C&K opens sustainable intergenerational service in Carseldine

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) provider C&K has opened its relocated Carseldine Community Childcare Centre at its new site in Carseldine Village, which combines opportunities for intergenerational connections and a strong focus on sustainable practices. 

The new location, C&K CEO Dr. Sandra Cheeseman said, provides a range of exciting features and opportunities for the children and families in the community.

The new centre provides education and care for children aged between six weeks and five years of age, and increases the capacity of the service from 55 to 98 spaces. 

The service features six flexible playrooms for education and care and play spaces as well as a full kitchen, dining room and onsite cook to prepare meals for the children. The outside spaces will support children to engage in nature play with two playgrounds, a vegetable garden, sensory play area, mud pit, sandpit, dry creek bed, fort, swings and turf areas.

“These spaces will allow the children to explore and connect with the natural world around them and provide endless opportunities for imaginative play, physical activity, and social development,” Dr Cheeseman said. 

In an exciting aspect of the relocation, Centre Director Harriet Star shared, a new evidenced-based, intergenerational program pilot will be offered in conjunction with residents of the neighbouring Rockpool Residential Aged Care Home.

“Providing opportunities for the children and aged-care residents to interact creates meaningful connections and fosters social and emotional development for both generations,” Ms Star said.

“Our first meeting was a resounding success, with the children baking brownies and holding a lemonade stall for the residents.”

The children have decided they will refer to their elderly friends as “Grandfriends,” and are looking forward to sharing more time with them, she added. 

Carseldine is also the first C&K and Queensland childcare centre to be awarded a prestigious 5 Star, Green Star rating, one of only a few early childhood education and care centers in Australia to be certified by the Green Building Council.

“The building design incorporated new construction techniques to improve energy and water use and includes solar panels, water tanks and a recycling program to reduce waste and carbon emissions,” Dr Cheeseman said. 

“This certification is a testament to C&K’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and teaching children the importance of conservation practices and protecting their environment.”

Learn more about the service here.