About

Education

  • Masters of Education
    (Special Education, Inclusion & Early Intervention)
  • Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
  • Currently studying Perinatal & Infant Mental Health.
  • Playgroup Leader at Follett Road Playgroup (volunteer)
  • Circle of Security Facilitator
  • Tuning in to Kids Facilitator
  • Make the Connection Facilitator
  • Possums Education PIPPS Parent Mentor

Zoe Guthrie – Founder

Zoe Guthrie is an early childhood educator, a parent coach, mentor, an advocate for creating inclusive community spaces and passionate about supporting families to create their village of support. When she is not busy supporting other families you’ll find her playing with her two beautiful, busy children.

With over 15 years of experience working with families from all walks of life, from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, refugees, culturally diversity, to families with disabilities. Zoe is highly passionate about shifting societies expectations and beliefs system to ensure we are an inclusive community.

My Story

In 2010, I spent 8 months living in the Philippines as a volunteer at the Cebu Braille Centre. During this time, I observed families living together, working together and creating their own village of support.

Meeting my husband, 12 months later and listening to his stories of life growing up in a village in the Philippines, has made me realise how important it is in having extended family around for both emotional and physical support.

However, we are not in the Philippines and in Western Society we tend to parent alone.

When we had our first child, it showed us the importance of creating these support networks to create our village. We had support but in suburban Melbourne, it was no community like the Philippines.

In 2017, we introduced our second born into the world. With an almost 2 year old and newborn, the real challenge begun. And by the time my 2nd born was almost two, my new parents group was non-existent, my parents moved to a rural area and my closest friend moved back home to the U.S. The isolation of parenting without a community was challenging, and without the local playgroup, I would have been left to figure things out myself. My Village had gone.

The Early Parenting Village was born to create a space for families to connect, to provide a community and a sense of belonging, so they too don’t need to parent alone.