Meet Our Qualified
Sleep Educators
Here at The Sleep Collective, we do not underestimate the detrimental impact of sleep deprivation on all members of a family. Our goal is to promote family wellness and happiness through the development of healthy infant and child sleep.
We are committed to providing families with the education, support, and advice they need to confidently guide their children’s sleep. Through a holistic and personalized approach, we work with families on developing tailored solutions to their infant and child sleep issues and are responsive to the needs of both the caregivers and the child.
Our philosophy is grounded in a belief that by achieving restorative sleep, families are better able to maintain emotional wellness and parents are able to feel more connected to their children and the parenting experience.
We support all parenting styles at The Sleep Collective. Book your free 15 minute Discovery Call to help decide if our approach is right for you!
Gerri - Founder
“Gerri was extremely responsive and thorough and her insight was invaluable. We felt she shared in our wins and was incredibly patient and encouraging with us through the process. Only wished we reached out sooner!”
Founder of The Sleep Collective, Gerri has over a decade of experience in education and curriculum design and development. Working in schools, Gerri knows first-hand how essential quality and restorative sleep is for the developing brain and unfortunately how sleep deprivation can impact a child’s learning and behaviour. It is her hope that through building awareness, education and a foundation of healthy sleep habits that she can create sustained improvements in the education and health outcomes of children.
At the start of her own parenting journey, the shock of sleep deprivation hit hard, and Gerri struggled to accept that disrupted sleep was the status quo for parents. Conflicting advice from well-meaning family and health care professionals only made the sleep situation more difficult to navigate. It was a week-long stay in a maternal health unit at a private hospital that helped to turn things around. Gerri was supported and educated on how to guide her child’s sleep and was empowered to achieve that in a way that was not only matched to her parenting style but also built her confidence as a mother. The parenting experience became so much more enjoyable once everyone was getting the rest they needed.
Through this experience, Gerri discovered a desire to use her skills in education in a whole new way. She wants to help parents learn what healthy sleep looks like and how they can promote that in their own children. Gerri has an approachable and non-judgmental nature which helps parents to feel like they can be open and honest about their worries, concerns and limitations.
Ashlea - Sleep Educator
“Ash got to know our little family and created a plan with strategies perfectly tailored to our family style. She was exceptionally understanding and non-judgemental in her approach, which put us totally at ease throughout the whole process. Thank you so much, Ash!”
Ash, an experienced public school educator, has witnessed firsthand the detrimental impact of sleep deprivation on young people. She knows how quality sleep can improve outcomes for young people. Neurological development in the first three years of a child’s life is unmatched, and by supporting that with quality sleep you will improve your child’s overall wellbeing, while also positively impacting the wellbeing of the whole family.
Her own journey with sleep began when her two young boys struggled with sleep issues, deeply affecting her experience of early motherhood, especially with a husband working shift hours. The anxieties surrounding bedtime and overnights were overwhelming until Ash gained confidence and knowledge on how to support her children’s sleep through a residential sleep school program.
Transformed by this experience, Ash not only improved her children's sleep but also discovered a new career path as a sleep consultant, blending her passions for sleep and education. Understanding the struggles of sleep-deprived parents, Ash empathizes deeply with the challenges involved and the barrier to seeking sleep support. She believes that access to sleep education needs to be more widely available and advocates for a holistic approach for managing childhood sleep.
Ash finds fulfillment in supporting not only babies but also parents' mental health and the overall family unit. Her supportive and encouraging nature fosters a warm and respectful environment for families embarking on their sleep journeys. Ash considers it a privilege to empower and educate families, instilling confidence as they navigate their unique sleep journey.
FAQs
Do you use ‘cry-it-out’?
We would never ask a parent to leave their baby to cry and never respond - this is an outdated form of sleep training. We do offer a range of age appropriate ‘in-room’ and ‘out-of-room’ settling techniques. We will work together to create a tailored plan that you are comfortable with which is suited to your baby’s age, temperament and your parenting style.
How long will it take to see change?
Our holistic approach to improving baby and child sleep most often heeds immediate improvements to total sleep. Typically night-time sleep consolidates first, followed by increased daytime sleep (where appropriate). While you can experience amazing change in the first week of sleep training, it often takes a full two weeks of applying the sleep plan in a consistent and persistent manner to make lasting changes.
What kind of support is offered?
The most common feedback we get from our clients is how well supported they felt throughout the process of implementing the sleep plan. Both of our Sleep Support Packages (7 or 14 Days) come with access to an app for tracking sleep. You will receive daily in-app feedback on these sleep logs from your consultant (Mon-Fri) as well as receive two support calls each week to celebrate your wins and troubleshoot any issues and make further recommendations.
Clients who complete the Sleep Support Package (14 Days) also have the option for exclusive access to on-going support via the app. This is ideal for parents who want regular access and support from a qualified infant and child sleep consultant.
Finally, all clients who purchase sleep support at any level are welcomed into The Sleep Collective Community Facebook Group. This is a group of like-minded parents who support one another using their knowledge from their time with The Sleep Collective to navigate any bumps in the road.
What is your philosophy on co-sleeping?
At The Sleep Collective, we respect all parents and understanding that for many co-sleeping suits their family.
The advice we offer parents is in-line with the safe sleep guidelines as published by The American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) and Red Nose Australia. Parents who use our services are wanting to move away from co-sleeping to more independent sleep.
If you would like recommendations for a sleep consultant that can support you to continue co-sleeping, please reach out.
Our family requires a flexible schedule. Will this work for us?
We believe our role as your sleep consultant is not to make decisions for you or to dictate a strict routine, but rather to outline your options and help you to know what you can expect based on those decisions.
It is true that babies and children love routine and predictability, but in a world where more often both parents have to work and siblings can have conflicting timetables, it is not always realistic to work to a routine.
Our holistic view into infant and child sleep will explore the sleep environment, nutrition, development, family commitments, sleep associations, settling techniques and more to create a truly unique and personalised sleep plan that will support you to reach your goals.
More questions? Book a Discovery Call to talk to a qualified consultant.