Full Name
Nicole Cunningham
Job Title / Position
Teacher
Company / Organisation
Queensland Children's Hospital School
Biography
Nicole Cunningham is an experienced early childhood educator with a strong commitment to supporting vulnerable children through trauma-informed, relationship-based educational practice. She currently works with Queensland Children’s Hospital School (QCHS), delivering the Early Education Program for children under the care of the Department of Child Safety and supporting young learners who have experienced abuse, trauma, neglect, and disrupted attachment experiences.
Nicole brings more than a decade of experience in early childhood education, having worked across kindergarten, community-based, and specialised educational settings. Prior to joining QCHS in 2025, she spent over 12 years at Bulimba Community Kindergarten, where she held a range of leadership and teaching roles including Kindergarten Teacher, Co-Director, Educational Leader, Nominated Supervisor, and Teacher. Throughout her career, she has been passionate about creating safe, inclusive, and nurturing learning environments that support children's developmental, social, emotional, and educational growth.
Her professional interests focus on early intervention, school readiness, attachment-informed practice, and the role of secure relationships in supporting children who have experienced adversity. Nicole is trained in both Circle of Security International Parenting Program and Circle of Security for Educators and has extensive experience embedding these principles into educational practice to strengthen children's emotional wellbeing, resilience, and capacity for learning.
In her current role, Nicole works collaboratively with therapy, case management, and child protection professionals to support children experiencing complex life circumstances. She is particularly passionate about multidisciplinary approaches that bring together education, health, and family supports to improve outcomes for children and facilitate successful transitions into school.
Nicole is a strong advocate for the power of early childhood education to create positive lifelong outcomes and remains committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to experience safety, connection, belonging, and success in their learning journey.
Nicole has recently enrolled in the Master of Education majoring in Trauma Aware Education.
Nicole brings more than a decade of experience in early childhood education, having worked across kindergarten, community-based, and specialised educational settings. Prior to joining QCHS in 2025, she spent over 12 years at Bulimba Community Kindergarten, where she held a range of leadership and teaching roles including Kindergarten Teacher, Co-Director, Educational Leader, Nominated Supervisor, and Teacher. Throughout her career, she has been passionate about creating safe, inclusive, and nurturing learning environments that support children's developmental, social, emotional, and educational growth.
Her professional interests focus on early intervention, school readiness, attachment-informed practice, and the role of secure relationships in supporting children who have experienced adversity. Nicole is trained in both Circle of Security International Parenting Program and Circle of Security for Educators and has extensive experience embedding these principles into educational practice to strengthen children's emotional wellbeing, resilience, and capacity for learning.
In her current role, Nicole works collaboratively with therapy, case management, and child protection professionals to support children experiencing complex life circumstances. She is particularly passionate about multidisciplinary approaches that bring together education, health, and family supports to improve outcomes for children and facilitate successful transitions into school.
Nicole is a strong advocate for the power of early childhood education to create positive lifelong outcomes and remains committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to experience safety, connection, belonging, and success in their learning journey.
Nicole has recently enrolled in the Master of Education majoring in Trauma Aware Education.
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