australia

The Scholars Group partners with approved providers nationwide, offering tailored resources, professional advice, and expert support to help early learning services thrive. From preparation for assessment and rating to process improvement and operational management, we’re here to ensure your service runs smoothly and successfully.

Our services include:

Professional management consulting tailored to early learning services
Practical plans and information resources to enhance operations
Support for compliance, business growth, and ongoing operational needs

Whether you’re managing an established early learning service or planning to build a new one from the ground up, The Scholars Group has the expertise to guide you every step of the way.

At The Scholars Group, we envision a world where all children and families can reach their fullest potential. Let us help you create a service that supports this vision and builds success for your business.

Learn more about how we can help your early learning service thrive today.

OUR APPROACH

We work in partnership with approved providers to create a custom management plan that allows for maximum results.

OUR KNOWLEDGE

Real hands-on experience ranging from the corporate sector to owning and running a centre.

OUR FOCUS

Doing what ever it takes to make your business a success.

Our Team

The best and brightest

Our team of expert consultants are ready to help you with all your business needs. With decades of experience, we are committed to being contemporary in approach and operating to the highest quality standards.

Jae Fraser - Owner and operator

Jae has worked in early childhood education for more than 20 years as a practitioner, creating and managing over 500 corporate centres, and operating his own early learning services along with volunteering in board roles for both the national and state Australian Childcare Alliances. Jae understands and ensures that there needs to be a healthy balance between quality and business performance, he instills this in his team ensuring the very best outcomes are achieved.

Experienced in all facets of the early childhood education sector
Setting the benchmark and best practices in the early learning industry
From start-ups, to troubleshooting and complete transformations of existing campuses to make them quality, profitable businesses
Executive of Australian Child Care Alliance – Both National and Queensland
Awarded Young Manager of the Year in 2013 – AIM
EY Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2018 Queensland.

Find out more about Jae

Melanie Excell - Operations Manager

Melanie Excell started in the early learning and education sector in 2002 and is a university-trained teacher holding a Bachelor of Education. She is passionate about early education and preparing children for a successful future. Melanie has worked in various roles in the early childhood education and care sector including teaching, centre director, area manager of both small and large groups of centres across Australia, and more recently a senior management position in a large childcare company. She’s been with The Scholars Group since its inception.

Find out more about Melanie

Rebecca Gunn - Business Manager

Rebecca joined The Scholars Group in 2021 bringing with her over 25 years of experience in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector. With roles ranging from national operations manager of a medium-sized early childhood company to classroom experience in early learning services, Rebecca has experience with new services and established centres in site assessment, design and set up. Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Early Childhood, Advanced Diploma of Children’s Services as well as a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

Rebecca is passionate about making a difference in children’s lives striving to achieve this by encouraging the dedicated professionals within her team to bring their sparkle and provide a programme that is based on the interests of children. Rebecca believes that excellence within the sector can be achieved by connecting centres with families and the community.

Rebecca says some of her career highlights are being the guest speaker at the Australian Embassy in Japan presenting on Australian early childhood education in Australia, attending a study tour to Reggio Emilia in Italy, and opening the first AFL-affiliated early learning services in Australia.

Jennifer Haydock - Quality Practice Manager

Jennifer has worked in early childhood education and care for almost 20 years. During this time, Jennifer had the privilege of working across all age-groups from babies to school-aged as lead educator and early childhood teacher. She has also worked in adult learning as a Trainer and Assessor teaching our future educators in their Certificate 3 and Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care. Jennifer has recently worked for the Department of Education as an early childhood officer, followed by becoming the lead quality (Pedagogy & Practice) officer for the South East Region.

Her qualifications include an Advanced Diploma of Children’s Services, Bachelor of Child and Family Studies, Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Education, Cert IV in Training and Assessment, Diploma in Leadership and Management and certifications in coaching and the Abecedarian Approach 3A.

Jennifer believes wholeheartedly in the African proverb ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ that an entire community of people must provide for and interact positively with children for those children to experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment.

Stacey Lovett - Regional Manager

Stacey has been in the early childhood sector for 20 years, with a career spanning all areas of early learning including trainee educator to area manager, Assessment and Rating centre support and centre manager induction support. Most recently she worked as an early childhood people and culture officer, supporting early learning centres finding amazing talent, succession planning, retention and supporting centre managers in performance management.

Stacey, originally from England before moving to Australia as a child, holds an Advanced Diploma in Children Services, a Diploma in Business and Certificate IV in Frontline Management.

“I have a passion for helping educators on their early childhood journeys and reaching their career goals. I believe the first five years of a child’s life should be filled with warm, positive and fun experiences to help set their futures up for success.”

Jeannette Manu Ettles - Regional Manager

Jeannette joined The Scholars Group in 2024 after relocating from New Zealand. As a proud Kiwi-born Samoan, she’s served the early learning sector there for more than 20 years.

“My passion is in pedagogical leadership through different world views, particularly Indigenous leadership. I wholeheartedly believe that children succeed in environments where their language, culture and identity is valued and used as a vehicle for driving education.”

Jeanette has a Bachelor of Early Childhood and is currently pursuing her Masters in Educational Leadership through the University of Auckland.

“I have been facilitating professional development on strengthening pedagogy and enjoy the aspect of learning from different cultural lenses and child rearing practices,” Jeannette says.

Besides her role as regional manager, she’s also a facilitator with an organisation called The Educational Leadership Project (ELP) where she lectures for various early learning providers and tertiary sectors.

“I come from a large family and achieved success through the Samoan concept of “va” which is giving honour and respect to the space between myself and others,” she adds. “I am driven and motivated by seeing others grow and serve in their communities and my vision is to bring Indigenous leadership concepts into my work so that others can achieve through other world views.

Lauren Higgins - Regional Manager

Lauren joined The Scholars Group in late 2024. Lauren is originally from Albury on the border between NSW and Victoria, but has also lived in Victoria, the ACT and now joins us in Queensland. Her experience across the country across, spanning more than two decades makes her a very welcome addition to The Scholars Group.

She has experience working in boutique services to large campuses having more than 100 educators.

"I have been fortunate enough to have managed and supported services through highs and lows such as success with new services opening, as well as supporting teams through natural disasters and the Covid-19 pandemic. I have also gained experience working for singular services as well as multi-site services with occupancy ranging from 90 place to 238 places each day," Lauren tells us.

She loves the fast-paced nature of regional management, as well as mentoring and developing educators and campus managers, and of course, she adores children.

"I love the influence an early childhood educator has on the long-term development and wellbeing of a child. I love how the field strives to ensure family’s needs are met, and that support is provided. I love the connection that is developed with children and families."

Anne Blom - Administration Support Manager

Anne's career in early childhood education and care began in 2007, and since then, Anne has worked in all levels of the sector from hands-on educator to holding the position of national administration manager for Australia’s largest early learning provider.

Anne specialises in the monitoring of Kidsoft, a CCS management software, and iDebitPro and assists all campus managers with their administrative duties to allow them to focus on the children and business.

The Support Office